Christian Slaves, Muslim Masters: White Slavery in the Mediterranean, the Barbary Coast, and Italy, 1500–1800

290 Pages·2010·10.64 MB·English

by  Robert C. Davis

Johan Verberckmoes ChrisStliaavMneu ss,l im
LAUGHTER, JESTBOOKS AND SOCIETY IN THE SPANISH NETHERLANDS
Masters
Clail'e Walker
GENDER AND POLITICS IN EARLY MODERN EUROPE
English Convents in t'rance and the Low Countries
Johannes. C. Wolfart WhiStlea vientr hyMe e ditertrhaen ean,
RELIGION, GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CULTURE IN EARLY MODERN
GERMANY BarbCaorayas ntId,t a1l5y0,0 -1800
LINDAU, 1520-1628
Robert C. Davis
Professor ofH istory
Ohio State University
J
Early Modern History: Society and Culture
Series Standing Order ISBN 0-333-71194-7
(outNsoirdteh Aomnelryi)c a
You can receive future titles in this series as they are published by placing a standing order,
Please contact your bookseller or, in case of difficulty, write to us at the address below with
your name and address, the title of the series and the ISBN quoted above. palgrave
Customer Services Department, Macmillan Distribution Ltd, Houndmills, Basingstoke,
Hampshire RG21 6XS, England mac illan
Johan Verberckmoes ChrisStliaavMneu ss,l im
LAUGHTER, JESTBOOKS AND SOCIETY IN THE SPANISH NETHERLANDS
Masters
Clail'e Walker
GENDER AND POLITICS IN EARLY MODERN EUROPE
English Convents in t'rance and the Low Countries
Johannes. C. Wolfart WhiStlea vientr hyMe e ditertrhaen ean,
RELIGION, GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CULTURE IN EARLY MODERN
GERMANY BarbCaorayas ntId,t a1l5y0,0 -1800
LINDAU, 1520-1628
Robert C. Davis
Professor ofH istory
Ohio State University
J
Early Modern History: Society and Culture
Series Standing Order ISBN 0-333-71194-7
(outNsoirdteh Aomnelryi)c a
You can receive future titles in this series as they are published by placing a standing order,
Please contact your bookseller or, in case of difficulty, write to us at the address below with
your name and address, the title of the series and the ISBN quoted above. palgrave
Customer Services Department, Macmillan Distribution Ltd, Houndmills, Basingstoke,
Hampshire RG21 6XS, England mac illan
*
© Robert C. Davis 2003, 2004
All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this
Contents
publication may be made without written permission.
No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted
save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence
permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency,
90 Tottenham Court Road, Londoii W1T 4LP.
Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication List ofF igures and Tables
may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. vii
The author has asserted his right to be identified as Some Currency Conversions
viii
the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act1 988. Some Exemplary Prices
xi
First published in hardcover 2003 Tables
First published in paperback 2004 by xiv
PALGRAVE MACMILLAN
Introduction and Acknowledgments
Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS and xxiv
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y.1 0010
Part I White Slavery
Companies and representatives throughout the world
PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave
Macmillan division of St. Martin's Press, LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. 1 How Many Slaves? 3
Macmillan® is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom
and other countries. Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European 2 Slave Taking and Slave Breaking 27
Union and other countries.
Part II Barbary
ISBN 0-333-71966-2 978-0-333-71966-4 hardback
ISBN1 -4039-4551-9 978-1-4039-4551-8 paperback
This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully 3 Slave Labor 69
managed and sustained forest sources. Logging, pulping and manufacturing
processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the 4 Slaves' Life 103
country of origin. Part III Italy
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data 5 The Home Front 139
Davis, Robert C.
Christian slaves, Muslim masters: white slavery in the Mediterranean, the 6 Celebrating Slavery 175
Barbary Coast, and Italy, 1500-1800 /R obert C. Davis. Notes
p. cm. - (Early modern history) 194
Includes bibliographical references and index. Bibliography
ISBN 0-333-71966-2 240
1. Slave trade - Africa, North-History. 2. Slave trade-Italy- History. Index
3.C hristians -Africa, North -History. 4. Christians -Italy- History. 5. 254
Muslims - Commerce - Africa, North -History. 6.M uslims-Commerce­
Italy- History. I.
Title: White slavery in the Mediterranean, the Barbary Coast, and Italy,
1500-1800. II.
Title. Ill. Series.
HT1342.D38 2003
306.3'62'0945-dc21 2002192454
10 9 8
13 12 1 1 10
Printed and bound in Great Britain by
Antony Rowe, Chippenham and Eastbourne V
*
© Robert C. Davis 2003, 2004
All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this
Contents
publication may be made without written permission.
No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted
save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence
permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency,
90 Tottenham Court Road, Londoii W1T 4LP.
Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication List ofF igures and Tables
may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. vii
The author has asserted his right to be identified as Some Currency Conversions
viii
the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act1 988. Some Exemplary Prices
xi
First published in hardcover 2003 Tables
First published in paperback 2004 by xiv
PALGRAVE MACMILLAN
Introduction and Acknowledgments
Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS and xxiv
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y.1 0010
Part I White Slavery
Companies and representatives throughout the world
PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave
Macmillan division of St. Martin's Press, LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. 1 How Many Slaves? 3
Macmillan® is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom
and other countries. Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European 2 Slave Taking and Slave Breaking 27
Union and other countries.
Part II Barbary
ISBN 0-333-71966-2 978-0-333-71966-4 hardback
ISBN1 -4039-4551-9 978-1-4039-4551-8 paperback
This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully 3 Slave Labor 69
managed and sustained forest sources. Logging, pulping and manufacturing
processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the 4 Slaves' Life 103
country of origin. Part III Italy
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data 5 The Home Front 139
Davis, Robert C.
Christian slaves, Muslim masters: white slavery in the Mediterranean, the 6 Celebrating Slavery 175
Barbary Coast, and Italy, 1500-1800 /R obert C. Davis. Notes
p. cm. - (Early modern history) 194
Includes bibliographical references and index. Bibliography
ISBN 0-333-71966-2 240
1. Slave trade - Africa, North-History. 2. Slave trade-Italy- History. Index
3.C hristians -Africa, North -History. 4. Christians -Italy- History. 5. 254
Muslims - Commerce - Africa, North -History. 6.M uslims-Commerce­
Italy- History. I.
Title: White slavery in the Mediterranean, the Barbary Coast, and Italy,
1500-1800. II.
Title. Ill. Series.
HT1342.D38 2003
306.3'62'0945-dc21 2002192454
10 9 8
13 12 1 1 10
Printed and bound in Great Britain by
Antony Rowe, Chippenham and Eastbourne V
\".
List of Figures and Tables
Figures
1. Slaves being disembarked in Algiers (from Pierre Dan,
HistvoaBrnai reb eanrd yezesen Zl efReso -overs,
Amersterdam,
1684) 56
2. Slaves taken into the Badestan in Algiers (from Pierre Dan,
HistvoaBrnai reb eanrdy ezesen Zl efReso -overs,
Amersterdam,
1684) 60
Historie
3. Examining slaves in the Badestan (from Pierre Dan,
vaBna rbeandry eezsne Z lefse -Roovers,
Amersterdam, 1684) 61
HistvoaBrnai reb eandr eyse n
4. Selling slaves (from Pierre Dan,
zeZlefRseo -overs,
Amersterdam, 1684) 65
Histvoarni e
5. Slaves digging lime or salt (from Pierre Dan,
Barbeanrd yezesen Zl efes- Roovers,
Amersterdam, 1684) 82
HistvoaBrnai reb eanry en
6. Slaves in chains (from Pierre Dan,
dezse ZlefRseo -overs,
Amersterdam, 1684) 109
HistdoelBi aar re barie
7. Slave punishment (from Pierre Dan,
et Csoerss aires,
Paris, 1649) 130
HistdoelBi aar reb eastre ise
8. Beating slaves (from Pierre Dan,
Corsaires,
Paris, 1649) 131
Historie van
9. Procession of freed slaves (from Pierre Dan,
Barbeanrd yezesen Zl efse -Roovers,
Amersterdam, 1684) 180
Tables
1. Major Corsair Slave-taking Activity, 1516-1798
xiv
2. Slave Counts in Algiers xviii
3. Slave Counts for Tunis and Tripoli
xxi
vii
\".
List of Figures and Tables
Figures
1. Slaves being disembarked in Algiers (from Pierre Dan,
HistvoaBrnai reb eanrd yezesen Zl efReso -overs,
Amersterdam,
1684) 56
2. Slaves taken into the Badestan in Algiers (from Pierre Dan,
HistvoaBrnai reb eanrdy ezesen Zl efReso -overs,
Amersterdam,
1684) 60
Historie
3. Examining slaves in the Badestan (from Pierre Dan,
vaBna rbeandry eezsne Z lefse -Roovers,
Amersterdam, 1684) 61
HistvoaBrnai reb eandr eyse n
4. Selling slaves (from Pierre Dan,
zeZlefRseo -overs,
Amersterdam, 1684) 65
Histvoarni e
5. Slaves digging lime or salt (from Pierre Dan,
Barbeanrd yezesen Zl efes- Roovers,
Amersterdam, 1684) 82
HistvoaBrnai reb eanry en
6. Slaves in chains (from Pierre Dan,
dezse ZlefRseo -overs,
Amersterdam, 1684) 109
HistdoelBi aar re barie
7. Slave punishment (from Pierre Dan,
et Csoerss aires,
Paris, 1649) 130
HistdoelBi aar reb eastre ise
8. Beating slaves (from Pierre Dan,
Corsaires,
Paris, 1649) 131
Historie van
9. Procession of freed slaves (from Pierre Dan,
Barbeanrd yezesen Zl efse -Roovers,
Amersterdam, 1684) 180
Tables
1. Major Corsair Slave-taking Activity, 1516-1798
xiv
2. Slave Counts in Algiers xviii
3. Slave Counts for Tunis and Tripoli
xxi
vii
Some Mediterranean Currency Conversions ix
Some Currency Conversions Catalogo de' Schiavi Riscattati, p. 30 (1660)
1 Roman scudo = 1.18 Spanish pieces of eight
1 piece of eight = 0.85 scudo
Chastelet des Boys, p. 26 and note (1662)
Haedo (1584) 1 Algerian asper= 4 French deniers= 1/3 sou
Spanish 4 real piece= 40 Algerian aspers Correspondance des Beys de Tunis, p. 165 (1665)
Venetian sequin (zecchino) = 210 Algerian aspers 1 Tunisian piastre forte= 175 Spanish pieces of eight
Saunders, pp. 3 and 10 (1585) 1 French livre = 7 3/4 Spanish pieces of eight= 9.1 Roman scudi
1 Venetian sequin= 7 English shillings ASVat, Gonfalone, bu. 1144, fol. 275 (1676)
1 English pence = 2.5 Algerian aspers 1 Spanish reale= 8½ Roman giuli
Gonfalone, bu. 1139, fol. 363 (1587)
cl'oro in oro ASVat, Gonfalone, bu. 1144, fol. 335 (1677)
1 Roman scudo = 3.7 Algerian dolas= 185 aspers 1 Venetian sequin= 2.3 Roman scud!
Coryate, p. 389 (1606) ASVat, Gonfalone, bu. 1144, fol. 496 (1686)
1 Venetian sequin= 8¾ English shillings 1 Venetian sequin= 2.2 Roman scud!
Mascarenhas, pp. 75 and 168-9 (note 1) (1621) ASVat, Gonfalone, bu. 8, fol. 264 (1704)
1 Portugues real= 0.025 Spanish reals 1 Venetian sequin= 1.9 Roman scudi
1 Algerian dola = a litle less than 2 Spanish reals
ASV, POLP, bu. 101 (1717)
1 Algerian pataque = 10.25 Spanish reals
1 Venetian ducat= 6 lire, 4 soldi of account
Rawlins, p. 256 (1622)
De La Motte, pp. 40 and 134 (1720)
1 Algerian dobla= 1 English shilling
1 heavy (Alexandria) dollar= 1 Seville piece of eight= 7 /8 oz. silver
1 Algerian pataque = 5.14 dobla= Ss 2d English
1 Seville dollar= 6 French livres/10 sols
Salvago (French trans.), p. 478 (1624)
1 Algerian Asper dollar= 4 livres/15 sols= 132 aspers
1 Venetian ducat= SO Algerian aspers ASVat, Gonfalone, bu. 8, f. 398 (1721)
(Italian trans.) p. 92
1 Roman scudo d'oro= 1 and 2/3 scudi of account
1 Venetian sequin= 1.5 talers
ASV, POLP, bu. 99 (1723)
Napoli, bu. 10 (ca 1632)
1 Venetian sequin= 22 lire of account= 3.55 ducats
1 Spanish piece of eight= 52 Tunisian aspers = ± 1 Venetian ducat
Laugier du Tassy, pp. 203-4 (1724)
Knight, p. 11 (1637-40)
1 Algerian pataque chica (pataca of aspers) = 232 aspers
1 gold Turkish soltanie = 7 English shillings
1 paraque gorda (grossa) = 696 aspers
Okeley (1639), p. 40 1 soltanine of Algiers= 1.04 Venetian sequins
1 Spanish dobia= 1.1 English shillings 1 Venetian sequin= 0.96 soltanine
1 Algerian sa!me= SO aspers
D'A randa (1640).
p. 18 1 French real= }0 pataque
p. 48 1 Algerian "patacoon" = 2.83 French livres
viii
Some Mediterranean Currency Conversions ix
Some Currency Conversions Catalogo de' Schiavi Riscattati, p. 30 (1660)
1 Roman scudo = 1.18 Spanish pieces of eight
1 piece of eight = 0.85 scudo
Chastelet des Boys, p. 26 and note (1662)
Haedo (1584) 1 Algerian asper= 4 French deniers= 1/3 sou
Spanish 4 real piece= 40 Algerian aspers Correspondance des Beys de Tunis, p. 165 (1665)
Venetian sequin (zecchino) = 210 Algerian aspers 1 Tunisian piastre forte= 175 Spanish pieces of eight
Saunders, pp. 3 and 10 (1585) 1 French livre = 7 3/4 Spanish pieces of eight= 9.1 Roman scudi
1 Venetian sequin= 7 English shillings ASVat, Gonfalone, bu. 1144, fol. 275 (1676)
1 English pence = 2.5 Algerian aspers 1 Spanish reale= 8½ Roman giuli
Gonfalone, bu. 1139, fol. 363 (1587)
cl'oro in oro ASVat, Gonfalone, bu. 1144, fol. 335 (1677)
1 Roman scudo = 3.7 Algerian dolas= 185 aspers 1 Venetian sequin= 2.3 Roman scud!
Coryate, p. 389 (1606) ASVat, Gonfalone, bu. 1144, fol. 496 (1686)
1 Venetian sequin= 8¾ English shillings 1 Venetian sequin= 2.2 Roman scud!
Mascarenhas, pp. 75 and 168-9 (note 1) (1621) ASVat, Gonfalone, bu. 8, fol. 264 (1704)
1 Portugues real= 0.025 Spanish reals 1 Venetian sequin= 1.9 Roman scudi
1 Algerian dola = a litle less than 2 Spanish reals
ASV, POLP, bu. 101 (1717)
1 Algerian pataque = 10.25 Spanish reals
1 Venetian ducat= 6 lire, 4 soldi of account
Rawlins, p. 256 (1622)
De La Motte, pp. 40 and 134 (1720)
1 Algerian dobla= 1 English shilling
1 heavy (Alexandria) dollar= 1 Seville piece of eight= 7 /8 oz. silver
1 Algerian pataque = 5.14 dobla= Ss 2d English
1 Seville dollar= 6 French livres/10 sols
Salvago (French trans.), p. 478 (1624)
1 Algerian Asper dollar= 4 livres/15 sols= 132 aspers
1 Venetian ducat= SO Algerian aspers ASVat, Gonfalone, bu. 8, f. 398 (1721)
(Italian trans.) p. 92
1 Roman scudo d'oro= 1 and 2/3 scudi of account
1 Venetian sequin= 1.5 talers
ASV, POLP, bu. 99 (1723)
Napoli, bu. 10 (ca 1632)
1 Venetian sequin= 22 lire of account= 3.55 ducats
1 Spanish piece of eight= 52 Tunisian aspers = ± 1 Venetian ducat
Laugier du Tassy, pp. 203-4 (1724)
Knight, p. 11 (1637-40)
1 Algerian pataque chica (pataca of aspers) = 232 aspers
1 gold Turkish soltanie = 7 English shillings
1 paraque gorda (grossa) = 696 aspers
Okeley (1639), p. 40 1 soltanine of Algiers= 1.04 Venetian sequins
1 Spanish dobia= 1.1 English shillings 1 Venetian sequin= 0.96 soltanine
1 Algerian sa!me= SO aspers
D'A randa (1640).
p. 18 1 French real= }0 pataque
p. 48 1 Algerian "patacoon" = 2.83 French livres
viii
x Some Mediterranean Currency Conversions
Some Exemplary Prices
Propaganda Fide, Barbaria, bu. 5, fol. 216 (1728)
1 Spanish piece of eight = 1.85 Algerian piastre
1S panish dobla of gold = 5¼-5½Al gerian piastre
1 "fresh minted" Venetian sequin= 3½ Algerian piastre
Redemtiones Captivorum (1729-30)
ASVat, Gonfalone, bu. 1139, fol. 306 (1585)
1 Turkish piastra = 6 Roman giuli, 1 baiocco
Romans wished to spend no more than 150 scud\ per slave
Kingdon, p. 13 (1753) ASVat, Gonfalone, bu. 1139, fol. 361 (1585)
1 pound sterling= 2 Venetian sequins 1 barrel of r1country wine" in Rome cost 15 giuli = 1.5 ducats
1 sequin = 10 shi!lings
ASVat, Gonfalone, bu 1139, fol. 363 (1587)
ASV, POLP, bu. 98 (1764)
140 gold scud\= average ransom+ taxes apiece for 80 slaves ransomed
1 Venetian sequin= 3.55 Venetian ducats= 3.25 Algerian piastre from Algiers
1 piastre= 1.1 Venetian ducats= 0.31 sequins
Mascarenhas, p. 74 (1621)
ASV, Provveditori sorpa Ospedali e Luoghi Pii (1764) 2-3 pataques per month bought a priest out of his required labor
1 Algerian pataque grossa = 6 Roman baiocchi
Rawlins, p. 256 (1622)
1 Venetian sequin = 4.5 pataques
sold at first purchase for 150 Algerian doblas ""£7 10s English (these
ASV, POLP, bu. 100 (1765) were 11ve1y easy rates" since he was lame)
1 Venetian ducat= 8 lire of account
ASV, POLP, bu. 98 (1628)
ASV,POLP, bu. 102 (1767) 100 Venetian ducats= average ransom price of 250 slaves in Barbary
1 V cnctian sequin = ±20 Roman paoli
Davis, Shipbuilders, pp. 29-30 (1635-40)
Thedenat, p. 159 (1779)
salary of master carpenter in Venice= 5-7 ducats per day
1 Venetian sequin= 10½ French livres
D'Aranda, p. 9 (1640)
ASV, POLP, bu. 102 (1796) sold at first purchase for 200 "patacoons" = 566 French livres
1 Venetian sequin = 10 Algerian sequins
ASN, SCRC, bu. 7, p. 10 (1651)
400-500 Neapolitan gross\= ransom demanded for a slave in Tunis
Francesco di S. Lorenzo, p. 10 (1654)
3 Spanish pieces of eight per month bought a slave out of his required
labor
Mercedarian "Catalogo de' schiavi riscattati" (1660)
166 Roman scudi = average ransom apiece for 344 men, mostly
Spanish slaves in Algiers
210 scud!= average ransom for 9 slave clerics in same expedition
250 scud!= average ransom for 17 non-noble female slaves
ASN, SCRC, bu. 7, p. 12 (1662)
300 Spanish pieces of eight= ransom demanded for slave sailor in Algiers
xi
x Some Mediterranean Currency Conversions
Some Exemplary Prices
Propaganda Fide, Barbaria, bu. 5, fol. 216 (1728)
1 Spanish piece of eight = 1.85 Algerian piastre
1S panish dobla of gold = 5¼-5½Al gerian piastre
1 "fresh minted" Venetian sequin= 3½ Algerian piastre
Redemtiones Captivorum (1729-30)
ASVat, Gonfalone, bu. 1139, fol. 306 (1585)
1 Turkish piastra = 6 Roman giuli, 1 baiocco
Romans wished to spend no more than 150 scud\ per slave
Kingdon, p. 13 (1753) ASVat, Gonfalone, bu. 1139, fol. 361 (1585)
1 pound sterling= 2 Venetian sequins 1 barrel of r1country wine" in Rome cost 15 giuli = 1.5 ducats
1 sequin = 10 shi!lings
ASVat, Gonfalone, bu 1139, fol. 363 (1587)
ASV, POLP, bu. 98 (1764)
140 gold scud\= average ransom+ taxes apiece for 80 slaves ransomed
1 Venetian sequin= 3.55 Venetian ducats= 3.25 Algerian piastre from Algiers
1 piastre= 1.1 Venetian ducats= 0.31 sequins
Mascarenhas, p. 74 (1621)
ASV, Provveditori sorpa Ospedali e Luoghi Pii (1764) 2-3 pataques per month bought a priest out of his required labor
1 Algerian pataque grossa = 6 Roman baiocchi
Rawlins, p. 256 (1622)
1 Venetian sequin = 4.5 pataques
sold at first purchase for 150 Algerian doblas ""£7 10s English (these
ASV, POLP, bu. 100 (1765) were 11ve1y easy rates" since he was lame)
1 Venetian ducat= 8 lire of account
ASV, POLP, bu. 98 (1628)
ASV,POLP, bu. 102 (1767) 100 Venetian ducats= average ransom price of 250 slaves in Barbary
1 V cnctian sequin = ±20 Roman paoli
Davis, Shipbuilders, pp. 29-30 (1635-40)
Thedenat, p. 159 (1779)
salary of master carpenter in Venice= 5-7 ducats per day
1 Venetian sequin= 10½ French livres
D'Aranda, p. 9 (1640)
ASV, POLP, bu. 102 (1796) sold at first purchase for 200 "patacoons" = 566 French livres
1 Venetian sequin = 10 Algerian sequins
ASN, SCRC, bu. 7, p. 10 (1651)
400-500 Neapolitan gross\= ransom demanded for a slave in Tunis
Francesco di S. Lorenzo, p. 10 (1654)
3 Spanish pieces of eight per month bought a slave out of his required
labor
Mercedarian "Catalogo de' schiavi riscattati" (1660)
166 Roman scudi = average ransom apiece for 344 men, mostly
Spanish slaves in Algiers
210 scud!= average ransom for 9 slave clerics in same expedition
250 scud!= average ransom for 17 non-noble female slaves
ASN, SCRC, bu. 7, p. 12 (1662)
300 Spanish pieces of eight= ransom demanded for slave sailor in Algiers
xi