Irregular naval warfare in early modern age : the case of Algerian privateering in the 16th and 17th century

Abstract EN

This paper discusses Algerian privateering as an early manifestation of naval irregular warfare.

By excluding social and economic aspects of privateering, the study will exclusively deal with the military aspect of privateering through discussing types of ships and engagement tactics of 16th and 17th century Algiers.

It will demonstrate that although Algiers adopted the changes and developments in shipbuilding and gunnery that occurred in Europe, the regency maintained its irregular way of conducting naval warfare embodied in privateering.