Anglo-Algerian War

For the earlier conflict, see English expedition to Algiers (1620–1621).

Anglo–Algerian War (1677–1682)
A fierce encounter between the Royal Navy and the infamous Barbary pirates
Date 1677–1682 Location Mediterranean Sea Result Algerian victory
Belligerents
Regency of Algiers	Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
Mohammed Trik	Charles II
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	350 ships 5,000–6,000 sailors captured

The Anglo-Algerian War took place between 1677 and 1682 after the English destroyed some Algerian privateers near Bougie.

Background

The War happened when the English navy destroyed some of Algerian privateers near Bougie in 1672, the Algerian Diwan responded by capturing sailors and ships between 1674 and 1676. In 1677, Algiers declared war on England.

War

Between 1674 and 1682, the Mediterranean witnessed a series of devastating raids by Algerian corsairs that left a lasting impact on Anglo-Algerian relations. During this eight-year period, Algerian corsairs managed to capture a staggering 350 English ships and hold an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 English sailors in captivity. The English could no longer continue with this war so they capitulated, a somber testament to the relentless threat posed by Barbary piracy and the vulnerability of English maritime interests in the Mediterranean. The culmination of these events would eventually lead to the signing of the Treaty of 1682, where King Charles II reluctantly acknowledged the plight of British subjects as slaves of the Algerians.

Aftermath

In 1682, representatives of Algiers and England signed a treaty that included a humiliating provision where King Charles II recognized that British subjects were slaves of the Algerians. This acknowledgment underscored the vulnerability of English citizens in the Mediterranean sea.