Danish–Algerian War

Danish-Norwegian Expedition to Algiers
	Eyalet of Algiers
Result	Algerian victory

Belligerents

Denmark–Norway

Deylik of Algiers

Commanders and leaders

Frederik Christian Kaas

Muhammad V

Salah BeyStrength 2 frigates
2 bomb galiots
4 ships of the line UnknownCasualties and losses Unknown Unknown

The Danish–Algerian War was a conflict lasting from 1769 to 1772 between

Deylik of Algiers. which was functionally and mostly independent from the Ottoman Empire

. It is also known as the Algerian Expedition, or "The War Against Algeria".

Background and beginning of conflict

Danish-Norwegian trade in the Mediterranean greatly expanded in the mid-1700s. In order to protect their lucrative business against piracy, Denmark–Norway had secured a peace deal with the states of Barbary Coast, involving the payment of an annual tribute to the individual rulers of those states and additionally to the States.

In 1766 Baba Mohammed ben-Osman became Dey of Algiers. He demanded that the annual payment made by Denmark–Norway should be increased, and he should receive new gifts. Denmark–Norway refused the demands. Shortly after, Algerian pirates hijacked three Danish-Norwegian ships and sold the crew into slavery.

Response

A

typhoid. The ships could not withstand heavy mortar attacks from the Algerians, which damaged their hulls. The Danish-Norwegian contingent fired approximately 75 bombs at the city of Algiers before the attack had to be abandoned. The contingent then resorted to a blockade of the city.^[1]

The De Fire Søstre, a merchant and hospital ship,^[2]^[3] was present with the Danish squadron in the Mediterranean from 1770 to 1771, and its captain, Jens Knudsen, visited the sick who had been landed at Port Mahon.

Aftermath

In 1772, a delegation was sent to Algiers, and after five days of negotiations a new peace was concluded in which Algiers was well-paid. In addition, Denmark–Norway had to pay for the return of each slave who had been captured during the war. Danish and Norwegian slaves who were sold to private slave owners had to individually negotiate the prices of their freedom.^[4]

Today the war is mostly forgotten in Denmark and Norway, because it played a small role in Danish and Norwegian history.^[5]

In fiction

The 2013 novel 1001 natt^[6] by Vetle Lid Larssen follows two Norwegians enslaved during the war.

References

^ Torbjørn Ødegaard; Oppgjøret med røverstaten Algier 1769-72, published by Marinemuseet, Horten 2010 (in Norwegian)
^ Topsøe-Jensen Vol 2 p 5
^ Royal Danish Naval Museum - Shiplist -De Fire Søstre^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Krigen mod Algier". natmus.dk (in Danish). National Museum of Denmark.
^ Struwe, Lars. "Danmark bombede Algier – og glemte alt om det" (in Danish). videnskab.dk.
^ 1001 natt

External links

Source

[1] Torbjørn Ødegaard; Oppgjøret med røverstaten Algier 1769-72, published by Marinemuseet, Horten 2010 (in Norwegian)

[2] Topsøe-Jensen Vol 2 p 5

[3] Royal Danish Naval Museum - Shiplist -De Fire Søstre^{[permanent dead link]}

[4] "Krigen mod Algier". natmus.dk (in Danish). National Museum of Denmark.

[5] Struwe, Lars. "Danmark bombede Algier – og glemte alt om det" (in Danish). videnskab.dk.

[6] 1001 natt

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