Piracy

As a vastly profitable enterprise, piracy remained widespread throughout this period. The prospect of a large haul, often coupled with political motives, led many people to join in pirate raids on coastal areas and merchant ships. Booty did of course include prisoners, who were either sold in the slave markets or set free on payment of the ransom demanded. Muslim pirates operated from the major harbours on the north coast of Africa, such as Algiers, Tripoli and Tunis, while Christian corsairs used Valetta on Malta, Marseilles and Livorno as their bases.