The Little-Known Story of European Slavery in the Middle East and North Africa

The history of Europe and the Middle East and North Africa has complex and often overlooked twists and turns, one of which involves the unexpected existence of European slaves in the region. From grand palaces built with European slave labor to smaller, more clandestine raids for slaves, the story of European slavery in the Middle East and North Africa is as rich and varied as it is surprising.

European Slaves in Morocco: A Century-Long Legacy

Morocco stands as a testament to the historical presence of European slaves, having possessed thousands over the centuries. One of the most infamous was Moulay Ismail, the Moroccan king who ruled in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He is particularly renowned for having constructed his massive palace in Meknes using the labor of between 20,000 and 30,000 European slaves. This exploitation was not an isolated incident but a part of a broader pattern of enslavement practiced by the Barbary pirates.

These pirates frequently conducted raids on European and American ships, resulting in the capture and sale of tens of thousands of individuals into slavery. The journey and work conditions were often brutal, with many perishing while toiling on projects like the palace in Meknes. The Bab al Mansour fortress in Meknes is said to have been designed and built by a European convert to Islam, illustrating the intricate multicultural nature of the region's history.

Fighting and Raiding for Slaves

While the widespread capture of Europeans as slaves was most often an incidental result of military conflicts, there were also instances where slavery was a primary motive. European armies and navies fought battles with those in the Middle East and North Africa over centuries. The Muslim conquest of Spain, medieval European invasions of southern Italy, the Crusades, and the numerous conflicts between Byzantine empires and local populations, not to mention the Ottoman Empire's campaigns, often resulted in the capture and enslavement of prisoners of war. The victors could sell these captives, and the losers could find themselves branded as slaves.

One lesser-known but impactful example is the raid on Baltimore, Ireland. In 1631, a force led by a renegade Dutch captain raided the town, an act of piracy aimed at capturing slaves to sell elsewhere. This raid is just a small part of the long history of the Barbary pirates kidnapping Europeans. Their activities contributed to waves of human trafficking that devastated communities across Europe and the Mediterranean.

The First Barbary War and Beyond

The Barbary pirates' activities extended into the early 19th century, with the United States witnessing firsthand the horrors of these slave-holding practices. One of the first major actions by the US Marines in the First Barbary War was a mission to rescue American sailors who had been taken as slaves. This mission led to the famous line in the US Marine Corps anthem, “to the shores of Tripoli.”

Though more widespread and brutal slavery in the Middle East and North Africa is often associated with the New World and the Atlantic slave trade, it is crucial to recognize that European slaves also played a significant role in regional history. By understanding this history, we can better appreciate the complexities of the past and learn from its lessons.