Moor - Pirates [updated]

Here is the real story of the Sultans of the Sea. The "Golden Age" of the Moorish pirates ran roughly from the 16th to the 19th century. Unlike the disorganized, rebellious crews of the Caribbean, the Barbary Corsairs were state-sponsored. They operated out of the major ports of the "Barbary Coast": Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli, and the famous pirate republic of Salé (in modern-day Morocco).

This brings us to a famous line in the : "To the shores of Tripoli." moor pirates

For decades, Europe and the fledgling United States paid tribute (bribes) to the Barbary states to leave their ships alone. By 1800, the US was paying nearly 20% of its annual federal budget to Algiers, Tripoli, Tunis, and Morocco. Here is the real story of the Sultans of the Sea

carrying away over 100 villagers into slavery. Entire towns on the English coast paid "protection money" to the Pasha of Algias to avoid being kidnapped. They operated out of the major ports of