Pirates: Barbary Corsairs & The Bombardment of Algiers
For centuries, the Barbary Corsairs captured ships and enslaved European Christians, turning the Mediterranean into a sea of fear and ransom. Backed by the rulers of Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, the corsairs built vast fortunes—and even empires. But in 1816, after failed diplomacy and mounting outrage, Britain struck back.
Dan tells the story of the fiery bombardment that shook Algiers to its core and marked the beginning of the end for Barbary piracy. For this episode in our Pirates series, he's joined by Aaron Jaffer, Curator of World History and Cultures at Royal Museums Greenwich.
Written by Dan Snow, produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal Patmore.
You can discover more and book tickets for the 'Pirates' exhibition at the National Maritime Museum Greenwich here.
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Dan Snow's History Hit
Historian Dan Snow investigates the 'how' and 'why' of history's defining moments.
From the Colosseum of Ancient Rome and the battlefields of Waterloo to the tomb of Tutankhamun, Dan journeys across the globe to share the greatest stories from the past that help us understand the present.
New episodes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
You can get in touch with us at [email protected]
A podcast by History Hit, the world's best history channel and creators of award-winning podcasts The Ancients, Gone Medieval, and Betwixt the Sheets.
Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.
- No. of episodes: 1,411
- Latest episode: 2025-07-17
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