Algerian Female Captives in Early Modern Europe: Between Forced Baptism and Voluntary Conversion

Abstract

This study examines the factors surrounding the displacement and conversion of Algerian women in Europe during the Ottoman era (16th–19th centuries). It aims to analyze how corsair activity, European coastal incursions, and Spanish occupations facilitated the capture of these women. Furthermore, it investigates the mechanisms governing their transition to Christianity, differentiating between forced baptism and voluntary apostasy.

The findings indicate that maritime captivity was the primary driver of forced displacement, leading to slave markets and mandatory baptism in European convents. However, conversion was not entirely coercive; cases like Thurayyā demonstrate that domestic interaction with Christian bondwomen and enticing promises of freedom also fostered voluntary conversion. Ultimately, female conversion reflected a complex interplay between imperial rivalry, religious coercion, and individual agency.