The archives in Italy house invaluable documents shedding light on Algeria’s history during the Ottoman era. These historical records cover social, political, military, and health aspects, as well as diplomatic relations between Algeria and Italy from the 16th to the 19th centuries , Algerian history documents in Italian archives.
In a lecture titled “Documents on Algerian History Preserved in Italian Archives,” Professor Ibrahim Saioud, a modern history expert at the University of Algeria 2, highlighted the numerous Italian archives containing crucial collections related to Algeria. These archives offer insights into social, political, economic, health, and diplomatic conditions.
Saioud, drawing from his field research in five significant Italian archival centers, such as the Vatican Library and the Vicariato in Rome, emphasized the wealth of information available. He stated, “These centers house archives covering political, social, economic, religious, health, and diplomatic conditions.”
Among the noteworthy findings are secondary collections specifically categorized by geographic regions. The North Africa region, for instance, comprises 22 volumes spanning from 1638 to 1892. One notable secondary collection includes 460 pages of documents from 1783 to 1791, covering Algeria, Tunisia, and Tripoli. These reports, often from European consuls and traders, address various topics, including the health situation in Algeria during the 1691 plague outbreak and diplomatic relations with other nations.
The collection also features letters from Muslim prisoners, including Algerians held in Vatican territories. One letter, authored by an Algerian captive named “Ahmed” in Naples, addressed the Pope, showcasing a level of cultural and educational sophistication among the prisoners.
According to Saioud, the Vatican Library archive is crucial for scholars, offering insights into the political and historical relations between Algeria and Italy. It includes detailed records of the Spanish campaign against Algiers and the treaty between Algeria and Venice in 1763.
The Vicariato in Rome archive contains documents related to forced conversions and baptisms of Muslim prisoners during the 17th and 18th centuries, involving over a thousand mostly Algerian captives.
The Livorno archive provides unique pages detailing the relationship between the Tuscan region of Italy and Algeria in the late 16th century, serving as important historical documents.
In conclusion, Saioud stressed the abundance of such documents in the Mediterranean region, calling for increased collaboration between national archives in Algeria and their Italian counterparts. He urged the activation of research teams and the realization of cultural cooperation between Algeria and these nations , Algerian history documents in Italian archives
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