Algeria / France - Lot 99

Algeria / France IMPORTANT COMMEMORATIVE RING FOR THE BOMBARDING OF ALGER (1682-1683) In bronze. Handle depicting Duquesne in the round. Guard with two ship's bow quillons. Scabbard decorated with trophies of arms and a medallion with figures. 33 cm. Note: Made to commemorate the bicentenary of the bombardment of Algiers in 1883 or the bicentenary of Duquesne's death in 1888. Duquesne Abraham (Dieppe, 1610 - Paris, 1688). French sailor. Trained by his father, a skilful captain, he was given command of a vessel at the age of seventeen. Tasked with purging the Mediterranean of pirates, he defeated the Tripoli fleet at Chio (1681), bombarded Algiers (1682/1683) and forced the dey to return all Christian slaves. Despite his victories, Duquesne was not elevated to the rank of admiral, as he was a Protestant, but the king made him a marquis and erected his land at Le Bouchet, near Etampes, into a marquisate du Quesne.