Barbary Pirates
The Barbary Pirates are a scenario faction used in Definitive Edition Historical Battles, including Algiers and The Burning of USS Philadelphia. They are available in those scenarios and custom Scenario Editor games, not as a standard skirmish civilization.
Campaign role & roster
The Algiers scenario lets the player command the Barbary Pirates against the Spanish; other missions use them as opponents. Each battle supplies its own starting force, objectives and economy, so their available roster is defined by the selected scenario.
Mission use
Check the scenario objective and map before choosing targets. Use the dedicated battle pages for the player faction, opposing force and mission goals; do not assume the same units are available in every Barbary Pirates scenario.
Two distinct Historical Battles
In Algiers, set in 1516, the player leads the Barbary Pirates against Spain during the capture of the city. Required goals include keeping the Town Center, destroying the three Spanish camps and destroying all four Spanish Forts; optional goals cover the blockade, Ottoman help, Algerian villages, a silver mine and Weapon Caches. The 1803 scenario The Burning of USS Philadelphia instead follows Stephen Decatur’s harbor raid: capture the corsair ship Mastico, seize the harbor entrance, reach the captured USS Philadelphia, defend the ship while explosives are loaded, and bring the corsair back to the frigates.
Scenario scripting defines the roster
The Barbary Pirates are playable in Algiers and appear in other Historical Battles and custom Scenario Editor games, but they are not a standard skirmish civilization. Starting units, resources, ships, enemy forces and objectives are set by the selected mission. In the harbor scenario, optional goals include rescuing the Philadelphia crew, capturing a fixed gun and destroying the eastern Barbary fleet; those opportunities are specific to that battle.
Use the objective sequence as the plan
These scenarios reward completing the stated naval and land tasks in order. Scout escorts and guards before engaging, protect the mission’s key ship while it is required for a later objective, and check optional rewards before taking a route that could endanger the required force. Do not transfer an opening or unit roster from Algiers to the 1803 raid.