Ali the Canary

A Barbary corsair

By: Moisés Moran Vega

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

In this novel, the story of the life of Simón Romero, better known as Ali the Canary, one of the most important corsairs of the 17th century who sailed the Mediterranean and Atlantic to the coasts of Portugal, is recounted. Ali Romero, also known by this name, was born in 1639 on Triana Street in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, and at the age of 16, he was captured by an Algerian corsair while fishing on the Barbary Coast in Africa. Thanks to his bravery and skill, he made a name for himself among the corsairs, bought his freedom, and began to work as a corsair in Algiers. Over time, he converted to Islam and built his own ship, which he named the Canary. He gained the trust of the Bajá of Algiers, who appointed him as the chief of the Algerian corsairs, and shortly thereafter, he was appointed Grand Admiral of the Algerian Navy. He also served as the ambassador of Algiers to Turkey on two occasions. He maintained a special relationship with the Canary slaves in Algiers and corresponded with the Bishop of the Canary Islands, D. Bartolomé García Ximénez de Rabadán, to resolve issues related to these slaves.