Square of slaves in Ulcinj

Square of slaves in Ulcinj is located on the territory of the old town, in its upper part by the church, the mosque and the tower Balsica.
In most cases, people were kidnapped for ransom, so slaves weren’t forced to work, but only kept in captivity, while claiming money from their friends and relatives. The slaves were mostly from Italy (Puglia and Sicily), and Dalmatia, the pirates often attacked the rich villas built along the shore of these areas.
In the middle of the XVIII century, the situation changed. Rich people began to buy slaves as servants, slaves from Africa were appreciated most of all, so the pirates began to bring black slaves out from Africa for sale. Their children and grandchildren were often sold several times to new owners, late after receiving the freedom they became sailors from Ulcinj and husbandmen. Among the present inhabitants of the town the community of their descendants has been preserved till now.

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