Abstract
This document is a report sent in 1654 by Jean Le Vacher, member of the Congregation of the Mission, vicar apostolic of the Holy See and acting French consul in Tunis, to the cardinals of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, in Rome. It describes his missionary work in and around Tunis. Le Vacher’s letter focuses on the life and conditions of the Christian slaves (mostly Catholic, but Protestant too) in the region and on his efforts to provide spiritual and material assistance to them. It offers insights into early modern slavery in North Africa, the efforts of the Catholic Church to strengthen its presence in the area, and the culture and organization of societies on the border between Islam and Christianity. This presentation includes the full text of Le Vacher’s report in an English translation, followed by the original Italian, with an introduction, commentary, and editorial notes.
Recommended Citation
Forrestal Ph.D., Alison and Roșu Ph.D., Felicia
(2017)
"Slavery on the Frontier: The Report of a French Missionary on Mid-Seventeenth-Century Tunis,"
Vincentian Heritage Journal: Vol. 34:
Iss.
1, Article 2.
Available at:
https://via.library.depaul.edu/vhj/vol34/iss1/2