Turkish Abductions
Encyclopedia
The Turkish Abductions were a series of raids that took place in Iceland
between July 4 – July 19, 1627. Both Austurland
(the eastern edge of the country) and Vestmannaeyjar (islands off the south coast) were raided by Barbary pirates from the regency of Algiers
.
In 1627, Jan Janszoon
hired a Danish
“slave” (most likely a crew member captured on a Danish
ship taken as a pirate prize) to pilot him and his men to Iceland
, where they raided the Icelandic city Reykjavík
. Initially they managed to steal only some salted fish and a few hides, so they decided to make the raid profitable by kidnapping potential slaves. The number of slaves kidnapped from Iceland has been estimated as between 400 and 800. Our most detailed account of the raid is found in a work by Ólafur Egilsson
, a priest initially enslaved by the pirates and sent back to plead for funds from the King of Denmark to redeem his Icelandic subjects still in Algiers.
All those offering resistance were killed. The pirates took only young people and those in good physical condition.
When the pirates invaded Vestmannaeyjar, some of the inhabitants and a minister left for the mountains of the island to hide in a cave. Later that day, the minister left the cave to look; some pirates saw him, killed him, and found the cave with all the people in it.
Those captured were sold into slavery
on the Barbary Coast
. The most notable captive was Guðríður Símonardóttir
who was sold as a slave and concubine in Ottoman Algeria
before being bought back by King Christian IV of Denmark
.
The pirates also attempted to attack Bessastaðir
, but were thwarted by cannon fire from the local fortifications (Bessastaðaskans) and a quickly mustered group of Lancer
s from the Suðurnes
.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
between July 4 – July 19, 1627. Both Austurland
Austurland
Austurland is a region in eastern Iceland. Its area is 22,721 km² and its population is 15,300. The biggest town in the region is Egilsstaðir, with a population of 2300. The oldest municipality in the Eastfjords is Seydisfjörðr municipality established 1895, with population of 706 the year...
(the eastern edge of the country) and Vestmannaeyjar (islands off the south coast) were raided by Barbary pirates from the regency of Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
.
In 1627, Jan Janszoon
Jan Janszoon
Jan Janszoon van Haarlem, commonly known as Murat Reis the younger was the first President and Grand Admiral of the Corsair Republic of Salé, Governor of Oualidia, and a Dutch pirate, one of the most notorious of the Barbary pirates from the 17th century; the most famous of the "Salé...
hired a Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
“slave” (most likely a crew member captured on a Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
ship taken as a pirate prize) to pilot him and his men to Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, where they raided the Icelandic city Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
. Initially they managed to steal only some salted fish and a few hides, so they decided to make the raid profitable by kidnapping potential slaves. The number of slaves kidnapped from Iceland has been estimated as between 400 and 800. Our most detailed account of the raid is found in a work by Ólafur Egilsson
Ólafur Egilsson
Ólafur Egilsson was an Icelandic priest. He was abducted along with his wife and two sons by Barbary Pirates during their raid on Vestmannaeyjar. This raid is known in Icelandic history as Tyrkjaránið . He returned to Vestmannaeyjar in 1628 but his wife Ásta Þorsteinsdóttir did not return until...
, a priest initially enslaved by the pirates and sent back to plead for funds from the King of Denmark to redeem his Icelandic subjects still in Algiers.
All those offering resistance were killed. The pirates took only young people and those in good physical condition.
When the pirates invaded Vestmannaeyjar, some of the inhabitants and a minister left for the mountains of the island to hide in a cave. Later that day, the minister left the cave to look; some pirates saw him, killed him, and found the cave with all the people in it.
Those captured were sold into slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
on the Barbary Coast
Barbary Coast
The Barbary Coast, or Barbary, was the term used by Europeans from the 16th until the 19th century to refer to much of the collective land of the Berber people. Today, the terms Maghreb and "Tamazgha" correspond roughly to "Barbary"...
. The most notable captive was Guðríður Símonardóttir
Guðríður Símonardóttir
Guðríður Símonardóttir was one of 242 people abducted from the Westman Islands, Iceland in 1627. The attacks by Barbary corsairs came to be known as the Turkish abductions and Guðríður became known as Tyrkja-Gudda.-Life:...
who was sold as a slave and concubine in Ottoman Algeria
History of Ottoman Algeria
Ottoman Algeria was an Ottoman territory centered on Algiers, in modern Algeria. It was established around 1525 when Hayreddin Barbarossa recaptured the city. The Regency of Algiers was the principal center of Ottoman Empire power in the Maghreb. It was also a base from which attacks were made on...
before being bought back by King Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
.
The pirates also attempted to attack Bessastaðir
Bessastaðir
Bessastaðir is today the official residence of the President of Iceland and is situated on Álftanes, not far from the capital city, Reykjavík.- History :...
, but were thwarted by cannon fire from the local fortifications (Bessastaðaskans) and a quickly mustered group of Lancer
Lancer
A lancer was a type of cavalryman who fought with a lance. Lances were used in mounted warfare by the Assyrians as early as and subsequently by Greek, Persian, Gallic, Han-Chinese, nomadic and Roman horsemen...
s from the Suðurnes
Suðurnes
Suðurnes is a region in southwest Iceland. The region has a population of more than 20,000 and is one of the more densely populated parts of the island...
.