Let's take a look at the incredibly vibrant life of one of our colorful heroes, Murat Reis, who struck fear into the hearts of Western European coasts and ports for years. When we say colorful life, we mean the Turkish pirate, Little Murat Reis, who, though lesser known in history, abducted thousands of Christians and subjected them to a life of hardship.
Originally, Little Murat Reis (1570-1641) was Dutch. He was born in the city of Haarlem, Netherlands, and his real name was Jan Janszoon (Full name: Jan Janszoon van Haarlem). In the 17th century, he operated as a pirate under the Ottoman Empire's flag, conducting expeditions from the Atlantic Ocean to Iceland, where he besieged the island for 26 days, returning with a bounty of captives and loot, leaving an indelible mark on history as a Turkish corsair.
Little Murat Reis began his maritime career on a special Dutch ship. In the 1600s, England, France, and the Netherlands signed an agreement to impose a ban on piracy activities at sea. However, the allure of loot and wealth on the high seas proved irresistible. In his first expedition as a captain, Murat Reis struck off the coast of Lanzarote (modern-day Canary Islands) and rescued another Dutch captain, Ivan de Veenboer, who later joined him. His first act of piracy was recorded on May 11, 1619, when he seized the ship of Jacob van Engelsen van Aquersloot, the helmsman of De Veenboer. The ship was loaded with wheat, yielding a handsome profit. After De Veenboer, also known as Süleyman Reis, passed away in 1620, Janszoon took over his operations in Algiers and converted to Islam. After adopting the name Murat Reis, he moved to Morocco to embark on piracy activities. As piracy was strictly prohibited by the British and Dutch crowns, Murat Reis established his reign by taking over the island of Salé, where he began ruling over 14 pirates in 1623, effectively founding the Pirate Republic. Due to Morocco's de facto allegiance to the Ottoman Empire, Murat Reis started to be recognized as a Turkish corsair. He eventually became the Commander of the Ottoman Atlantic Pirate Fleet.
In 1627, the King of Marrakesh launched an attack to capture Salé island. Despite Murat Reis' resistance, his pirates succumbed to the allure of the King's treasures, leading to disobedience. Consequently, in 1627, Murat Reis moved with his family to Algiers. Later, he attained the rank of Admiral in Morocco, anchoring his ship in Dutch ports on behalf of the Moroccan state. However, the Dutch authorities couldn't convince him to renounce piracy, even after bringing his former wife and children to the port.
Throughout his life, Little Murat Reis sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and the northern seas, striking fear into the hearts of states in the region. His most significant expedition took place in 1627 when he targeted Iceland. With 15 ships and 12 galleys, Murat Reis sailed from port to port in England, bombarding numerous harbors and launching attacks. Subsequently, he crossed the English Channel, engaging in similar activities in Holland and Denmark. He then set his sights on Iceland, besieging the island for 26 days. Given Iceland's small population and its remoteness, its people were not well-versed in warfare. Murat Reis and his men easily plundered and pillaged Iceland.
Following this siege, Turks set foot on Iceland, returning to Algiers with around 400 captives and an equal amount of loot. Murat Reis' Icelandic expedition stands as a significant event in Icelandic history. This siege led to the emergence of the term "Tyrkjaranid" in Iceland, meaning the Turks' raid...
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