Sack of Lanzarote

Sack of Lanzarote
Date1 May 1618
Location
Result Algerian victory
Belligerents
Regency of Algiers Regency of Algiers Spanish Empire Spanish Empire
Commanders and leaders
Regency of Algiers Tabac Arráez Spanish Empire Jan Janszoon  (POW)
Strength
36 Galleys
3,000 or 5,000 Men
Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Before naval battle:
900 captured[1]
After naval battle:
700 captured[1]

The Sack of Lanzarote occurred in 1618, when 36 Algerian Galleys, sacked the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, taking 900 men, women and children with them to be sold.

Sack

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On May 1, 1618, 36 Algerian Galleys arrived at Bey of Arrefice, Lanzarote, aiming to raid and plunder anything valuable. Led by Tabac Arraez, the pirate commander, they unleashed a force of 3,000 or 5,000 men who looted the island, leaving the inhabitants to seek refuge in caves. Eventually, they were besieged and captured by the Regency of Algiers, totaling 900 men, women, and children.[1][2][3][4] On that day, Jan Janszoon, a Dutch soldier, was also captured. He later converted to Islam and became known as Murat Reis the Younger.[5][6][7]

Aftermath

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Upon learning of the event, King Philip III of Spain ordered the Spanish navy to intercept the pirates, successfully rescuing around 200 captives. the remaining 700 were sold in Tunis and Algiers.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "The pirate raid of 1618". 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  2. ^ Mateo, Elena; Martínez-Frías, Jesús; Vegas, Juana (2019-04-25). Lanzarote and Chinijo Islands Geopark: From Earth to Space. Springer. ISBN 978-3-030-13130-2.
  3. ^ Ditchfield, Simon; Smith, Helen (2017-01-06). Conversions: Gender and religious change in early modern Europe. Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-1-5261-0705-3.
  4. ^ Planet, Lonely; Corne, Lucy; Quintero, Josephine (2015-12-01). Lonely Planet Canary Islands. Lonely Planet. ISBN 978-1-76034-007-0.
  5. ^ Wilson, Peter Lamborn (2003). Pirate Utopias: Moorish Corsairs & European Renegadoes. Autonomedia. ISBN 978-1-57027-158-8.
  6. ^ Lehr, Peter (2019-07-16). Pirates: A New History, from Vikings to Somali Raiders. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-18223-1.
  7. ^ Coindreau, Roger (2006). Les corsaires de Salé (in French). Eddif. ISBN 978-9981-896-76-5.