Change Of Theme - Iceland

Whilst doing research for this project, I came upon an episode in European history that I found interesting, and something that isnt that well known in this country.

I wanted to do something that I dont think anyone else would do. Queen Victoria, and things like that are just too obvious for me, as too many people would be instantly drawn to that.

I choose to look at 'The Turkish Abductions' of Iceland.

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.

At this point Iceland had relinquished the right to the crown, and their right to initiate and consent to legislation to Denmark, howeven Denmark did not protect them.

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. They only managed to steal salted fish and a few hides, so they kidnapped people and sold them as slaves. The number of slaves kidnapped from Iceland is disputed, with figures as high as 400, and as low as 8.

Anyone who resisted a life of slavery were killed on the spot. The pirates only took people with good health, so they would make the most money possible.
When the pirates invaded Vestmannaeyjar, a minister and some people left for a cave in the mountains, but later that day, the minister went see if it was safe, when the pirates saw himand killed him. They then found the cave with all the people. Those capture were sold into slavery on the Barbary Coast. The most notable captive was Guðríður Símonardóttir who was sold as a slave and concubine in Algeria before being bought back by King Christian IV of Denmark.