Dutch expedition to Algiers (1624)

Expedition to Algiers (1624)

Lambert in front of the city of Algiers hanging Algerian pirates
Date1624
Location
Algiers, Deylik of Algiers
Result

Dutch victory

  • All Dutch slaves freed, captured vessels, and all other goods returned
Belligerents
 Dutch Republic Deylik of Algiers
Commanders and leaders
Dutch Republic Mooy Lambert Kader Pasha
Divan at that time
Strength
6 Vessels[1] unknown
Casualties and losses
unknown Several hundreds hanged, or thrown into the sea to drown [2]

In 1622, the Dutch Republic and The Regency of Algiers concluded a peace treaty. The Algerians failed to respect the treaty. Following this the Dutch set out a punitive expedition to punish the Algerians.

Background

Between 1613-1622 Algerian Barbary pirates were very active around the Mediterranean Sea. They attacked numerous Dutch ships, which annoyed both the States General, and all of the Dutch merchants, who were getting rich in the Dutch Golden Age. After a twelve year long truce between the Dutch and the Spanish. The Dutch sought to form alliances with numerous North Africa countries against Spain. When they had finally concluded a peace treaty in 1622 after the Dutch–Barbary war. The Algerians did not respect the treaty, and kept attacking Dutch ships, and the Dutch were frustrated with the Algerian barbary pirates.[3] So the Dutch admiral Mooy Lambert got instructions from the States General to launch a punitive expedition against the Algerians.[4]

Expedition

Admiral Lambert soon arrived at the mouth of the Algerian harbor with a great number of Algerian corsairs which he captured, and beat up along his way. He anchored his squadron in the harbor and sent word to the pasha that he demanded the immediate release of all Dutch slaves and all of the captured vessels, cargo, and goods. Lambert threatened that if the pasha did not do as he said, the admiral would hang all of the Algerian officers and crewman he had captured. The pasha refused, believing that Lambert was bluffing. Lambert then hanged every Algerian captive on his ship, and drowned the rest that did not fit on his ships to hang, and then turned his squadron around and sailed back into the sea with dead Algerian captives on top of his ship. This horrified the Algerian populace and the pasha. The city convulsed with wailing crowds and tumultuous clamor at the gates of the pasha's palace. There was no time for the pasha and his officers to fully consider the implications of the event, as they soon beheld the return of Lambert's squadron with a fresh collection of captured corsairs and their crews. Lambert again anchored in the harbor and repeated his demands with the same threat if they were not met. The pasha then immediately released every Dutch captive and restored the Dutch properties. However Lambert did not return those captured Algerians. He took them home to the Dutch Republic, and it is unknown what he did with them there.[5]

References

  1. ^ Murray, John; Playfair, R. L. (1878). Handbook for Travellers in Algeria and Tunis, Algiers, Oran, Constantine, Carthage, &c. p. 42.
  2. ^ Wheelan, Joseph (2004). Jefferson's War America's First War on Terror 1801-1805 (E-book ed.). PublicAffairs. ISBN 9780786740208.
  3. ^ Jamieson, Alan G (2013). Lords of the Sea A History of the Barbary Corsairs (E-book ed.). Reaktion books. p. 95. ISBN 9781861899460.
  4. ^ Schokkenbroek, Joost. "Lambert Hendricksz en zijn jihad tegen de Barbarijse zeerovers" (in Dutch). University of Leiden. pp. 10–11.
  5. ^ Vanvugt, Ewald. Zwartboek van Nederland overzee: wat iedere Nederlander moet weten (in Dutch). p. 75.