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The Tyrkjaránið: The Turkish Abductions in Iceland
It occurred in the summer of 1627 and was not a state military invasion, but an extremely sophisticated
transatlantic piracy operation for its time.
The Leader was not Turkish, but a Renegade Dutchman
Although they were called "Turks" because they operated under the flag of the Ottoman Empire (from Algiers and Salé), the mastermind of the operation was
Jan Janszoon, a Dutch pirate who converted to Islam and changed his name to
Murat Reis the Younger. His knowledge of North Atlantic routes allowed the Barbary ships to reach a place as remote as Iceland.
Extreme Logistics: The Longest Voyage of the Corsair
It was one of the longest looting expeditions in the history of Barbary privateering. The pirates sailed more than
4,000 kilometers from North Africa to attack places like
Grindavík, the eastern fjords, and the
Vestman Islands. They captured between
400-900 people to sell them as slaves in the markets of Algiers. Iceland had no army or real fortifications. This event was a peak of traumatic energy in the Icelandic psyche.
Why Iceland?
They were not looking for territory, but
human capital. At that time, northern slaves (redheads or blondes) had a very high value in Mediterranean markets. It was a purely extractive raid, almost like a human mining operation at the end of the World.
This historical trauma, the
Tyrkjaránið, forced Iceland (a traditionally demilitarized territory dependent on the Danish crown) to radically rethink its security.
The End of Geographical Pacifism
Until 1627, Iceland relied blindly on its isolation. After the kidnappings, laws were enacted for the
creation of local militias, forcing farmers in coastal areas to own firearms and perform periodic watches.
"Vakt"
(watch posts) were established at the highest points to detect sails on the horizon, and the Danish crown issued decrees for the construction of small fortifications (such as in
Bessastaðir); only ships authorized by the King could dock.
The Law of the Turks
Killing Turks was legal in Iceland until very recently. In 1814, the laws were revised and protections for privateers were removed. It was not until 2006 when the Icelandic government repealed any interpretation that allowed selective violence against Turks. An interesting law, this one.
Currently, with the inclusive and non-discriminatory trend so fashionable, if implemented in Europe, it would be done in a less selective way, so as not to discriminate against the Arab people as a whole. It is inevitable to feel envy, if you are a white European, for the admirable capacity of the Icelanders to defend themselves against Muslim invaders legislating so judiciously.
Iceland still does not have its own army, but it maintains an extremely well-prepared
Coast Guard, almost with military rank, which is the direct descendant of those 17th-century lookouts.
@TARTARIA HISPANICA
@TARTARIA in my CITY 🏰