Sack of Madeira facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sack of Madeira
Date 1617 Location Madeira, Portugal Result • Capture of Madeira • 1,200 enslaved
Belligerents
Portuguese Empire	Regency of Algiers
Strength
Unknown	8 vessels 800 men
Casualties and losses
1,200 enslaved	Unknown

The sack of Madeira was a surprising attack that happened in 1617. During this event, pirates from Algiers attacked the island of Madeira, which belonged to Portugal. They took many people as slaves, about 1,200 of them. This event shows how dangerous the seas could be during that time, with pirates often raiding coastal towns and islands.

Who Were the Algerian Pirates?

The Algerian pirates were also known as Barbary pirates. They operated from ports in North Africa, especially from the city of Algiers. These pirates were famous for raiding ships and coastal areas in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. They often captured people to sell them into slavery.

To make their raids easier, the Algerian pirates had set up a base on the Cape Verde Islands. These islands are located off the coast of West Africa. From this base, they could easily launch attacks on ships traveling in the Atlantic. They also used it as a place to rest and resupply before heading out for more raids.

The Attack on Madeira

In 1617, a large group of Algerian pirates sailed towards Madeira. They had 8 ships and about 800 men ready for the attack. When they arrived, they quickly took over parts of the island.

The pirates didn't just steal valuable items; they also caused a lot of damage. They burned important historical records and documents that were kept in the island's archives. They also took many valuable things, including church bells. The main goal of these raids was often to capture people. From Madeira, they took 1,200 inhabitants as slaves.

Porto Santo Also Attacked

During the same period, it is believed that the pirates also attacked the nearby Portuguese island of Porto Santo. This island was much smaller than Madeira. The pirates reportedly took 663 people from Porto Santo, leaving the island almost empty of its residents. These attacks caused great fear and hardship for the people living on these islands.

What Happened Next?

The attack on Madeira was not the only raid carried out by the Algerian pirates. Their activities actually seemed to increase after this event. They continued to launch raids on other places far from their usual operating areas. For example, they later attacked Baltimore in Ireland and even carried out a famous raid in Iceland. These events show how far and wide the Barbary pirates' influence reached during that time.