Sulayman Reis facts for kids

Ivan Dirkie de Veenboer was a famous Dutch sailor from the 1600s. He started as a privateer, which means he was like a legal pirate working for his government during the Eighty Years' War between the Dutch and the Spanish. Later, he became a full-time pirate. He then converted to Islam and changed his name to Süleyman Reis. He became a very successful admiral for the Ottoman Empire and led many ships from Algiers.

A Sailor's Journey

Ivan Dirkie de Veenboer was born in a town called Hoorn in the Netherlands. He first became known as a privateer. This meant he had special permission from the Dutch government to attack Spanish ships during a long war. He had a "letter of marque," which was like a license to capture enemy ships.

However, he didn't have much luck as a Dutch privateer. So, he decided to join other sailors who were operating in North Africa. He became an officer under another famous sailor named Simon the Dancer around 1606 to 1609.

Life in Algiers

De Veenboer found much more success along the Barbary coast in North Africa. While he was in Algiers, he decided to convert to Sunni Islam and took the new name Sulayman. Later, he visited the capital city of the Ottoman Empire, Constantinople. There, he was given the important title of Reis, which means Admiral. By 1617, he was in charge of his own fleet of ships.

Sulayman Reis often sailed under the flag of Algiers. But his crew was mostly Dutch, and they always raised the Dutch flag when they attacked Spanish ships.

Hopes of Returning Home

At one point, Sulayman Reis wanted to go back to the Netherlands. He tried to talk with Dutch officials to get a pardon, which would forgive him for his past actions as a pirate. He mostly stopped attacking Dutch ships and even helped their crews return safely if he did capture one.

However, he had an argument with the Dutch consul in Algiers, Wynant de Keyser van Bollandt. This argument ended his hopes of being forgiven and returning home.

Leading a Fleet

In 1618, Sulayman Reis was at the peak of his power. He commanded a huge fleet of fifty warships! These ships were divided into smaller groups. Many future famous sailors sailed with him, including Jan Janszoon, who also converted to Islam.

Later that same year, Sulayman Reis lost his top leadership position to another admiral named Mustapha Reis. After a battle with several merchant ships, including Dutch, French, and Italian ones, Mustapha Reis and another sailor captured two ships. The rest managed to get away.

Final Adventures and Battle

Sulayman Reis decided to retire for a while. He captured one last ship filled with sugar and settled down in Algiers. But his retirement didn't last long. In early 1620, he sailed out again and captured a valuable French ship.

In July of that year, he and four other ships were sailing off the coast when the wind completely stopped. This is called a "dead calm." Three large Dutch warships surprised them. Sulayman Reis and two other ships managed to escape, but his main ship was badly damaged.

He made it back to Algiers in August and spent a month repairing his ship. After the repairs, he left Algiers again with eight ships. He and his small fleet were at sea for over two months. On October 10, 1620, they met a group of warships: one Dutch, two French, and two English.

Sulayman Reis decided to fight them near the Cartagena harbor. After a long battle, he was killed when a cannonball hit him. His enemies returned his body to shore in a small boat.

See also

In Spanish: Sulayman Reis para niños