Zymen Danseker facts for kids

Siemen Danziger (born around 1579 – died around 1615) was a famous Dutch sailor. He was also known as Zymen Danseker and Simon de Danser. He started as a privateer and later became a Barbary corsair in Ottoman Algeria.

A privateer was like a pirate, but they had permission from their government to attack enemy ships. Barbary corsairs were pirates from North Africa who often worked for the Ottoman Empire.

Simon Danziger and an English pirate named John Ward were two of the most well-known renegades. A renegade is someone who changes their loyalty or side. They both led groups of ships from Algiers and Tunis. These groups were as strong as any European navy. Together, they were a very powerful force at sea.

After joining the Barbary corsairs, Danziger was known by the Turkish name Simon Re'is. He commanded many ships, including English and Turkish ones. In just two years, he captured over 40 ships. His career as a corsair ended when he was captured and died around 1615.

Simon Danziger's Early Life and Adventures

Simon Danziger was from the Netherlands. He first worked as a privateer during the Eighty Years' War. This was a long war where the Dutch fought for their independence from Spain.

Later, he moved to Marseilles, France. There, he married the daughter of the city's governor. In 1607, he took a ship and sailed to Algiers. In Algiers, he started working for Redwan, who was the Pasha (a high-ranking official) of Algiers. This began his famous time as a Barbary corsair.

Why Simon Became a Corsair

It is not fully clear why Simon Danziger decided to become a corsair. However, he was welcomed in Algiers because he was an enemy of the Spanish. Within a year, he became one of the leading captains among the corsairs.

He often brought Spanish ships and prisoners back to Algiers. Because of his successful raids, people on the Barbary Coast and the Turks gave him several nicknames. These included Simon Re'is, Deli-Reis (meaning Captain Crazy), and Deli Kapitan.

Simon's Growing Fleet

Simon Danziger added the ships he captured to his own fleet. Algiers also provided him with sailors and allowed him to use their shipyards. He was the first corsair from Algiers to sail beyond the Straits of Gibraltar. This was the farthest any of them had ever traveled. He even sailed as far north as Iceland.

Over three years, Simon captured at least 40 ships and sank many others. After more years of pirating, he became very wealthy. He lived in a grand palace.

Challenges and Alliances

Simon Danziger attacked ships from many different countries. This made trading in the Mediterranean Sea very difficult for everyone. Because of this, many nations tried to stop his attacks. They tried counterattacks, offering bribes for safe passage, or even hiring him as a privateer for their own navies.

Meeting Other Pirates

Simon soon met other famous renegade pirates. These included Peter Easton and Jack Ward from England. He formed a strong partnership with Jack Ward.

At one point, a French fleet led by De Beaulieu de Pairsac tried to capture him. Eight Spanish galleys helped the French. However, a sudden storm allowed Simon to escape. He sailed his ships along the coast where his pursuers could not reach them.

Other navies were also trying to catch him. Eight more Spanish men-of-war (large warships) led by Don Luis Fajardo were searching for him. An English group of ships led by Sir Thomas Shoreley was also trying to capture Simon.

Simon's Return to France

In 1609, Simon Danziger captured a Spanish galleon near Valencia. He used this chance to send a message to Henri IV, the King of France. He wanted to return to Marseilles, where he had left his wife and children many years before. He hoped to be forgiven for his past actions.

Later that year, he was reunited with his family. He arrived in Marseilles on November 17, 1609, with four well-armed warships. He was welcomed by the Duke of Guise. Simon gave the Duke a gift of some Turkish prisoners, who were sent to work on galleys. He also gave a large amount of Spanish gold. This event helped start the war between France and Algiers that lasted from 1609 to 1628.

Later Life and Death

Simon Danziger lived in Marseilles for a year. French officials then asked him to lead a mission against the corsairs. Despite some rumors that he had been captured, he returned to France later that same year.

In 1615, King Louis XIII of France asked Simon to help negotiate. He wanted Simon to arrange the release of French ships that were being held by Yusuf Dey in Tunis. According to the traveler William Lithgow, Yusuf tricked Simon. Simon was led ashore, captured by soldiers called janissaries, and then killed.

See also

In Spanish: Zymen Danseker para niños