Tyrkjaránið

Tyrkjaránið, often translated as the "Turkish Abductions," refers to a series of raids on the coasts of Iceland by Barbary pirates that occurred in the summer of 1627. These raids, primarily carried out by corsairs from Salé (in modern-day Morocco) operating under Ottoman suzerainty, resulted in the capture of hundreds of Icelanders who were taken into slavery in North Africa.

The pirates first attacked the Westman Islands, where they abducted around 400 people, including the local pastor and his wife. Subsequent raids affected other coastal areas of Iceland. The stolen Icelanders were sold into slavery in various North African cities, including Algiers and Salé. Many endured harsh conditions and never returned to their homeland.

The motivation behind these raids was economic, with the pirates seeking to capture people for ransom or to sell them into servitude. The raids had a significant and lasting impact on Icelandic society, causing demographic loss and widespread fear. Efforts to ransom the captives were made over the years, with some individuals eventually regaining their freedom, though the majority remained enslaved. The events of Tyrkjaránið are a notable and tragic chapter in Icelandic history, reflecting the vulnerability of the island nation to external threats during this period.