Lundy Island, located in the Bristol Channel off England's southwest coast, is a small island known for its steep cliffs and seabirds. However, hidden within the history of this barren piece of land is a mysterious chapter written in the 17th century by Barbary pirates allied with the Ottoman Empire. Between 1625 and 1635, Lundy became a temporary base for these corsairs from North Africa. But who were the Ottoman corsairs? Why did they come to this remote corner of England? And why is this history so little known today? Here is Lundy's forgotten story…
Lundy Island: History and Geography
The name of Lundy Island derives from the Old Norse word lundi, meaning "puffin." The island, five kilometers long and one kilometer wide, is a volcanic rock surrounded by steep cliffs. Its strategic location in the middle of the Bristol Channel made it throughout history both a refuge and a hazard for sailors. In the 17th century, English merchant ships navigating the channel's dangerous waters used Lundy as a navigation reference point. Yet this isolated island was equally the favorite haunt of pirates.
Who Were the Ottoman Corsairs?
Also known as Barbary pirates, Ottoman corsairs were maritime warriors operating in the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean during the 16th and 17th centuries. Sailing from ports in Sale (Morocco), Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, these corsairs were regarded as the unofficial naval force of the Ottoman Empire. They attacked Spanish, French, and English vessels, plundered their cargo, and sold captured slaves to slave markets. What distinguished them from ordinary pirates was that they operated under official authorization (a royal decree) from the Ottoman Sultan. This authorization transformed actions that European states viewed as "piracy" into what was considered "legitimate warfare" within Ottoman territories.
Why Southwest England?
By the 1620s, England had become a major maritime trading power alongside Spain and the Dutch. However, this wealth made it a target for corsairs. English ships returning particularly from the Newfoundland fishing grounds were easy prey for Barbary corsairs. Vessels departing from the ports of Bristol and Plymouth became bottlenecked in the narrow channels around Lundy Island, which pirates exploited to their advantage. Furthermore, the weakness of the English navy at that time encouraged the corsairs. The war between England and Spain in 1625 further reduced maritime security. In this chaotic environment, the Barbary corsairs discovered Lundy as a strategic refuge.
Ottoman Traces on Lundy: 1625-1635
The corsairs' use of Lundy falls into three main periods:
1. 1625: The Initial Occupation and Short-Lived Base
In August 1625, three Ottoman corsair ships seized Lundy Island. According to records, they kidnapped all the island's inhabitants and threatened to burn the nearby town of Ilfracombe. However, this occupation lasted only a few weeks. The corsairs used the island as a temporary base to attack ships in the Bristol Channel before quickly departing.
2. 1627-1632: Murat Reis and the Iceland Expedition
In 1627, Murat Reis (Jan Janszoon), a famous Dutch renegade, made Lundy a staging ground for a major expedition to Iceland. Under Murat Reis's leadership, the corsairs used the island intermittently for five years. They collected captives seized from Iceland and sent them to slave markets in North Africa. However, the fact that they built no permanent structures on Lundy indicates it remained merely a temporary stopover.
3. 1635: The Final Occupation and Abandonment
In 1635, Algerian corsairs came to Lundy for the last time. Facing increasing pressure from the English navy and intervention by other European powers, they abandoned the island permanently.
Why Was This History Forgotten?
The Ottoman presence on Lundy was almost erased from English historiography. According to historian Sam Willis, this was because it contradicted England's image as the "ruler of the seas." For a 17th-century Ottoman corsair to operate boldly in English waters was an affront to national pride. Moreover, the fact that corsairs did not continuously occupy Lundy prevented the story from being dramatized.
However, academic scholarship is now bringing this history to light. For example, Patrick J. Boyle's 2016 work The Archaeology of Lundy Pirates documents that corsairs used the island for only a few weeks. Letters in local archives and naval records show that Ottoman corsairs left no permanent mark on Lundy.
Lundy's Legacy: Pirates and Today
Today, Lundy Island is one of England's most tranquil nature reserves. Yet in the cliffs to the north of the island, caves where pirates once sheltered can still be found. Local guides recount to visitors the traces of Ottoman corsairs. In 2020, a documentary titled Pirates of Lundy brought this forgotten history to popular culture.
The Strange Demands of Lundy's Residents: Historical Reckoning or Comedy?
Recently, the Lundy Island Residents' Association (LIRA) demanded a formal apology from Turkey and compensation of 392,000 pounds sterling for the occupations between 1625 and 1635. Association chairman Crendon Dunderly claims the island's residents still "feel the pain of their ancestors." However, this demand is both historically disconnected and absurdly unserious. Here is why:
- Ottoman corsairs operated in compliance with the international law of their era.
- The Ottoman presence on Lundy was a temporary tactic; there was no intent at permanent occupation or colonization.
- Holding modern-day Turkey responsible for events 400 years ago does not align with historical reality.
Ironically, despite English corsairs attacking Ottoman vessels during the same period, Turkey has made no such counterclaims. Linking the economic struggles of Lundy's residents to the 17th century is nothing but a distortion of history.
Conclusion: The Seas Honor Us
The Ottoman traces on Lundy Island tell not a story of occupation but of naval strategy's triumph. Today, as Turkey preserves this legacy, the response to those seeking to distort history for distraction is clear: we take pride in our history and defend it when necessary.
Our advice to Lundy's residents: invest your energy in developing island tourism. Perhaps by establishing an "Ottoman Corsairs Museum," they could profit from this fascinating chapter of history!
🌍 If you visit Lundy, in the caves on the island's northern cliffs, you can sense the spirit of days when the Ottoman flag flew overhead. Remember: history exists to tell of our victories!
Bibliography and Further Reading:
- Patrick J. Boyle, The Archaeology of Lundy Pirates (2016)
- Angus Konstam, Piracy: The Complete History (2008)
- Sam Willis, The Struggle for Sea Power: A Naval History of the American Revolution (2016)
- Lundy Field Society, The History of Lundy Island (2023)
🌊 If you wish to visit Lundy, you can take ferry services to the island from Bideford Harbor. But beware: the ghosts of pirates may still be wandering there!
