Some years ago, while doing research on pirates, I came across some interesting information about a group of Islamic pirates who sailed from the North African Berber states of Algiers, Tunis, Morocco, and Tripoli (the Barbary Coast). These pirates were the scourge of the Mediterranean for years, capturing merchant ships and enslaving or ransoming their crews for wealth that made the Muslim rulers of these nations rich and powerful.
Though the Mediterranean was across the sea, America was not immune to these attacks. The Barbary pirates captured and held the crews of several of our merchant ships. Before the United States won it's independence from Britain, the Royal Navy protected our ships, as well as France under the Treaty of Alliance. But after we became a nation, all bets were off! On October 11, 1784, Moroccan pirates seized the American brigantine, Betsey, and Thomas Jefferson, the then US minister to France, sent envoys to Morocco and Algeria to try to purchase
treaties and the freedoms of the captured sailors held by Algeria. He was successful in part for Morocco did sign a treaty with the
U.S. on June 23, 1786 that formally ended all Moroccan piracy
against American shipping interests.
http://alturl.com/2kik4 |
In March 1785, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams went to London to negotiate with Tripoli's envoy, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja. Upon inquiring "concerning the ground of the pretensions to make war upon nations who had done them no injury", the ambassador replied:
It was written in their Koran, that all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it was the right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave; and that every mussulman who was slain in this warfare was sure to go to paradise. He said, also, that the man who was the first to board a vessel had one slave over and above his share, and that when they sprang to the deck of an enemy's ship, every sailor held a dagger in each hand and a third in his mouth; which usually struck such terror into the foe that they cried out for quarter at once.
http://alturl.com/rfjb8 |
Jefferson continued to argue for cessation of the tribute, with rising support from George Washington and others. With the recommissioning of the American navy in 1794 and the resulting increased firepower on the seas, it became increasingly possible for America to refuse paying tribute, although by now the long-standing habit was hard to overturn.
On Jefferson's inauguration as president in 1801, Yusuf Karamanli, the Pasha (or Bashaw) of Tripoli, demanded $225,000 from the new administration. In response, "Jefferson sent a small force to the area to protect American ships and citizens against potential aggression.
http://nelliebly.edu.glogster.com/barbary-pirates/ |
Fascinating!
Thurs June 14th,
ReplyDelete"Morning, MaryLu."
Wow ... totally interesting; yet totally appalling re - the Moroccan/Algerian pirates !!!
So, terrorism is nothing new ... just the 'methods' have changed on how they carry it out.
Boy, "their ideas" (Koran) of terrorizing/killing everyone who doesn't believe/think as they do ... sure differs from the love and forgiveness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Gospel message, salvation to live in Eternity with Him one day ... and that "everyone" is created "equal" !!!
Another major eye-opener, MaryLu !
Thanks for sharing this info ... very interesting indeed.
Take care, and, God Bless,
In Him, Brenda Hurley
Wow I never knew that! It is very interesting to know there were terrorists like that even back then. thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the history lesson, MaryLu! I had never heard about any of that until now!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting!
ReplyDeleteI have a question regarding the book giveaway each month. How do I enter?
Katelyn S.
They told the terrorists no, and proved that they meant it...so why is it hard for us to do that today???
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone! I thought this was truly fascinating.. that we were dealing with Islamist terrorists even back then! And also shocked that we actually paid them tribute!! Yes Brenda, what a difference between their beliefs and the grace of the gospel! Eszter.. couldn't agree more.. we need a strong leader like Jefferson again.
ReplyDeleteKatelyn, to enter the monthly drawing all you have to do is Either "Like" my facebook author page and/or sign up for my newsletter. The links are listed here on my blog on the right side beneath the "follow by email" tab. Hope that helps!!
Yes, Muslim terrorism is nothing new! I remember these events are the basis of the line "to the shores of Tripoli" in the Marine Corps hymn. Of course, the British weren't much better in those days!
ReplyDelete, the rising crime rates, the rising voices of hate and resentment, the radicalization and the accelerating rate of violence and terror incidents. stopping violent extremism
ReplyDelete