Vikings in Paris n but first a reminder

Vikings in Paris n but first a reminder of where we left them

n After Lindisfarne numerous attacks in British Isles and Ireland n Began to colonize off coast of Scotland Next turned attention southward n Looking not at Christian Churches n But at trading posts n n like Dorestad on the Rhine

n 834. A fleet of Danes came to Frisa n n n On through Utrecht to Dorestad Slaughtered some took others away, and burned surrounding region. n n laid waste to part of it. Annals of St. Bertin Why such a time lag? 1 st ~ 793 Dorestad 834

Charlemagne and Frankia n Charlemagne's vast empire of Frankia n n Modern day – France, West Germany, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy Dominated Europe n Culminating with his crowning as the 1 st Holy roman emperor on Christmas day in 800 n

n Although unwieldy n Charlemagne constantly fighting to defend or hold together the empire Charlemagne set up a series of watches and guards along the “northern sea” n These along with naval flotillas were able to guard against, and prevent, large scale Viking raiding n

Upon death in 814 succeeded by n Louis the Pious n As committed to the cause as his father n But, did not have the same forceful character n Civil wars began to break out n And the Vikings with a nose for opportunity moved in n

First probed Seine in 820 n Then settled back to closer targets n n n Expanding to Antwerp in 836 n n Utrecht and Dorestad in 834 southern Britain at around the same time And the trading post of

n 840 Louis the Pious died leaving the empire to his three sons n n Louis the German in the east Charles the Bald in the west Lothar in the centre and Italy With division, internal conflicts and pressure from external raiders the empire began to collapse

842 – Vikings back on the Loire with a fleet of 67 ships n Rumored to have been aided by a rebel Count – Lambert – who wanted Nantes for himself n Lambert’s pilots guided the Viking fleet down the Loire River n On June 24 th during the celebration of St John’s day they struck n Rebel Count stepped in and assumed power over shattered town n

Death of Louis the Pious turned Frankia into a Viking hunting ground n Also taught Vikings that activity could be a full time commitment n After attack on Nantes n Vikings wintered at Noirmoutier rather than return home n

n n 841 – Rouen on the Seine 842 – the trade city of Quentovis n n Near modern day Boulogne 845 – Hamburg 845 Viking, Ragnar, entered Seine with 120 ships Charles the Bald attempted to repulse

Deployed army on either side of river n Crossfire backfired n Rangar assessed which was the weaker of two banks n Attacked quickly defeated one bank n Hung 111 captives in view of opposing bank n Crippled morale and ripped the heart out of resistance n

n Easter Sunday 845 he pounced on Paris n n Sacked the city Demanded and received 7, 000 pounds of Silver from Charles the Bald to leave n Bought Charles 6 years of peace to deal with internal enemies Set precedent that other Vikings would follow n By middle of the ninth century whole of Frankish Empire in a state of calamity n Monk of Noirmoutier wrote n

n “The number of ships increases, the endless flood of Vikings never ceases to grow. Everywhere Christ’s people are the victims of massacre, burning, and plunder, clear proof of which will remain as long as the world itself endures. The Vikings overrun all that lies before them, and none can withstand them. They sieze the cities of Bordeux, Périgueux, Limoges, Angoulême, Toulouse; Angers, Tours, and Orléans are made deserts; the ashes of many a saint are counted away. . . Ships past counting voyage up the Seine, and throughout the entire region evil grows strong”

n Now recognized that Vikings became settlers and traders n Advance art and technology throughout Europe Must not lose sight of fact that they were also savage and destructive also n Although a time of brutality n Actions in Franikia considerably more brutal and murderous than most. n

n Gradually raids became more organized and ambitious n Example Bjorn Ironside and fellow commander Haestin Began in 857 with attack upon Paris n What one historian described as a “holocaust” n n n City almost totally destroyed Only 4 buildings still standing

Ease and success led to other thoughts. n If they could sack greatest city in Northern Europe n n why not sack the greatest city in the world Rome n Bjorn and Haestin sailed from Paris on trail of havoc and destruction around coasts of Europe to the Mediterranean n

n n n Initially easy pickings round the coast of Brittany and into the Bay of Biscay When they reached the shores of Moorish Spain their ships were laden with prisoners, gold and silver Lost two ships in an attempted attack on Spain then pressed on through the Straits of Gibraltar Sacked Algeciras before crossing to Africa Took Africans as prisoners n n Who ended up shivering as slaves in Ireland Before shifting back to the coasts of Spain and France

Here they raided the Balerics, Narbonne and the Camargue n They continued east to Italy n n n Then attacked and raided Luna n n May have sacked Pisa Between Pisa and Genoa Suggestions that they may have got as far east as Alexandria in Egypt

Eventually they turned around and headed back n Attacked in the Straits of Gibraltar by Moors n Heavy losses, eventually broke through and headed back up the Atlantic coast n Stopping of in Navarre, to head inland capture Pamplona, ransoming the Prince for a “Huge sum” n

862, 5 years after leaving, the Vikings returned safely to the mouth of the Loire river n Only 20 of the original 62 ships returned n This was both: n A spectacular and heroic voyage whose fame would not be forgotten n A preposterous exercise in piracy that brought untold misery n

Back in England n n n Sporadic attacks continued for several years 850 a change in tactics A group of Vikings (Danes) rather than attack and disappear stayed in England Wintering on the Isle of Thanent off the coast of Kent Over the next decade or so the Vikings worked their way up the East coast of England

n Led initially by Ivor the Boneless and Halfden n n Fall 866 they took York n n They fought, bribed and tricked their way north to Northumbria capital of Northumbria Another shift in policy Moved from setting up winter camps to taking over a large city – and staying Appointed a puppet King and with their rear safe headed south

Vikings attacked and claimed land throughout England n Making vassals of several regions n 871 shocked by a counter attack under Alfred of Wessex n Although not able to defeat the Vikings Alfred was able to force a negotiated truce n In 877 the Vikings, under Grunthum, broke the truce and attacked Wessex once more n

Alfred pushed back and harried constantly n Easter 878 looked as though the Vikings would expand their new English colony n Alfred managed to launch a successful counter -attack n n n Gunthrum forced into an unconditional surrender received Christian baptism as part of the price of peace Gunthrum honored the treaty and moved back into East Anglia n Setting up dual control of England n

n n n Alfred in control of the South and West Vikings remained in control of the North and East This situation would remain in place for many years Untill Canute was able to expand Viking terriotory and become de facto King of England A situation which remained until the arrival of William the Conquerer

n n However the influence of the Viking remained in many ways on English culture from this point forward One example can be seen in events still taking place to this day on the Isle of Man n Small island of the British Coast

The East n n n n n Consolidation in Sweden led to expansion Across Baltic Latvia Divna – Dnieper Rivers Forced out “we seek a prince to rule over us and judge us according to the law” Novgorod – Rusland Intermarige – Russians AD 839 reached Constantinople

Crescent and the Cross

Between fall of Rome and early crusades n Mediterranean was relatively free of piracy n Crusades lent impetus to a new trade n Re-enter the pirates n Pirates across North African coast took advantage of this new trade n

Terminology n n “Barbary coast” & “Barbary Pirates” Originally coined c. 1500 n n n Not often used Reintroduced at a later period at the time Europeans used Moors Turks Occasionally Africans

Initial pirates although Islamic n Driven by the usual motivation of pirates n Greed and profit n But as well as enriching themselves n They also struck a blow against Christianity for Islam n

Muslim states traditionally not overly interested in the sea n Advanced where their armies could march n General who had conquered Egypt referred to the sea as n “a huge beast which silly folk rode like worms on logs” n

n n Pirates fleets began to grow in size attracting support and money Also began to make arrangements with rulers of states of North Africa n n n Algiers Morocco Tripoli Tunis Rulers began to make profit but also gained prestige within the Muslim world The rulers supported pirates for many years

No single power Christian or Muslim had ability (or committed desire) to suppress the pirates n Islamic pirates attacked Christian ships with support of Muslim leaders n Christian Pirates attacked Islamic ships with the support of Christian leaders n

n n n 1504 a Muslim pirate attacked and captured a papal war galleys The two galley were lapse in their security Allowed themselves to become separated When a small ship approached the lead galley the leader did not worry until to late The ship approached fast and easily took the ship Dressing in the captives clothes and forcing prisoners below decks they approached and took the second ship

Pirate released Muslim slaves who worked the oars on the papal ships n Returned to Tunis a hero n This Pirate was n Arouj Barbarossa n One of two Barbarossa brothers n Barbarossa = Red Beard n

Barbarossa brothers were the son of a Greek potter n They were born Christian and later converted to Islam n Arouj joined the Turkish pirates n Gradually gained respect and power n Persuaded his crew to break free of masters in Constantinople n Headed out as an independent crew n

n n n Actions against the Papal vessels gained him prestige The leader of Tunis became an alley offering a safe port and market Ferdinand of Spain assumed as his Christian duty the responsibility of suppressing the Barbary Pirates 1509 -10 Spanish occupied an island that dominated Algiers harbor After the main force had departed Arouj began to retake the region

n After a war of constant attrition n During which Arouj lost an arm His forces grew to include and extensive fleet and 5000 land troops n Eventually invited by King of Algiers to attack and destroy Spanish on island n Arouj had bigger plans, strangled king and took control n Harsh leader – local population invited Spanish to help remove him n

n n n Eventually Spaniards cornered and killed Arouj Death greeted with great joy by the Christian world Motivated his brother Kheyer-ed-din n Who had been the leader of his brothers fleet To take revenge on the Christian world A revenge that shocked and shifted the balance of power in the Mediterranean and beyond

n n n n Suleiman the Magnificent leader of the Muslim world Had defeated a Christian force on Rhodes Removing the Christian presence in the region Disappointed in his fleet looks for help Kheyr-ed-din Barabrosa at this time inherited brothers troops and kingdom that had rebelled Appealed to Suleiman

In return for Kheyr-ed-din’s fealty n Suleiman loaned crack troops n Appointed him Governor of the region n Kheyer-ed-din regained his brother’s kingdom town by town n Suleiman invited Kheyr-ed-din to oversea the rebuilding of his fleet n He sailed with the fleet and began to attack Europe attacking several locations in Italy n

Took large numbers of prisoners and goods n Then turned his attention to the Spanish dependency of Tunis in Africa n After several victories he turned his attention to the Island out side the harbor of Algiers n After a seventeen day siege the Spanish were defeated n He razed the fort and constructed a mole to connect the island to the main land n

n n In response Charles V Spain sent Christian pirate Andrea Doris to attack Tunis Charles V was hailed as a hero after a successful attack by Doris 1538 the fleets of Crescent and Cross met in the Adriatic The Christian fleet was routed by Kheyr-ed-din and his Muslim fleet

n n 1541 Charles V attempted to regain prestige and power by sending out another fleet A fleet of 500 ships left n n n But Charles waved aside his concerns A storm decimated the fleet n n Dorea warned that they were leaving at a bad time of year 300 officers and 8000 men were killed So many slaves were taken that the price dipped to a degree that it was said that a Christian slave was “not worth an onion”

Disaster weakened Charles’ grip over Europe n Independence campaigns began n 1543 Francis I of France concluded a treaty with Suleiman for help against Spain n Suleiman sent Kheyr-eddin to support Francis n

n n In Marseilles the flag of Our Lady was replaced with the Crescent Kheyr-ed-din spent time in Marseilles but conducted no campaigns against Spain n n Kheyr-ed-din died a few years later n n Eventually dismissed After his death he was placed in a sepulcher His corpse reappeared several times Eventually a Greek magician advised he be buried with a black dog After this time the Kheyr-ed-din was at peace

Dragut became commander-in-chief of the Turkish fleet n Dragut was born a peasant and Muslim n Ran away from home and took to the sea n Proved to be a successful sailor and rose through the ranks n

Known as the “drawn sword of Islam” n Dragut worked his way along North Africa n Attacking everywhere in Spanish hands n Before tuning his attention to the strong hold of Malta n Malta was held by the Knights of Malta n In effect the Christian counterpart of the Barbary Pirates n

n 1565 Dragut attacked Malta n n The attack was going well until a rumor of Spanish support caused the attacking fleet to flee Dragut was killed October 7, 1570 a large Spanish fleet n n n Fleet of 185 ships and 30, 000 men 206 Galleys, 48, 000 men Met with the Turkish fleet now under Ochiali After a long battle the Turkish fleet was defeated

In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue

n n n Leaving aside the facts that A) The Vikings were in America before Columbus B) Columbus did not ‘find’ America because Native Americans hadn’t lost it C) his arrival led to the death of millions of people It is the arrival of Columbus that leads to the next stage of piracy that I will turn The West Indies and Buccaneers

Post 1492, post the annihilation of the Aztec and Inca people n Spain dominant power in Europe n Due to the wealth they were able to extract n Aim protect that wealth and power n

Spanish colonists required by law to: n Associate only with members of the Catholic faith n Trade only with Spain n If there was something they could not obtain they were to do without Colonists tended to ignore these rules

Spanish colonists traded with anyone who had what they needed n French and British merchants happy to help n Merchants prospered n Spanish authorities worked hard to stamp them out n Harder they tried n n the more those people believed they needed to be there

n France attempted to form a colony in Florida in 1562 n quickly wiped out Spain not able to prevent the British settlement of St. Kitts n However, they captured several British merchant ships and n “cut off the hands, feet, noses, and ears of the crews and smeared them with honey and tied them to trees to be tortured by flies and other insects” n

n Spanish claimed actions were justified n Dealing with pirates French claim n Had no fortification in the region n n no judicial presence Therefore no legal responsibility n English crown affirmed to Spain that n It had issued no commissions n n therefore had no authority or responsibility in the region

Despite political détente all parties were being economical with the truth n British and French because despite their claims n n ‘unofficially’ encouraged: n n n They would use any methods to carve out a place in the New World Wanted a piece of the New World pie Attacks on Spanish shipping Settlement attempts Spanish attacking traders and pirates alike

n Early French merchants began to settle on the island of Hispaniola Joined by a number of Englishmen and members of other nations The population rose to about 500 who lived by hunting n Small groups head out establish a camp n n

n n Lived at the camp for a year or so When they shot a beast they would n n Butcher it Drink its ‘brandy’ n n n The blood-hot marrow After a number of animals were killed returned to the camp stretched out the hides Lived on meat alone which they dried over ‘boucans’

n Hard and dangerous life n Primarily because the Spanish were determined to eliminate them Chosen method to hunt them and then burn them at the stake n Hoped to intimidate them n Made them hate the Spanish n n prepared to fight to the death

Capture proved difficult n Soldiers operating on foreign terrain n Buccaneers excellent marksmen n n Could shoot an orange from a tree through the stem without hitting the tree or the fruit Spanish soldiers often retreated when faced with only a single buccaneer n If Spain had left them alone may well have remained content with their lives n

n n n n Not Spain’s approach New tactic Shot the animals not the people Cattle didn’t shoot back This technique did force the buccaneers of Hispaniola But it also reinforced their hatred for the Spanish The buccaneers fled to a little island of the coast of Hispaniola Tortuga

Hispaniola & Tortuga n n n Ile de la Tortue Tortuga Island Named after the islands turtle population

n In Tortuga the buccaneers Built homes n Founded an egalitarian society n n Survived by turning to the sea n attacking occasional ship selling goods from market on Tortuga One day this all changed n Thanks to a French buccaneer from Dieppe n Known as Pierre Le Grand - “Peter the Great” n

n 1602 ‘Peter the Great’ was at sea in a small boat crew of approx. 28 n low and supplies and about to head back to shore n n Spotted large Spanish ship n n Captain of the Spanish ship dismissed the small craft Peter followed the ship until dusk

Peter encouraged men to attack the larger vessel n While men were swearing an oath to support each other to the death n n Second in command was drilling a hole in the boat They came alongside and boarded n Peter and his crew quickly took over the ship n

n n n Flag ship of the Spanish treasure fleet Put ashore those he did not need Headed straight for France Obtained a back dated privateers license Sold the ship and treasure and lived in leisure for the rest of his life

Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin Esquemeling, Exquemeling, or Oexmelin Born in France n Indentured servant n Turned surgeon n Sailed with Morgan n Kept records n 1 st published 1678 n

1602 changed the meaning of the word buccaneer n They now ranged farther from the island base and took larger prizes n Attacked settlements as well as ships n Successful captains became famous n

At the end of a voyage n Payments would be handed out as prearranged n Anything left over would then be shared out equally n Even when a buccaneering voyage failed n The knowledge that others had succeeded and that other prizes were out there led many to try their luck n

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n November 1558 Elizabeth Tudor ascended to the British Throne following the death of her half sister Mary I

As the news was brought to Elizabeth she is reported to have stated n “A domino factum est mirabile in oculis nostris” n “This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous to our eyes” n In reality the England she inherited was anything but marvelous n

She stepped into a precarious position n The country was simmering with religious frustration n Catholics and Protestants had vied for power and position under the previous two monarch’s n Edward VI – Protestant n Mary I - Catholic n

n 1559 nationwide audit of men and Arms was begun to find out n n How empty the royal coffers were How, or rather if, she would be able to secure her country’s borders A Protestant, Elisabeth led a country potentially at odds with most powerful Monarch in Europe n Phillip II of Spain n One area of conflict – Caribbean n

n n Elizabeth’s reign of 44 years would be dominated by England’s relationship to Spain Decisions would continue to be based on n n n Defense of the realm Revenue Generation Official court favor Court intrigue Central in the early years was trade and plunder London the heartbeat and brain of trade

The City of London merchants provided n approx. 75 % of Tax revenues n as well as paying duties on numerous imports and exports n Membership of 12 great livery companies of London provided the administrative hub of the city n The most powerful company at the time of Elizabeth’s ascension was the n Merchant Adventurers n

n Membership in one of London’s companies could only be achieved after a long apprenticeship n n Even if new entrants were following the family line Ensured that unlike many other European trading centers London was run by people who had been engaged in business since they were old enough to work Merchant Adventurers made the wealth from the exportation of cloth to Antwerp and the import of luxury goods

n n The Merchant Adventurers alongside the Gentleman at court were Elizabeth gateway to security The wealth or treasure that they provided could both n n n Buy them royal favor Provide funds to defend the realm These are the people referred to by both allies and adversaries as Corsairs, rovers, and pirates Although they are often referred to today as buccaneers (a word not coined in English till 1664)

These people were not the stuff of ordinary merchant stock n These were men who had: n A thirst for knowledge n Tremendous egos n desperation for wealth n An acute business sense n Intelligence and cunning n And a high degree of Patriotism n

n Initially thought great wealth through approaching Indies overland through the northeast n n n England’s future lay not in overland trade but in somehow dominating the sea Control of the ‘English’ channel first step n n Muscovy Company was formed Despite promise, no great wealth came form Muscovy allowed for a larger stake in the money to be made flowing from the Netherlands Other protestant seamen set out to ‘harvest’ the Catholic vessels that plied their trade in the same region

1562 n Phillip of Spain having troubles with Low Countries and Ottoman Empire n France teetering on civil war n Distractions gave Elizabeth opportunity to flex the muscles of her Gentlemen n Justification (or the needed excuse) came with the news that English Merchants in Spain had been arrested and put in front of the Inquisition n

Led to reprisal attacks on Spanish shipping n On one occasion a Spanish Crew were trussed in their own sails and thrown overboard to die n While their ship, now a prize, was sailed back to England n The Merchants also took this opportunity of Spanish distraction to begin to trade n “beyond the line” n

n “Beyond the line” included n n n Coast of Africa the Indies the Caribbean the Spanish Main the Philippines Brazil Initially privately sponsored n But as further reports of actions against British traders in Spain filtered to England n As noted - Elizabeth stepped in n

n n n Elizabeth began to hand out Letters of reprisal or letter de Marque nothing new Since medieval time this system Allowed a merchant, traveler, or ship who had been robbed on foreign territory To recoup their losses

n n n As noted, this was a well-established practice within a number of countries from the medieval period Only being outlawed by most states in 1856 by the Declaration of Paris. Today only one country still retains the right with in its laws to issue such letters n The USA

n n n In Article 1 section 8 of the United States Constitution we find that congress has authority to To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land Water

n n Elizabeth not only issued letters of mark. In October 1562 she also granted John Hawkins Permission to voyage to Africa to buy slave and sell them on Spanish plantations in the Caribbean

n n In doing so she was Responding to the growing international diplomatic crisis n n And also to the outcry of her own people who demanded vengeance on the Inquisition and it perpetrators n n For the queen and Privy council it was a political act For the people it was a matter of religion and pride But for the Merchants it was commercial n Although it wavered into the political for them too

Elisabeth’s Sea dogs