'The Sack of Baltimore', in the somewhat incendiary back-cover blurb, 'was the most devastating invasion ever mounted by Islamist forces on Ireland or England.' Only two of the prisoners ever returned to Ireland. They slew some villagers, captured the rest and carried them off to a life of slavery in Algiers. In June 1631 two warships full of Barbary pirates, led by the notorious Morat Rais, sacked the village of Baltimore in Western Ireland. I could still tell what happened to them without resorting to fiction. Shortlisted for the Argosy Irish Nonfiction Book of the Year Award.The individual tales of these stolen villagers may be unknown, but that does not mean that their story is unknowable.

The Stolen Village is a fascinating tale of international piracy and culture clash nearly 400 years ago and is the first book to cover this relatively unknown and under-researched incident in Irish history. The Sack of Baltimore was the most devastating invasion ever mounted by Islamist forces on Ireland or England.ĭes Ekin's exhaustive research illuminates the political intrigues that ensured the captives were left to their fate, and provides a vivid insight into the kind of life that would have awaited the slaves amid the souks and seraglios of old Algiers. The old city of Algiers, with its narrow streets, intense heat and lively trade, was a melting pot where the villagers would join slaves and freemen of many nationalities. The prisoners were destined for a variety of fates - some would live out their days chained to the oars as galley slaves, while others would spend long years in the scented seclusion of the harem or within the walls of the Sultan's palace. They captured almost all the villagers and bore them away to a life of slavery in North Africa. In June 1631 pirates from Algiers and armed troops of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, led by the notorious pirate captain Morat Rais, stormed ashore at the little harbour village of Baltimore in West Cork. The Communist Manifesto: The Political ClassicĬourting : Tractor Dates, Macra Babies and Swiping Right in Rural Ireland Ireland Collection - Kylemore Abbey - Puzzle - 1000 Pieces Landmarks Collection - Rock of Cashel - 1000 Piece Jigsaw The Secret Network of Nature : The Delicate Balance of All Living Thingsĥ00 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle - Eltz Castle Germany Wild Embrace : Connecting to the Wonder of Ireland's Natural World Sign up to our newsletter for the latest news and special offers.

The stolen village by des ekin