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1631

1631
Battles

June 19, 1631

Sack of Baltimore

On June 19, 1631, the coastal town of Baltimore, County Cork, Ireland, was brutally attacked by Barbary pirates led by Captain Matthew Rice, a Dutch renegade. The raid, often referred to as the 'Great Pirate Raid', resulted in the killing of 47 inhabitants and the capture of 107 men, women, and children who were subsequently taken into slavery in North Africa. This devastating event highlighted the vulnerability of Ireland's coastal communities to such attacks and left a lasting scar on the region. The incident remains a significant, albeit tragic, part of Irish maritime history.

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1631
Other

June 20, 1631

Sack of Baltimore

On June 20, 1631, the village of Baltimore in West Cork, Ireland, was attacked by Barbary pirates led by Murad Reis the Younger. This was the largest raid by Barbary slave traders on Ireland, resulting in the capture of at least 107 villagers, predominantly English settlers and some local Irish. The captives were taken to Algiers to be sold into slavery. The attack was allegedly facilitated by an Irish fisherman, John Hackett, who was later hanged for his involvement. The event caused the remaining villagers to abandon Baltimore, leaving it deserted for generations.

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