Yo Ho, Yo Ho: Piracy and the Jihad

What comes to mind when you hear the word "pirates?" Buried treasure? Talking parrots? Barrels of rum? Johnny Depp? Over the past decade, swashbuckling fantasy has been challenged by brutal reality as a new generation of pirates take to the high seas. The Horn of Africa seems to play host to many of these brigands, who take advantage of the chaotic political situation and nearby sea lanes. The United States Navy SEALs' famous takedown of a crew of Somali pirates who had seized the Maersk Alabama in 2009 brought public attention to this phenomenon like never before. The more recent rescues of Iranian ships by the United States Navy and Coast Guard have reminded us that this threat has not gone away (but does, apparently, have a sense of irony). But there is a deeper story here than just desperate young men seeking fortune in a lawless region. Piracy has long been a popular means of engaging in the jihad as well as financing Islamic empires.

Raiding has been a central part of Islamic expansion since its inception. After fleeing to Medina, Mohammed built up his fortune and gave his followers military experience by raiding caravans belonging to the Meccans who had chased him out of his birthplace. These quick hit-and-run attacks were the perfect method of military engagement for several reasons. First, Mohammed never had to risk losing his entire army in a pitched battle. Second, every caravan that was ransacked meant that the wealth of his enemies would be transferred directly to him. Third, the constant harassment maintained a state of fear among his enemies so that when he entered Mecca in conquest he experienced little resistance.

As Islam spread, so did the raids. The trade routes of the Byzantine and Persian Empires were terrorized by this new force from the desert. When Islamic forces first reached the Mediterranean Sea, the caliphs were initially hesitant to take to the water in significant numbers. That soon changed, however, and Islamic raids spread rapidly to North Africa, Southern Europe, and even to the gates of Rome itself. Every strike was lightning fast, with the ships of the Caliphate avoiding pitched battles whenever possible. While the Norsemen have gained mythic status for their assaults in Northern Europe, most of what was then the civilized world lived more in fear of ships bearing the warriors of Allah, not Odin.

Islamic domination of the Mediterranean lasted for the better part of a thousand years, but it did not go unchallenged. This issue was so important to Christendom that it became the primary focus of the Knights Hospitaller following the loss of the Holy Land. The fabled military order established bases on several of the larger Mediterranean islands and patrolled the seas in search of Islamic pirates, or corsairs, as they were called. As I referenced in my three-part series "Slavery and Islam," these corsairs would target Christian ships not only to steal cargo but also to kidnap experienced sailors to man the ships of the Caliphate, which at the time was centered in the Ottoman Empire. As time went on, the efforts of groups like the Knights Hospitaller combined with advancing technology and tactics began to shift the balance of power. After the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, Ottoman control of the Mediterranean was all but shattered, although they maintained a strong presence.

But that did not end the threat of Islamic piracy. Corsairs made their home along the Barbary Coast with the blessing of the local rulers (in exchange for a sizable portion of the loot). As the European powers began to create worldwide empires, they were constantly harassed by these corsairs. Things became so bad that any nation that wanted to operate near the African coast had to pay a significant tribute to convince the corsairs to search for other targets. Finally, the fledgling United States said, "Screw this," and engaged in the first war Americans ever fought on foreign soil to end the threat once and for all. For a more in-depth look on that subject, see my previous article, "What Would Jefferson Do?"

Fast-forward to today. Islamic countries like Somalia and Yemen produce many of the most notorious pirate gangs that patrol the seas. The waters of the Gulf of Aden are among the most dangerous in the world. And, just like the corsairs of old, the new generation of pirates provide plenty of revenue for the population of these countries. The money from Somali pirates has been hard at work paying for new mosques, expanding villages, and even radio stations. Modern "experts" are dumbfounded that the Somali pirates have not built luxury palaces for themselves, but an honest look at the history of the Barbary corsairs would have predicted this exact scenario. It goes beyond the fact that these pirates happen to be Muslims and links directly to the raids of Mohammed hundreds of years ago.

This "new" piracy has no buried treasure, no talking parrots, no Johnny Depp (and certainly no rum!). This is jihad on the high seas, pure and simple, a forgotten part of our past rising from Davy Jones' locker to haunt us once more. We would do well to remember that.