Henry Every Plunders Mughal Ship: History's Richest Raid
Henry Every (also spelled Avery) captured the Mughal ship Ganj-i-Sawai on September 7, 1695, in the richest pirate haul in history. The ship was returning to India from the annual Hajj pilgrimage carrying gold, silver, and hundreds of passengers. Every's crew subjected the passengers to days of rape, torture, and murder. When Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb learned of the attack, he threatened to destroy every English trading post in India and imprison all English merchants. The East India Company, desperate to protect its Indian operations, offered an enormous bounty for Every's capture. Every vanished, becoming the first truly global fugitive. He was never caught and likely died in poverty under an assumed name.
September 7, 1695
331 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on September 7
Roman legions under General Titus breached the walls of Jerusalem, systematically dismantling the Second Temple and ending the Great Jewish Revolt. This destruc…
Louis got the nickname 'the Stammerer' from his contemporaries — and it wasn't metaphorical. He had a pronounced stammer and was reportedly in poor health his e…
Cardinal Rolando Bandinelli's election as Pope Alexander III triggered an immediate split when rivals crowned Cardinal Octaviano Monticelli as Antipope Victor I…
The papal election of 1159 produced two claimants simultaneously. The majority of cardinals chose Orlando Bandinelli, who became Alexander III. A minority backe…
Richard the Lionheart shattered Saladin’s tactical reputation at Arsuf, proving that the Ayyubid army could be defeated in open field combat. By maintaining a d…
Frederick II arrived in the Holy Land already excommunicated by the Pope — the Church had banned him for repeatedly delaying this very trip. So he launched a Cr…
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.