A Doomed Voyage
In 1628, the Dutch East India Company’s ship Batavia set sail for the East Indies on its maiden voyage. Commanded by Francisco Pelsaert and carrying over 300 people, including soldiers, merchants, and civilians, the ship was secretly the target of a mutiny led by Jeronimus Cornelisz, a disgraced apothecary fleeing prosecution. On June 4, 1629, Batavia struck a reef off the western coast of Australia, forcing survivors onto nearby islands.
Mutiny and Massacre
Pelsaert and a small crew left in search of help, leaving Cornelisz in charge. He immediately began eliminating opposition, sending a group of soldiers under Wiebbe Hayes to a nearby island under false pretenses. Left unchecked, Cornelisz and his followers launched a brutal massacre, killing around 125 people, including women and children. Some women were taken as captives.
The Resistance and Rescue
Hayes and his men unexpectedly found fresh water and, upon learning of the murders, built a makeshift fort and fought off attacks from Cornelisz’s group. When Pelsaert returned with a rescue ship, a final battle was underway. Hayes’ forces captured Cornelisz and his followers, allowing Pelsaert to arrest them.
Trial and Aftermath
Cornelisz and his top men were executed, some having their hands cut off first. Two minor conspirators were marooned on the Australian mainland, making them the first recorded Europeans to live there. Of the original passengers, only 122 reached Batavia. The wreck was later rediscovered, and artifacts from Batavia are now displayed in museums in the Netherlands and Australia.
In 1629, the Dutch East India Company’s ship Batavia wrecked off Australia, leading to a deadly mutiny. Survivors faced weeks of terror as Jeronimus Cornelisz took control, killing over 100 people. A small group of stranded soldiers became the only hope to stop the massacre.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/hOOvIjyCq9
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) February 28, 2025