The Koopman van Soria ('Merchant of Soria' referring to Syria) was a Dutch merchant vessel that traded with the Mediterranean and the Levant (the Middle East).

Attacked by the French

The ship was on its way from Amsterdam with a special cargo. According to the sources, it carried wooden goods (possibly statues) that were to be transported to Jaffa and were intended for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem (according to another source they were on their way to Alexandretta/Iskenderun in Turkey). The goods were donated by Catholic inhabitants of Amsterdam.

Nationaal Archief

On December 22nd, 1697, near Cape Greco, around nine kilometres (two legua, though another source gives a much larger distance) from Cyprus, the ship met two French warships, the L'Entreprenant and the Vailland, with 56 and 44 cannon. The French stated that the peace (of the Nine Years' War) had been signed and wanted to come on board. Here the accounts differ. The French accounts state that the Dutch flat out refused this. The Dutch report states that it was night and that the Dutch captain van Beveren did not want them to come aboard in the dark. He also stated that he would defend himself if he were to be provoked. Upon this, the French fired a volley but this did not change van Beveren's mind. So they decided to board the ship from the Vailland, yet a fire broke out on the Dutch ship, causing both ships to explode. It is not clear if this was an accident or that the fire was intentionally set by van Beveren. The French state on this that some say the captain let the ship explode on purpose, but sources also mention that the captain was killed during the boarding attempt. The other French ship rescued 65 Dutch and around 200 French sailors.

The Dutch sailors were put ashore on Cyprus. Because the attack happened in peace time, there was talk about reparations.

Type: unclear, but judging by the period, trade route and armament, it is likely that it was a flute.

Armament: 40 cannon

Het Scheepvaartmuseum

• Nationaal Archief, Den Haag.
  Staten Generaal.
  1.01.04, nr 6921.
• Nationaal Archief, Den Haag.
  Levantse Handel.
  1.03.01, nr 128.
• Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.
  Europische Mercurius.
  Maart 1698.