In 1629, the Dutch East India Company ship Batavia struck a reef in the Houtman Abrolhos islands off the coast of Western Australia. The ship, carrying over 300 passengers and crew, was en route to the Dutch East Indies when it ran aground during the night. Most survivors made it to nearby barren islands, but the situation quickly turned grim.

The commander, Francisco Pelsaert, and a small group set off in a longboat to seek help, leaving the rest under the leadership of Jeronimus Cornelisz, a disgraced merchant with a sinister agenda. Cornelisz, exploiting the chaos, orchestrated a brutal mutiny. He and his followers murdered over 100 survivors—men, women, and children—to conserve supplies and eliminate opposition.

When Pelsaert returned months later with a rescue ship, he discovered the horrifying aftermath. Cornelisz and his accomplices were captured, tried, and executed on the spot. The wreck of the Batavia became a tale of survival, betrayal, and justice, with its remains later discovered in the 20th century, offering a haunting glimpse into one of history’s darkest maritime tragedies.