Edward Teach (1680-1718)
When you mention the word “pirates”, the plots of the trilogy about Jack Sparrow or the heroes of the book “Treasure Island”, read in childhood, immediately come to mind. Sea battles, dangers, treasures, rum and adventures... Over the centuries, legends about sea corsairs or filibusters have gradually become overgrown with mystery, and now it is no longer possible to understand where is fiction and where is the truth. But, undoubtedly, there is some truth in these legends! We will tell you about the most famous pirates in history.
Edward Teach (1680-1718)
One of the most famous corsairs in the history of piracy is Edward Teach, who bore the nickname “Blackbeard.” He was born in Bristol in 1680. His real name is John. Teach became the prototype for the pirate Flint in Stevenson's novel Treasure Island. Because of his beard, which covered almost his entire face, his appearance was terrifying and legends circulated about him as a terrible villain. Teach died on November 22, 1718 in a battle with Lieutenant Maynard. Upon hearing of the death of this terrible man, the whole world breathed a sigh of relief.
Henry Morgan (1635-1688)
Henry Morgan (1635-1688)
The English navigator, Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica Sir Henry Morgan, nicknamed “The Cruel” or “Pirate Admiral,” was considered a very famous pirate in his time. He became famous for being one of the authors of the Pirate Code. Morgan was not only a successful corsair, but also a cunning politician and an intelligent military leader. It was with his help that England was able to control the entire Caribbean Sea. Morgan's life, full of the delights of the pirate craft, flew by at a frantic pace. He lived to old age and died in Jamaica on August 25, 1688 from cirrhosis of the liver. He was buried as a nobleman, but soon the cemetery where he was buried was washed away by a wave.
William Kidd (1645-1701)
William Kidd (1645-1701)
This pirate is a legend; more than a century has passed since his death, but his fame lives on to this day. His pirate activity dates back to the 17th century. He was known as a despot and a sadist, but became famous throughout the world as a clever robber. Kidd has had enough famous person, his name was known even in the British Parliament. There is information that he was rich, but no one knows where his treasures are hidden. They are still looking for the treasure hidden by Kidd, but there is no result yet.
Francis Drake (1540-1596)
Francis Drake (1540-1596)
The famous pirate of the 16th century, Francis Drake, was born in 1540 in England in the county of Devonshire, in the family of a poor village priest. Drake was the eldest of twelve children of his parents. He acquired navigational skills while serving as a cabin boy on a small merchant ship. He was reputed to be a very cruel man, to whom fortune favored. We must pay tribute to Drake's curiosity; he visited many places where no man had gone before. Thanks to this, he made many discoveries and corrections on the world maps of his time. Captain Francis Drake's crowning glory came at the end of the 16th century, but during one of his trips to the shores of America he fell ill with tropical fever and soon died.
Bartholomew Roberts (1682-1722)
Bartholomew Roberts (1682-1722)
Captain Bartholomew Roberts is no ordinary pirate. He was born in 1682. Roberts was the most successful pirate of his time, always well and tastefully dressed, with excellent manners, he did not drink alcohol, read the Bible and fought without removing the cross from his neck, which greatly surprised his fellow corsairs. A stubborn and brave young man who set foot on the slippery path of sea adventures and robberies, during his short four-year career as a filibuster, he became quite a famous person of that time. Roberts died in a fierce battle and was buried, in accordance with his will, at sea.
Sam Bellamy (1689-1717)
Sam Bellamy (1689-1717)
Love led Sam Bellamy to the path of sea robbery. Twenty-year-old Sam fell in love with Maria Hallett, the love was mutual, but the girl’s parents did not let her marry Sam. He was poor. And in order to prove to the whole world the right to the hand of Maria Bellamy, she becomes a filibuster. He went down in history as “Black Sam.” He got his nickname because he preferred his unruly black hair to a powdered wig, tying it in a knot. At his core, Captain Bellamy was known as a noble man; dark-skinned people served on his ships along with white pirates, which was simply unthinkable in the era of slavery. The ship on which he sailed to meet his beloved Maria Hallett was caught in a storm and sank. Black Sam died without leaving the captain's bridge.
Arouj Barbarossa (1473-1518)
Arouj Barbarossa (1473-1518)
Arouj Barbarossa was a Turkish pirate who was powerful among the corsairs and had great power over them. He was a cruel and ruthless man who was very fond of executions and bullying. He was born into a family of a potter. Participated in many naval battles, in one of them, heroically fighting along with his devoted team, he died.
William Dampier (1651-1715)
William Dampier (1651-1715)
And among the sea filibusters - robbers, there were exceptions. William Dampier is an example of this; in his person the world has lost an explorer and discoverer. He never took part in pirate feasts, but all his free time conducted in the study and description of his observations of sea currents in the ocean and the direction of the winds. One gets the impression that he became a robber solely in order to have the means and opportunity to do what he loved. From the age of seventeen, Dampier served on an English sailing ship. And in 1679, already twenty-seven years old, he joined Caribbean pirates and soon became a filibuster captain.
Grace O'Male (1530 - 1603)
Grace O'Male (1530 - 1603)
Grace O'Mail is a lady of fortune. This fearless woman - a pirate could give a head start to any man. Her adventures are a whole adventurous novel! Grace with youth Together with her father and his friends, she took part in an attack on merchant ships that passed off the coast of Ireland. After the death of her father, she won the right to be the leader of the Owen clan in battle. Beautiful Grace, with flowing hair and sabers in her hands, terrified her enemies, while arousing admiration in the eyes of her companions. Such a turbulent pirate life did not prevent this brave girl from loving and being loved; she had four children from two marriages. Grace did not give up her craft, and even at an advanced age she continued to make raids. She was awarded the attention of the queen and received an offer from her to serve, but the proud and freedom-loving Grace refused, for which she was arrested.
Pirates, “gentlemen of fortune” have always terrified the population of coastal cities. They were feared, raided, executed, but interest in their adventures never waned.
Madame Jin is her son's wife
Madame Jing, or Zheng Shi, was the most famous " sea robber"of his time. The army of pirates under her command terrified the coastal cities of Eastern and Southeast China in early XIX V. Under her command there were about 2,000 ships and 70,000 people, which even the large fleet of the Qing Emperor Jia-ching (1760-1820), sent in 1807 to defeat the willful pirates and capture the powerful Jin, could not defeat.
Zheng Shi's youth was unenviable - she had to engage in prostitution: she was ready to sell her body for hard cash. At the age of fifteen, she was kidnapped by a pirate named Zheng Yi, who, like a true gentleman, took her as his wife (after marriage she received the name Zheng Shi, which meant “Zheng’s wife”). After the wedding, they went to the shores of Vietnam, where the newly-made couple and their pirates, attacking one of the coastal villages, kidnapped a boy (the same age as Zheng Shi) - Zhang Baotsai - whom Zheng Yi and Zheng Shi adopted, since the latter could not have children. Zhang Baozai became Zheng Yi's lover, which apparently did not bother the young wife at all. When her husband died in a storm in 1807, Madame Jin inherited a fleet of 400 ships. Under her, there was iron discipline in the flotilla, and nobility was not alien to it, if this quality can be correlated with piracy at all. Madame Jin sentenced the perpetrators to death for the plunder of fishing villages and the rape of captive women. For unauthorized absence from the ship, the culprit's left ear was cut off, which was then presented to the entire crew for intimidation.
Zheng Shi married her stepson, putting her in command of her fleet. But not everyone on Madame Jin’s team was happy with the woman’s power (especially after the unsuccessful attempt of two captains to woo her, one of whom Zheng Shi shot). The dissatisfied rebelled and surrendered to the mercy of the authorities. This undermined Madame Jin's authority, which forced her to negotiate with the emperor's representatives. As a result, according to the agreement of 1810, she went over to the side of the authorities, and her husband received a sinecure (a position that did not give any real powers) in the Chinese government. After retiring from pirate affairs, Madame Zheng settled in Guangzhou, where she ran a brothel and gambling den until her death at the age of 60.
Arouj Barbarossa - Sultan of Algeria
This pirate, who terrorized the cities and villages of the Mediterranean, was a cunning and resourceful warrior. He was born in 1473 in the family of a Greek potter who converted to Islam, and from a young age, together with his brother Atzor, began to engage in piracy. Urouj went through captivity and slavery on the galleys owned by the Ionite knights, from which his brother ransomed him. The time spent in slavery hardened Urouge; he plundered ships belonging to Christian kings with particular cruelty. So in 1504 Arouj attacked galleys loaded with valuable cargo that belonged to Pope Julius II. He managed to capture one of the two galleys, the second tried to escape. Arunj used a trick: he ordered some of his sailors to put on the uniform of soldiers from the captured galley. Then the pirates moved to the galley and took their own ship in tow, thus simulating the complete victory of the papal soldiers. Soon the lagging galley appeared. The sight of a pirate ship in tow caused a surge of enthusiasm among Christians, and the ship approached the “trophy” without any fear. At that moment, Urouge gave a sign, after which the crew of pirates began to brutally kill the fugitives. This event significantly increased Arouj's authority among the Muslim Arabs of North Africa.
In 1516, in the wake of the Arab uprising against the Spanish troops settled in Algeria, Aruj proclaimed himself sultan under the name Barbarossa (Redbeard), after which he, with even greater zeal and cruelty, began to plunder the cities of southern Spain, France, and Italy, amassing enormous wealth. The Spaniards sent a large expeditionary force (about 10,000 people) led by the Marquis de Comares against him. He managed to defeat the army of Arouj, and the latter began to retreat, taking with him the wealth accumulated over the years. And, as the legend says, along the entire retreat route Arouj, in order to delay his pursuers, scattered silver and gold. But this did not help, and Urouj died, his head was cut off along with the pirates loyal to him.
Forced to be a man
One of the famous pirates who lived at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries, Mary Reed, was forced to hide her gender all her life. Even as a child, her parents prepared a fate for her - to “take the place” of her brother, who died shortly before Mary was born. She was an illegitimate child. To hide the shame, the mother, having given birth to a girl, gave her to her rich mother-in-law, having previously dressed her daughter in the clothes of her deceased son. Mary was a “grandson” in the eyes of her unsuspecting grandmother, and all the time the girl was growing up, her mother dressed and raised her as a boy. At the age of 15, Mary went to Flanders and joined an infantry regiment as a cadet (still dressed as a man, under the name Mark). According to the memoirs of contemporaries, she was a brave fighter, but still could not advance in the service and transferred to the cavalry. There, gender took its toll - Mary met a man with whom she fell passionately in love. Only to him did she reveal that she was a woman, and they soon got married. After the wedding, they rented a house near the castle in Breda (Holland) and equipped the Three Horseshoes tavern there.
But fate was not favorable; soon Mary’s husband died, and she, again disguised as a man, went to the West Indies. The ship she was sailing on was captured by English pirates. Here a fateful meeting took place: she met the famous pirate Anne Bonny (a woman dressed as a man, just like her) and her lover John Rackham. Mary joined them. Moreover, she and Anne began to cohabit with Rackham, forming a bizarre “love triangle.” The personal courage and bravery of this trio made them famous throughout Europe.
Scientist Pirate
William Dampier, born into an ordinary peasant family and having lost his parents at an early age, had to make his own way in life. He began by becoming a cabin boy on a ship, then took up fishing. A special place in his activities was occupied by a passion for research: he studied new lands to which fate had thrown him, their flora, fauna, climatic features, participated in an expedition to explore the shores of New Holland (Australia), discovered a group of islands - the Dampir archipelago. In 1703, he went to the Pacific Ocean to become a pirate. On the island of Juan Fernandez Dampier (according to another version, Stradling, the captain of another ship) landed the sailing master (according to another version, the boatswain) Alexander Selkirk. The story of Selkirk's stay on a desert island formed the basis of Daniel Defoe's famous book Robinson Crusoe.
Bald Grainne
Grace O'Mail or, as she was also called, Grainne the Bald, is one of the controversial figures in English history. She was always ready to defend her rights, no matter what. She became acquainted with navigation thanks to her father, who took his little daughter on long trading voyages. Her first husband was a match for Grace. About the O'Flagherty clan, to which he belonged, they said: “ Cruel people, most brazenly robbing and killing their fellow citizens.” Although, in fairness, it should be noted that for the Irish clans of the mountainous Connacht, civil strife is a common thing. When he was killed, Grace returned to her family and took charge of her father's flotilla. Thus, she had in her hands a truly enormous power, with the help of which she could keep the entire West Coast of Ireland in obedience.
Grace allowed herself to behave so freely, even in the presence of the Queen. After all, she was also called the “queen”, only the pirate one. When Elizabeth I handed her lace handkerchief to Grace to wipe her nose after snuff, Grace used it and said, “Do you need it? In my area they are never used more than once!” - and threw the handkerchief to her retinue. According to historical sources, two long-time opponents - and Grace managed to send one to a dozen English ships - were able to come to an agreement. The Queen granted the pirate, who was already about 60 years old at that time, forgiveness and immunity.
Black beard
Thanks to his courage and cruelty, Edward Teach became one of the most feared pirates operating in the Jamaica area. By 1718, more than 300 men were fighting under his leadership. The enemies were horrified by Teach's face, almost completely covered by a black beard, in which the wicks woven into it smoked. In November 1718, Teach was overtaken by the English lieutenant Maynardt and, after a short trial, was strung up on a yardarm. It was he who became the prototype of the legendary Jethrow Flint from Treasure Island.
Pirate President
Murat Reis Jr., whose real name is Jan Janson (Dutch), converted to Islam in order to avoid captivity and slavery in Algeria. After this, he began to cooperate and actively participate in the pirate raids of such pirates as Suleiman Reis and Simon the Dancer, just like him - the Dutch who converted to Islam. Jan Janson in 1619 moved to the Moroccan city of Sale, which lived off piracy. Soon after Janson arrived there, he declared his independence. A pirate republic was created there, the first head of which was Janson. He married in Sale, his children followed in their father's footsteps, becoming pirates, but then joined the Dutch colonists who founded the city of New Amsterdam (present-day New York).
Piracy appeared as soon as people began to use watercraft to transport goods. In different countries and different eras pirates were called filibusters, ushkuiniki, corsairs, privateers.
The most famous pirates in history left behind a significant mark: they inspired fear in life, and in death their adventures continue to attract undiminished interest. Piracy has had big influence on culture: sea robbers have become central figures in many famous literary works, modern films and TV series.
10 Jack Rackham
To the very famous pirates history includes Jack Rackham, who lived in the 18th century. He is interesting because there were two women on his team. His love for Indian calico shirts in bright colors earned him the nickname Calico Jack. He ended up in the navy at an early age because of need. For a long time he served as senior helmsman under the command of the famous pirate Charles Vane. After the latter tried to refuse a fight with a French warship pursuing a pirate ship, Rackham rebelled and was elected as the new captain according to the order of the pirate code. Calico Jack differed from other sea robbers in his gentle treatment of his victims, which, however, did not save him from the gallows. The pirate was executed on November 17, 1720 in Port Royal, and his body was hung as a warning to other robbers at the entrance to the harbor.
9 William Kidd
The story of one of the most famous pirates in history, William Kidd, is still controversial among scholars of his life. Some historians are sure that he was not a pirate and acted strictly within the framework of the marque patent. Nevertheless, he was found guilty of attacking 5 ships and murder. Despite the fact that he tried to get his release in exchange for information about the location where the valuables were hidden, Kidd was sentenced to hang. After the execution, the body of the pirate and his accomplices was hung for public display over the Thames, where it hung for 3 years.The Legend of Kidd's Hidden Treasure for a long time excited minds. The belief that the treasure really exists was maintained literary works, which mentioned pirate treasure. Kidd's hidden wealth was searched on many islands, but to no avail. The fact that the treasure is not a myth is evidenced by the fact that in 2015, British divers found the wreckage of a pirate ship off the coast of Madagascar and underneath it a 50-kilogram ingot, which, according to experts, belonged to Captain Kidd.
8 Madame Shi
Madame Shi, or Madam Zheng, is one of the world's most famous female pirates. After the death of her husband, she inherited his pirate flotilla and put sea robbery on a grand scale. Under her command were two thousand ships and seventy thousand people. The strictest discipline helped her command an entire army. For example, for unauthorized absence from a ship, the offender lost an ear. Not all of Madame Shi's subordinates were happy with this state of affairs, and one of the captains once rebelled and went over to the side of the authorities. After Madame Shi's power was weakened, she agreed to a truce with the emperor and subsequently lived to an old age in freedom, ruling brothel.
7 Francis Drake
Francis Drake is one of the most famous pirates in the world. Actually, he was not a pirate, but a corsair who acted on the seas and oceans against enemy ships with the special permission of Queen Elizabeth. Devastating the coasts of Central and South America, he became immensely rich. Drake accomplished many great deeds: he opened a strait, which he named in his honor, and under his command the British fleet defeated the Great Armada. Since then, one of the ships of the English navy has been named after the famous navigator and corsair Francis Drake.
6 Henry Morgan
The list of the most famous pirates would be incomplete without the name of Henry Morgan. Despite the fact that he was born into a wealthy family of an English landowner, from his youth Morgan connected his life with the sea. He was hired as a cabin boy on one of the ships and was soon sold into slavery in Barbados. He managed to move to Jamaica, where Morgan joined a gang of pirates. Several successful trips allowed him and his comrades to purchase a ship. Morgan was chosen as captain, and it was a good decision. A few years later there were 35 ships under his command. With such a fleet, he managed to capture Panama in a day and burn the entire city. Since Morgan acted mainly against Spanish ships and pursued an active English colonial policy, after his arrest the pirate was not executed. On the contrary, for the services rendered to Britain in the fight against Spain, Henry Morgan received the post of lieutenant governor of Jamaica. The famous corsair died at the age of 53 from cirrhosis of the liver.
5 Bartholomew Roberts
Bartholomew Roberts, aka Black Bart, is one of the most colorful pirates in history, although he is not as famous as Blackbeard or Henry Morgan. Black Bart became the most successful filibuster in the history of piracy. During his short pirate career (3 years), he captured 456 ships. Its production is estimated at 50 million pounds sterling. It is believed that he created the famous "Pirate Code". He was killed in action with a British warship. The pirate's body, according to his will, was thrown into the water, and the remains of one of the greatest pirates were never found.
4 Edward Teach
Edward Teach, or Blackbeard, is one of the most famous pirates in the world. Almost everyone has heard his name. Teach lived and was engaged in sea robbery at the very height of the golden age of piracy. Having enlisted at the age of 12, he gained valuable experience, which would then be useful to him in the future. According to historians, Teach took part in the War of the Spanish Succession, and after its end he deliberately decided to become a pirate. The fame of a ruthless filibuster helped Blackbeard seize ships without the use of weapons - upon seeing his flag, the victim surrendered without a fight. The cheerful life of a pirate did not last long - Teach died during a boarding battle with a British warship pursuing him.
3 Henry Avery
One of the most famous pirates in history is Henry Avery, nicknamed Long Ben. The father of the future famous buccaneer was a captain in the British fleet. Since childhood, Avery dreamed sea voyages. He began his career in the navy as a cabin boy. Avery then received an appointment as first mate on a corsair frigate. The ship's crew soon rebelled, and the first mate was proclaimed captain of the pirate ship. So Avery took the path of piracy. He became famous for capturing the ships of Indian pilgrims heading to Mecca. The pirates' booty was unheard of at that time: 600 thousand pounds and the daughter of the Great Mogul, whom Avery later officially married. How the life of the famous filibuster ended is unknown.
2 Amaro Pargo
Amaro Pargo is one of the most famous freebooters of the golden age of piracy. Pargo transported slaves and made a fortune from it. Wealth allowed him to engage in charity work. He lived to a ripe old age.
1 Samuel Bellamy
Among the most famous sea robbers is Samuel Bellamy, known as Black Sam. He joined the pirates to marry Maria Hallett. Bellamy desperately lacked funds to provide for his future family, and he joined Benjamin Hornigold's crew of pirates. A year later, he became captain of the bandits, allowing Hornigold to leave peacefully. Thanks to a whole network of informants and spies, Bellamy was able to capture one of the fastest ships of the time, the frigate Whyda. Bellamy died while swimming to his beloved. The Whyda was caught in a storm, the ship was driven aground and the crew, including Black Sam, died. Bellamy's career as a pirate lasted only a year.
Adventure Galley is the favorite ship of William Kidd, an English privateer and pirate. This unusual frigate galley was equipped with straight sails and oars, which made it possible to maneuver both against the wind and in calm weather. The 287-ton ship with 34 guns accommodated 160 crew and was primarily intended to destroy the ships of other pirates.
Queen Anne's Revenge is the flagship of the legendary captain Edward Teach, nicknamed Blackbeard. This 40-gun frigate was originally called Concorde, belonged to Spain, then passed to France, until it was finally captured by Blackbeard Under his leadership, the ship was strengthened and renamed "Queen Anne's Revenge" and sank dozens of merchant and military ships that stood in the way of the famous pirate.
Whydah is the flagship of Black Sam Bellamy, one of the pirates of the golden age of sea robbery. The Ouida was a fast and maneuverable vessel capable of carrying a lot of treasure. Unfortunately for Black Sam, only a year after the start of his pirate “career” the ship was caught in a terrible storm and was thrown ashore. The entire crew, except two people, died. By the way, Sam Bellamy was the richest pirate in history, according to Forbes' recalculation, his fortune amounted to about 132 million dollars in modern equivalent.
"Royal Fortune" belonged to Bartholomew Roberts, the famous Welsh corsair, with whose death the golden age of piracy ended. Bartholomew changed several ships during his career, but the 42-gun three-masted battleship was his favorite. On it he met his death in battle with the British warship "Swallow" in 1722.
Fancy is the ship of Henry Avery, also known as Long Ben and the Arch-Pirate. The Spanish 30-gun frigate Charles II successfully plundered French ships, but eventually a mutiny broke out on it, and power passed to Avery, who served as first mate. Avery renamed the ship Imagination and sailed on it until his career ended.
"Happy Delivery" is a small but favorite ship of George Lauter, English pirate XVIII century. His signature tactic was to ram an enemy ship with his own while simultaneously boarding it with lightning speed.
The Golden Hind was an English galleon that, under the command of Sir Francis Drake, circumnavigated the world between 1577 and 1580. The ship was originally named "Pelican", but upon entering the Pacific Ocean, Drake renamed it in honor of his patron, Lord Chancellor Christopher Hatton, who had a golden hind on his coat of arms.
« Rising Sun"(Rising Sun) - a ship owned by Christopher Moody, a truly ruthless thug who took no prisoners on principle. This 35-gun frigate terrified Moody's enemies until he was safely hanged - but she went down in history with the most unusual pirate flag known, yellow on a red background, and even with a winged hourglass to the left of the skull.
Speaker is the first of the capital ships of the corsair John Bowen, a successful pirate and excellent tactician. The Talkative was a large 50-gun vessel with a displacement of 450 tons, originally used to transport slaves and, after being captured by Bowen, for daring attacks on Moorish shipping.
Revenge is the ten-gun sloop of Steed Bonnet, also known as the "Pirate Gentleman". Bonnet lived a rich, albeit short life, having managed to be a small landowner, serve under Blackbeard, fall under an amnesty and again take the path of piracy. The small, maneuverable Retribution sank many larger ships.
Large and tiny, powerful and maneuverable - all these ships, as a rule, were built for completely different purposes, but sooner or later they ended up in the hands of corsairs. Some ended their “career” in battle, others were resold, others sank in storms, but all of them glorified their owners in one way or another.
Yes, yes, the same Morgan, whose dynasty now stands behind the backs of many presidents various countries and tells who and what to do.
Henry Morgan (1635-1688) became the most famous pirate in the world, enjoying a peculiar fame. This man became famous not so much for his corsair exploits as for his activities as a commander and politician. Morgan's main achievement was helping England seize control of the entire Caribbean Sea. Since childhood, Henry was restless, which affected his adult life. Behind short term he managed to be a slave, gather his own gang of thugs and get his first ship. Along the way, many people were robbed. While in the queen's service, Morgan directed his energy to the ruin of the Spanish colonies, which he did very well. As a result, everyone learned the name of the active sailor. But then the pirate unexpectedly decided to settle down - he got married, bought a house... However, his violent temper took its toll, and in his spare time, Henry realized that it was much more profitable to capture coastal cities than simply rob sea vessels. One day Morgan used a cunning move. On the way to one of the cities, he took a large ship and filled it to the top with gunpowder, sending it to the Spanish port at dusk. The huge explosion led to such turmoil that there was simply no one to defend the city. So the city was taken, and the local fleet was destroyed, thanks to Morgan's cunning. While storming Panama, the commander decided to attack the city from land, sending his army bypassing the city. As a result, the maneuver was a success and the fortress fell. Morgan spent the last years of his life as Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. His whole life passed at a frantic pirate pace, with all the delights appropriate to the occupation in the form of alcohol. Only rum defeated the brave sailor - he died of cirrhosis of the liver and was buried as a nobleman. True, the sea took his ashes - the cemetery sank into the sea after the earthquake.
Francis Drake (1540-1596) born in England, in the family of a priest. The young man began his maritime career as a cabin boy on a small merchant ship. It was there that the smart and observant Francis learned the art of navigation. Already at the age of 18, he received command of his own ship, which he inherited from the old captain. In those days, the queen blessed pirate raids, as long as they were directed against the enemies of England. During one of these voyages, Drake fell into a trap, but, despite the death of 5 other English ships, he managed to save his ship. The pirate quickly became famous for his cruelty, and fortune also loved him. Trying to take revenge on the Spaniards, Drake begins to wage his own war against them - he plunders their ships and cities. In 1572, he managed to capture the "Silver Caravan", carrying more than 30 tons of silver, which immediately made the pirate rich. An interesting feature of Drake was the fact that he not only sought to loot more, but also to visit previously unknown places. As a result, many sailors were grateful to Drake for his work in clarifying and correcting the world map. With the permission of the queen, the pirate went on a secret expedition to South America, with the official version of the exploration of Australia. The expedition was a great success. Drake maneuvered so cunningly, avoiding the traps of his enemies, that he was able to travel around the world on his way home. Along the way he attacked Spanish settlements in South America, circumnavigated Africa and brought potato tubers home. The total profit from the campaign was unprecedented - more than half a million pounds sterling. At that time it was twice the budget of the entire country. As a result, right on board the ship, Drake was knighted - an unprecedented event that has no analogues in history. The apogee of the pirate's greatness came at the end of the 16th century, when he took part as an admiral in the defeat of the Invincible Armada. Later, the pirate’s luck turned away; during one of his subsequent voyages to the American shores, he fell ill with tropical fever and died.
Edward Teach (1680-1718) better known by his nickname Blackbeard. It was because of this external attribute that Teach was considered a terrible monster. The first mention of the activities of this corsair dates back only to 1717; what the Englishman did before that remains unknown. By indirect signs one can guess that he was a soldier, but deserted and became a filibuster. Then he was already a pirate, terrifying people with his beard, which covered almost his entire face. Teach was very brave and courageous, which earned him respect from other pirates. He wove wicks into his beard, which, when smoking, terrified his opponents. In 1716, Edward was given command of his sloop to conduct privateering operations against the French. Soon Teach captured a larger ship and made it his flagship, renaming it Queen Anne's Revenge. At this time, the pirate operates in the Jamaica area, robbing everyone and recruiting new henchmen. By the beginning of 1718, Tich already had 300 people under his command. Within a year, he managed to capture more than 40 ships. All the pirates knew that the bearded man was hiding treasure on some uninhabited island, but no one knew where exactly. The pirate's outrages against the British and his plunder of the colonies forced the authorities to announce a hunt for Blackbeard. A massive reward was announced and Lieutenant Maynard was hired to hunt down Teach. In November 1718, the pirate was overtaken by the authorities and killed during the battle. Teach's head was cut off and his body was suspended from a yardarm.
William Kidd (1645-1701). Born in Scotland near the docks, the future pirate decided to connect his destiny with the sea from childhood. In 1688, Kidd, a simple sailor, survived a shipwreck near Haiti and was forced to become a pirate. In 1689, betraying his comrades, William took possession of the frigate, calling it the Blessed William. With the help of a privateering patent, Kidd took part in the war against the French. In the winter of 1690, part of the team left him, and Kidd decided to settle down. He married a rich widow, taking possession of lands and property. But the pirate’s heart demanded adventure, and now, 5 years later, he is already a captain again. The powerful frigate "Brave" was designed to rob, but only the French. After all, the expedition was sponsored by the state, which did not need unnecessary political scandals. However, the sailors, seeing the meager profits, periodically rebelled. The capture of a rich ship with French goods did not save the situation. Fleeing from his former subordinates, Kidd surrendered into the hands of the English authorities. The pirate was taken to London, where he quickly became a bargaining chip in the struggle of political parties. On charges of piracy and the murder of a ship's officer (who was the instigator of the mutiny), Kidd was sentenced to death. In 1701, the pirate was hanged, and his body hung in an iron cage over the Thames for 23 years, as a warning to the corsairs of imminent punishment.
Mary Read (1685-1721). From childhood, girls were dressed in boy's clothes. So the mother tried to hide the death of her early deceased son. At age 15, Mary joined the army. In the battles in Flanders, under the name Mark, she showed miracles of courage, but she never received any advancement. Then the woman decided to join the cavalry, where she fell in love with her colleague. After the end of hostilities, the couple got married. However, the happiness did not last long, the husband died unexpectedly, Mary, dressed in men's clothing, became a sailor. The ship fell into the hands of pirates, and the woman was forced to join them, cohabiting with the captain. In battle, Mary wore a man's uniform, participating in skirmishes along with everyone else. Over time, the woman fell in love with the artisan who helped the pirate. They even got married and were going to put an end to the past. But even here the happiness did not last long. Pregnant Reed was caught by authorities. When she was caught along with other pirates, she said that she committed the robberies against her will. However, other pirates showed that there was no one more determined than Mary Read in the matter of plundering and boarding ships. The court did not dare to hang the pregnant woman; she patiently awaited her fate in a Jamaican prison, not fearing a shameful death. But a strong fever finished her off early.
Olivier (Francois) le Vasseur became the most famous French pirate. He was nicknamed "La Blues", or "the buzzard". A Norman nobleman of noble origin was able to turn the island of Tortuga (now Haiti) into an impregnable fortress of filibusters. Initially, Le Vasseur was sent to the island to protect the French settlers, but he quickly expelled the British (according to other sources, the Spaniards) from there and began to pursue his own policy. Being a talented engineer, the Frenchman designed a well-fortified fortress. Le Vasseur issued a filibuster with very dubious documents for the right to hunt the Spaniards, taking the lion's share prey for yourself. In fact, he became the leader of the pirates, without taking direct part in the hostilities. When the Spaniards failed to take the island in 1643, and were surprised to find fortifications, Le Vasseur's authority grew noticeably. He finally refused to obey the French and pay royalties to the crown. However, the deteriorating character, tyranny and tyranny of the Frenchman led to the fact that in 1652 he was killed by his own friends. According to legend, Le Vasseur collected and hid the largest treasure of all time, worth £235 million in today's money. Information about the location of the treasure was kept in the form of a cryptogram on the governor's neck, but the gold remained undiscovered.
William Dampier (1651-1715) often referred to not just as a pirate, but also as a scientist. After all, he completed three voyages around the world, discovering Pacific Ocean many islands. Having been orphaned early, William chose the sea path. At first he took part in trade voyages, and then he managed to fight. In 1674, the Englishman came to Jamaica as a trading agent, but his career in this capacity did not work out, and Dampier was forced to again become a sailor on a merchant ship. Having studied Caribbean, William settled on the shore Gulf of Mexico, on the Yucatan coast. Here he found friends in the form of runaway slaves and filibusters. Future life Dampira originated from the idea of traveling through Central America, plundering Spanish settlements on land and sea. He swam in the waters of Chile, Panama, New Spain. Dhampir almost immediately began keeping notes about his adventures. As a result, his book “A New Voyage Around the World” was published in 1697, which made him famous. Dampier became a member of the most prestigious houses in London, entered the royal service and continued his research, writing new book. However, in 1703 English ship Dampier continued a series of robberies of Spanish ships and settlements in the Panama area. In 1708-1710, he took part as a navigator of a corsair expedition around the world. The works of the pirate scientist turned out to be so valuable for science that he is considered to be one of the fathers of modern oceanography.
Zheng Shi (1785-1844) considered one of the most successful pirates. The scale of her actions will be indicated by the facts that she commanded a fleet of 2,000 ships, on which more than 70 thousand sailors served. The 16-year-old prostitute "Madame Jing" married the famous pirate Zheng Yi. After his death in 1807, the widow inherited a pirate fleet of 400 ships. Corsairs not only attacked merchant ships off the coast of China, but also sailed deep into river mouths, ravaging coastal settlements. The emperor was so surprised by the actions of the pirates that he sent his fleet against them, but this did not have significant consequences. The key to Zheng Shi's success was the strict discipline she established on the courts. It put an end to traditional pirate freedoms - robbery of allies and rape of prisoners was punishable death penalty. However, as a result of the betrayal of one of her captains, the female pirate in 1810 was forced to conclude a truce with the authorities. Her further career took place as the owner of a brothel and a gambling den. The story of a female pirate is reflected in literature and cinema; there are many legends about her.
Edward Lau (1690-1724) also known as Ned Lau. Most Throughout his life, this man lived in petty theft. In 1719, his wife died in childbirth, and Edward realized that from now on nothing would tie him to home. After 2 years, he became a pirate operating near the Azores, New England and the Caribbean. This time is considered the end of the age of piracy, but Lau became famous for the fact that in a short time he managed to capture more than a hundred ships, while showing rare bloodthirstiness.
Arouj Barbarossa (1473-1518) became a pirate at age 16 after the Turks captured his home island of Lesbos. Already at the age of 20, Barbarossa became a merciless and brave corsair. Having escaped from captivity, he soon captured a ship for himself, becoming the leader. Arouj entered into an agreement with the Tunisian authorities, who allowed him to set up a base on one of the islands in exchange for a share of the spoils. As a result, Urouge's pirate fleet terrorized all Mediterranean ports. Getting involved in politics, Arouj eventually became the ruler of Algeria under the name of Barbarossa. However, the fight against the Spaniards did not bring success to the Sultan - he was killed. His work was continued by his younger brother, known as Barbaross the Second.
Bartholomew Roberts (1682-1722)
Captain Bartholomew Roberts is no ordinary pirate. He was born in 1682. Roberts was the most successful pirate of his time, always well and tastefully dressed, with excellent manners, he did not drink alcohol, read the Bible and fought without removing the cross from his neck, which greatly surprised his fellow corsairs. A stubborn and brave young man who set foot on the slippery path of sea adventures and robberies, during his short four-year career as a filibuster, he became quite a famous person of that time. Roberts died in a fierce battle and was buried, in accordance with his will, at sea.
Sam Bellamy (1689-1717)
Love led Sam Bellamy to the path of sea robbery. Twenty-year-old Sam fell in love with Maria Hallett, the love was mutual, but the girl’s parents did not let her marry Sam. He was poor. And in order to prove to the whole world the right to the hand of Maria Bellamy, she becomes a filibuster. He went down in history as “Black Sam.” He got his nickname because he preferred his unruly black hair to a powdered wig, tying it in a knot. At his core, Captain Bellamy was known as a noble man; dark-skinned people served on his ships along with white pirates, which was simply unthinkable in the era of slavery. The ship on which he sailed to meet his beloved Maria Hallett was caught in a storm and sank. Black Sam died without leaving the captain's bridge.
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