History of Pirates The most colorful pirates in history. Pirates
There aren't many documentaries on piracy. Many of the existing facts are only partly true. Information about who these people really were has undergone many different interpretations. As often happens in the absence of reliable first-hand data, quite a large amount of folklore is devoted to this topic. With all of the above in mind, we've decided to present a dossier on several legendary sea robbers.
Period of activity: 1696-1701
Territories: East coast of North America, Caribbean Sea, Indian Ocean.
How he died: he was hanged in a specially designated place in the docks, located in the east district of London. Subsequently, his body was hung over the Thames, where it hung for three years as a warning to would-be sea robbers.
What is famous for: the founder of the idea of buried treasures.
In fact, the exploits of this Scottish sailor and British privateer were not particularly extraordinary. Kidd took part in several small battles with pirates and other ships as a privateer for the British authorities, but none of them significantly affected the course of history.
The most interesting thing is that the legend of Captain Kidd appeared after his death. During his career, many colleagues and superiors suspected him of exceeding his letters of marque and indulging in piracy. After the appearance of irrefutable evidence of his actions, warships were sent for him, which were supposed to return Kidd to London. Suspecting what awaited him, Kidd allegedly buried untold wealth on Gardines Island off the coast of New York. He wanted to use these treasures as insurance and a bargaining tool.
The British court was unimpressed by the stories of buried treasure, and Kidd was sentenced to the gallows. This is how his story suddenly ended and a legend appeared. It was thanks to the efforts and skill of writers who became interested in the adventures of a terrible robber that Captain Kidd became one of the most famous pirates. His actual actions were significantly inferior to the glory of other sea robbers of that time.
Period of activity: 1719-1722
Territories: from the eastern coast of North America to the eastern coast of Africa.
How he died: was killed by a cannon shot during the battle against the British fleet.
What is famous for: he can be considered the most successful pirate.
Despite the fact that Bartholomew Roberts is not the most famous pirate, he was the best in everything he undertook. During his career, he managed to capture more than 470 ships. He operated in the waters of the Indian and Atlantic oceans. In his youth, when he was a sailor on board a merchant ship, his ship, along with the entire crew, was captured by pirates.
Thanks to his navigational skills, Roberts stood out from the crowd of hostages. Therefore, it soon became a valuable shot for the pirates who captured their ship. In the future, an incredible career takeoff awaited him, which led to the fact that he became the captain of a team of sea robbers.
Over time, Roberts came to the conclusion that it was completely pointless to fight for the miserable life of an honest employee. From that moment on, his motto was the statement that it is better to live for a short time, but for your own pleasure. We can safely say that with the death of 39-year-old Roberts, the end of the Golden Age of piracy has come.
Period of activity: 1716-1718
Territories: Caribbean Sea and East Coast of North America.
How he died: in battle against the British fleet.
What is famous for: successfully blocked the port of Charleston. He had a bright appearance and a thick dark beard, into which during the battles he wove ignition wicks, frightening the enemy with emitted clouds of smoke.
He was probably the most famous pirate, both in terms of pirate prowess and memorable appearance. He managed to mobilize a rather impressive fleet of pirate ships and lead it in many battles.
So, the flotilla under the command of Blackbeard managed to block the port of Charleston for several days. During this time, they captured several ships and took many hostages, who were subsequently traded for various medical supplies for the crew. For many years, Teach kept the Atlantic coast and the islands of the West Indies at bay.
This continued until his ship was surrounded by the British fleet. This happened during the battle off the coast of North Carolina. Then Teach managed to kill many Englishmen. He himself died from multiple saber blows and gunshot wounds.
Period of activity: 1717-1720
Territories: Indian Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
How he died: died shortly after being removed from command of the ship and landing in Mauritius.
Famous for: He was the first to use the flag with the image of the classic Jolly Roger.
Edward England became a pirate after being captured by a band of thugs. He was simply forced to join the team. After a short stay in the waters of the Caribbean Sea, he was waiting for a rapid rise through the pirate career ladder.
As a result, he began to command his own ship, used to attack slave ships in the Indian Ocean. It was he who invented the flag with the image of a skull over two crossed femurs. This flag later became a classic symbol of piracy.
Period of activity: 1718-1720
Territories: waters of the Caribbean Sea.
How he died: was hanged in Jamaica.
Known for: First pirate to allow women on board.
Calico Jack cannot be classified as a successful pirate. His main occupation was the capture of small commercial and fishing vessels. In 1719, during a brief retirement attempt, the pirate met and fell in love with Anne Bonny, who subsequently dressed in men's clothing and joined his crew.
After some time, Rackham's team captured a Dutch merchant ship, and without knowing it, took another woman in a man's outfit aboard the pirate ship. Reed and Bonnie turned out to be brave and brave pirates, which made Rackham famous. Jack himself is by no means a good captain.
When his crew hijacked the Governor of Jamaica's ship, Rackham was so drunk that he couldn't even fight, and only Mary and Ann defended their ship to the last. Before the execution, Jack asked for a meeting with Ann Bonnie, but she flatly refused and, instead of dying words of consolation, told her former lover that his pitiful appearance caused her indignation.
Pirates! Gentlemen of the sea. For many centuries, their names inspired fear in people. Captain Flint, Jack Sparrow, John Silver, James Hook... The list of names goes on and on! Thunderstorm of the royal fleet, cunning and treacherous, "people without honor and conscience", tireless adventurers. Read about such fearless marines below.
1 Jetrow Flint (1680-1718)
The famous Captain Flint begins our selection today. Despite the fact that this is the name of a fictional character created by the thought of the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson, his mention is worthy of this collection. Flint was a merciless man. This is confirmed by the famous pirate song, which contains the words - "Fifteen people for a dead man's chest, yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum." It was fifteen people who unwittingly witnessed the place where Flint buried his treasures. And with that, they signed their own death warrant.
2 Henry Morgan (1635-1688)
The name of this pirate, we know from the film "Hearts of Three", based on the novel of the same name by Jack London.
However, unlike the previous participant in our selection, Henry Morgan really existed. He was not only a pirate, but also a man who helped England gain control over the entire Caribbean region. For this, he received the rank of Governor of Jamaica. However, the sea could not part with its favorite, and as a result of the earthquake, the cemetery where the old pirate was buried went under water. The cause of Morgan's death was liver disease, caused by the indefatigable use of rum, a favorite drink of pirates.
3 Francis Drake (1540-1596)
Despite the fact that Francis was born in the family of a priest, he was not an exemplary Christian. This was facilitated by the blessing of the Queen of England, who was ready for anything, if only the Spaniards were not the leading power in the world. At 18, Drake becomes the captain of a pirate ship that robs and destroys Spain's property. In 1572, he participated in the capture of the Spanish "Silver Caravan", thanks to which he brought 30,000 kg of silver to the treasury. In addition, with the desire to visit unknown countries, Drake was a participant. Thanks to her, the treasury of England received an income that was three times the size of its annual budget. In addition, the British got acquainted with the then exotic vegetable - potatoes. For this, Drake was knighted and received the rank of admiral.
4 William Kidd (1645-1701)
His fate has become a reminder to all pirates of the inevitable punishment. By a court verdict, he was executed, and his body was placed on display in a metal cage in London for more than 23 years. The reason for this was the pirate antics of Kidd, who was a real disaster not only for the French, but also for the British.
This name is forever entered into the annals of piracy. The life of this girl is a continuous series of love and adventurous adventures. In the beginning, she is a pirate along with her father. Then, after the death of her father, she herself becomes the leader of the Owen clan. With a saber in hand and loose hair, she made her enemies tremble. However, this did not stop her from loving and being loved. The mother of four children, even when she was no longer young, continued to raid. At the same time, she rejected the proposal of the Queen of England to enter the service of Her Royal Majesty.
6 Olivier (Francois) le Vasseur (1690-1730)
One of the most famous pirates, whose homeland was France. Without taking a direct part in the pirate raids against the British and Spaniards, Vasser, meanwhile, received the lion's share of all booty. The reason for this was the island of Tortuga (present-day Haiti), which this talented engineer turned into an impregnable fortress and became a haven for pirating elements. There is a legend that during the years of managing the island, he saved up more than 235 million pounds. But his character, which deteriorated over time, played a cruel joke with him, as a result of which he became food for sharks. Gold, which has not been found so far, remains hidden somewhere on the islands in the middle of the world's oceans.
7 William Dampier (1651-1715)
Despite the fact that William Damir's main occupation was piracy, he is also considered the father of modern oceanography. This is explained by the fact that he not only pirated, but also described all his travels and what was connected with them. The result of this was a book called A New Journey Around the World.
8 Zheng Shi (1785-1844)
"Night Butterfly", who first became the wife and then the widow of the famous pirate Zheng Yi, she inherited more than 400 ships after the death of her husband, which were a thunderstorm for the Chinese merchant fleet. The strictest discipline was introduced on the ships, which put an end to such pirate liberties as the robbery of allies and violence against prisoners. In addition, Zheng Shi is known in history as the owner of brothels and the patroness of gambling.
9 Arouge Barbarossa (1473-1518)
Potter's son. His homeland was the island of Lesvos. Probably because he did not find his great love on it, or perhaps because of the capture of the island by the Turks, Barbarossa becomes a pirate at the age of 16. After 4 years, he concludes an agreement with the authorities of Tunisia, according to which he can create his own base on one of the islands, and in return, he shares a percentage of the profits. Soon he becomes Sultan of Algeria. However, as a result of a clash with the Spaniards, he was killed. His successor was a younger brother known as Barbaross II.
10 Edward Teach (1680–1718)
This name not without reason frightened the British and French governments. Thanks to his courage and cruelty, Teach soon became one of the most feared pirates operating in the Jamaica area. By 1718, more than 300 men were fighting under him. The enemies were horrified by Tich's face, almost completely covered with 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 hung up on a yardarm. It was he who became the prototype of the legendary Jetrow Flint, from Treasure Island.
Piracy appeared as soon as a person began to use watercraft to transport goods. In different countries and in different eras, pirates were called filibusters, earpieces, corsairs, and privateers.
The most famous pirates in history have left a significant mark: in life they inspired fear, after death their adventures continue to arouse unflagging interest. Piracy has had a great impact on culture: sea robbers have become the central figures of many famous literary works, modern films and TV series.
10 Jack Rackham
Jack Rackham, who lived in the 18th century, is one of the most famous pirates in history. He is interesting because there were two women in his team. For his love of Indian chintz (calico) shirts of bright colors, he received the nickname Calico Jack. He was in the Navy at an early age due to need. For a long time he served as a senior helmsman under the command of the famous pirate Charles Vane. After the latter tried to refuse to fight a French warship pursuing a pirate ship, Rackham rebelled and was elected the new captain in accordance with 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 out as a warning to the rest of the 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 researchers of his life. Some historians are sure that he was not a pirate and acted strictly within the framework of a letter of marque. Nevertheless, he was found guilty of attacking 5 ships and murder. Despite trying to get his release in exchange for information about the location of the valuables, Kidd was sentenced to be hanged. After the execution, the body of the pirate and his accomplices was hung out for public viewing over the Thames, where it hung for 3 years.The legend of Kidd's hidden treasures has long haunted the minds. The belief that the treasure really exists was supported by literary works that mentioned the pirate treasure. The hidden riches of Kidd were searched on many islands, but without success. The fact that the treasure is still 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 under it a 50-kilogram ingot, which, according to experts, belonged to Captain Kidd.
8 Madame Shi
Madame Shi or Lady Zheng is one of the most famous female pirates in the world. 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 most severe discipline helped her to command the whole army. For example, for unauthorized absence from the ship, the offender lost his 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 the power of Madame Shi was weakened, she agreed to a truce with the emperor and subsequently lived to a ripe old age in freedom, managing a 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 operated on the seas and oceans against enemy ships by special permission of Queen Elizabeth. Devastating the coasts of Central and South America, he became immensely rich. Drake accomplished many great deeds: he opened the strait, which he named after himself, 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 on one of the ships as a cabin boy and was soon sold into slavery in Barbados. He managed to get to Jamaica, where Morgan joined a gang of pirates. Several successful campaigns allowed him and his comrades to acquire a ship. Morgan was chosen as captain, and it was a good decision. A few years later, under his command there were 35 ships. 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 struggle 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. It is believed that he created the famous "Pirate Code". He was killed in action with a British warship. The body of the pirate, 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 heard his name. Lived and engaged in sea robbery Tich in the heyday of the golden age of piracy. Entering the service at the age of 12, he gained valuable experience, which was then useful to him in the future. According to historians, Teach participated in the War of the Spanish Succession, and after it ended, he deliberately decided to become a pirate. The glory of the ruthless filibuster helped Blackbeard capture ships without the use of weapons - when he saw his flag, the victim surrendered without a fight. The cheerful life of a pirate did not last long - Tich died during a boarding battle with a British warship pursuing him.
3 Henry Avery
The most famous pirate in history is Henry Avery, nicknamed Lanky Ben. The father of the future famous buccaneer was a captain in the British Navy. From childhood, Avery dreamed of sea voyages. He began his career in the Navy as a cabin boy. Then Avery was appointed 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 booty of pirates 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 filibusters of the golden age of piracy. Pargo was engaged in the transportation of slaves and made a fortune on this. Wealth allowed him to do charity work. Lived to a respectable age.
1 Samuel Bellamy
Among the most famous sea robbers is Samuel Bellamy, known as Black Sam. Became a pirate in order to marry Maria Hallet. Bellamy was desperately short of funds to provide for his future family, and he joined Benjamin Hornigold's pirate crew. A year later, he became the captain of the robbers, allowing Hornigold to leave peacefully. Thanks to a network of informers and spies, Bellamy was able to capture one of the fastest ships of the time, the frigate Vaida. Bellamy died while sailing to his lover. The Vaida was caught in a storm, the ship was stranded and the crew, including Black Sam, perished. Bellamy's career as a pirate only lasted a year.
1680 - 1718
The most famous pirate in the world is Edward Teach, or he is also called Blackbeard. He was known to the world for his cruelty, desperation, strength, indomitable passion for rum and women. On his behalf, the entire Caribbean Sea and the English possessions of North America shuddered. He was tall, strong build, had a thick black beard braided into braids, wore a wide-brimmed hat and a black cloak, and always had seven loaded pistols. Opponents in horror surrendered without resistance, considering him a fiend. In 1718, during the next battle, the pirate Blackbeard continued to fight to the last, wounded by 25 shots, and died from a saber strike.
1635 - 1688
This pirate was known as the Cruel or Pirate Admiral. One of the authors of the Pirate Code. An incredible man who excelled in the trade of piracy and was a respected lieutenant governor, commander in chief of the Jamaican navy. The pirate admiral was considered a talented military leader and a wise politician. His life was full of bright big victories. Sir Henry Morgan died in 1688 and was buried with honors in the church of St. Catherine of Port Royal. After a while, due to a strong earthquake, his grave was swallowed up by the sea.
1645 - 1701
The most bloodthirsty pirate legend. He possessed amazing endurance, special cruelty, sadistic sophistication and a skillful talent for piracy. William Kidd was an excellent expert in nautical science. He had unconditional authority among the pirates. His battles were considered the fiercest in the history of piracy. He plundered both at sea and on land. Legends about his victories, countless treasures live to this day. The search for the stolen treasure of William Kidd continues to this day, but so far without success.
1540-1596
A successful English navigator and talented pirate during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The second, after Maggelan, Francis Drake circumnavigated the world. They discovered the widest strait in the world's oceans. During his career, Captain Francis Drake made many discoveries of lands unknown to mankind. For numerous achievements and rich booty, he received the generous recognition of Queen Elizabeth I.
1682 - 1722
His real name is John Roberts, his nickname is Black Bart. The richest and most incredible pirate. He always liked to dress with taste, adhered to the manners generally accepted in society, did not drink alcohol, wore a cross and read the Bible. He knew how to convince, subdue and confidently lead minions to the intended goal. He spent many successful battles, mined a huge amount of gold (approximately 300 tons). He was shot on his own ship during a raid. The trial of the captured Black Bart pirates was the largest trial in history.
1689 - 1717
Black Sam - got such a nickname because of the fundamental rejection of a combed wig, preferring not to hide his unruly dark hair tied in a knot. It was love that led Black Sam to the path of piracy. He was a noble purposeful person, a wise captain and a successful pirate. Both white and black pirates served on board Captain Sam Bellamy, which was considered unthinkable at the time. He had smugglers and spies under his command. He won many victories and won incredible treasures. Black Sam died during a storm that overtook him on the way to his beloved.
1473 - 1518
Famous powerful pirate from Turkey. He was characterized by cruelty, ruthlessness, love of bullying and executions. He was involved in piracy with his brother Khair. The pirates of Barbarossa were the menace of the entire Mediterranean. So, in 1515, the entire Agiers coast was under the rule of Aruja Barbarossa. The battles under his command were sophisticated, bloody and victorious. Aruj Barbarossa died during the battle, surrounded by enemy troops in Tlemcen.
1651 - 1715
Sailor from England. By vocation, he was a researcher and discoverer. Made 3 trips around the world. He became a pirate in order to have the means to engage in his research activities - the study of the direction of winds and currents in the ocean. William Dampier is the author of such books as Travels and Descriptions, A New Journey Around the World, Direction of the Winds. An archipelago in the northwest coast of Australia is named after him, as well as a strait between the western coast of New Guinea and Waigeo Island.
1530 - 1603
Female pirate, legendary captain, lady of fortune. Her life was full of colorful adventures. Grace possessed heroic courage, unprecedented determination and a high talent for piracy. For enemies, she was a nightmare, for adherents, an object of admiration. Despite the fact that she had three children from her first marriage and 1 child from her second, Grace O'Malle continued her favorite business. Her activities were so successful that Queen Elizabeth I herself offered Grace to serve her, which she received a decisive refusal.
1785 - 1844
Zheng Shi closes the list of the most famous pirates in the world. She made her name in history as one of the most successful female pirates. Under the command of this small fragile Chinese robber there were 70,000 pirates. Zheng Shi started the pirate business with her husband, but after his death, she boldly took over the reign. Zheng Shi was an excellent, strict and wise captain, she formed a disciplined and strong army from a disorderly gathering of pirates. This ensured successful offensive operations and enchanting victories. Zheng Shi lived out her years quietly, the owner of a hotel, within the walls of which there was a brothel and a gambling house.
The most famous bloodthirsty pirates Video
Pirates, "gentlemen of fortune" at all times terrified the population of coastal cities. They were feared, raided, executed, but interest in their adventures never weakened.
Madame Jin is the wife of her son
Madame Jing, or Zheng Shi, was the most famous "sea robber" of her time. An army of pirates under her command terrified the coastal cities of East and Southeast China in the early 19th century. Under its command there were about 2,000 ships and 70,000 people, who could not even be defeated by the large fleet of the Qing emperor Jia-qing (1760-1820), sent in 1807 to defeat the masterful pirates and capture the powerful Jin.
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 real gentleman, took her as his wife (after marriage, she received the name Zheng Shi, which means "Zheng's wife"). After the wedding, they went to the shores of Vietnam, where the newly-married couple and their pirates, having attacked one of the coastal villages, kidnapped a boy (the same age as Zheng Shi) - Zhang Baozai, 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. With her, there was iron discipline in the flotilla, nobility was not alien to her, if this quality can even be correlated with piracy. Madame Jin put the guilty to death for plundering fishing villages and raping captive women. For unauthorized absence from the ship, the guilty person was cut off his left ear, which was then presented to the entire team for intimidation.
Zheng Shi married her stepson, placing her in command of her fleet. But not everyone in Madame Jin's team was satisfied with the woman's power (especially after the unsuccessful attempt of two captains to woo her, one of whom Zheng Shi shot dead). The dissatisfied revolted and surrendered to the mercy of the authorities. This undermined the authority of Madame Jin, which forced her to negotiate with the representatives of the emperor. As a result, under 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. Retiring from piracy, Madame Zheng settled in Guangzhou, where she maintained a brothel and gambling den until her death at the age of 60.
Aruj Barbarossa - Sultan of Algeria
This pirate, who terrified the cities and villages of the Mediterranean, was a cunning and dodgy 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. Aruj passed through captivity and slavery on galleys belonging to the Ionite knights, from which his brother ransomed him. The time spent in slavery embittered Aruj, the ships belonging to the Christian kings, he plundered with particular cruelty. So in 1504, Aruj attacked galleys loaded with valuable cargo, which belonged to Pope Julius II. He managed to capture one of the two galleys, the second tried to flee. Arunj went to the trick: he ordered some of his sailors to put on the uniform of soldiers from the captured galley. Then the pirates went to the galley and took their own ship in tow, thus simulating the complete victory of the papal soldiers. Soon a lagging galley appeared. The sight of a pirate ship in tow caused a surge of enthusiasm among the Christians, and the ship approached the side of the "trophy" without any fear. At this moment, Aruj gave a sign, after which the pirate team began to kill the fugitives with cruelty. This event greatly increased Uruj's prestige 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 a sultan under the name of Barbarossa (Red-bearded), after which he began to rob the cities of southern Spain, France, Italy with even greater zeal and cruelty, accumulating enormous wealth. Against him, the Spaniards sent a large expeditionary force (about 10,000 people), led by the Marquis de Comares. He managed to defeat the army of Aruj, and the latter began to retreat, taking with him the accumulated wealth over the years. And, as the legend says, along the entire retreat, Aruj, in order to delay the pursuers, scattered silver and gold. But this did not help, and Aruj died, he was cut off his head 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 Reid, was forced to hide her gender all her life. Even in childhood, her parents prepared her fate - 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, dressing her daughter in advance in the clothes of her dead son. Mary was a "grandchild" in the eyes of her unsuspecting grandmother, and all the while the girl was growing up, her mother dressed and raised her like a boy. At the age of 15, Mary left for Flanders and entered the infantry regiment as a cadet (still disguised 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 joined the cavalry. There, the floor took its toll - Mary met a man with whom she fell passionately in love. Only she revealed to him that she was a woman, and soon they 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 on which she sailed was captured by English pirates. Here a fateful meeting took place: she met the famous pirate Ann Bonnie (the same as she, a woman dressed as a man) and her lover John Rackham. Mary joined them. Moreover, she, along with Ann, began to cohabit with Rackham, forming a bizarre "love triangle". The personal courage and courage of this trio made them famous throughout Europe.
Learned Pirate
William Dampier, who was born into an ordinary peasant family and lost his parents early, had to make his own way in life. He began by becoming a cabin boy on a ship, then he took up fishing. A special place in his activities was occupied by a passion for research: he studied new lands, to which fate threw him, their flora, fauna, climatic features, participated in an expedition to explore the coast of New Holland (Australia), discovered a group of islands - the Dampira archipelago. In 1703 he went to the Pacific Ocean on a pirate hunt. 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 of the boatswain) Alexander Selkirk. The story of Selkirk's stay on a desert island formed the basis of the famous book by Daniel Defoe "Robinson Crusoe".
Bald Greine
Grace O'Malle or, as she was also called, Bald Greine, is one of the controversial figures in English history. She was always ready to defend her rights, no matter what. She got acquainted with navigation thanks to her father, who took his little daughter on long-distance trading voyages. Her first husband was a match for Grace. About the clan O "Flagerty, to which he belonged, they said:" Cruel people who most arrogantly rob and kill their fellow citizens. slain, Grace returned to her family and took charge of her father's fleet, thus wielding a truly formidable force with which to keep the entire West Coast of Ireland in check.
Grace allowed herself to lead 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 for her to wipe her nose after sniffing tobacco, Grace, using it, said: “Do you need it? In my area they are not used more than once!” - and threw a handkerchief to the retinue. According to historical sources, two longtime opponents - and Grace managed to send a dozen English ships - were able to agree. The queen granted the pirate, who at that time was already about 60 years old, 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 him. The enemies were horrified by Tich's face, almost completely covered with 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 hung up on a yardarm. It was he who became the prototype of the legendary Jetrow 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 that, he began to cooperate and actively participate in the pirate raids of such pirates as Suleiman Reis and Simon the Dancer, also, like him, the Dutch who converted to Islam. Jan Janson in 1619 moved to the Moroccan city of Sale, which lived off piracy. Shortly after Janson's arrival 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 the footsteps of their father, becoming pirates, but then joined the Dutch colonists who founded the city of New Amsterdam (now New York).