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 their names can be continued for a long time! The menace of the Royal Navy, cunning and treacherous, “people without honor and conscience,” tireless adventurers. Read below about these undaunted sea creatures.
1 Jethrow Flint (1680-1718)
Our selection today begins with the famous Captain Flint. 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. Confirmation of this is the famous pirate song, which contains the words - “Fifteen men on a dead man's chest, yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum.” It was fifteen people who became unwitting witnesses to the place where Flint buried his treasures. And with this they signed their own death warrant.
2 Henry Morgan (1635-1688)
We know the name of this pirate 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 of 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 consumption of rum, the favorite drink of pirates.
3 Francis Drake (1540-1596)
Despite the fact that Francis was born into 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 to do anything so that the Spaniards would not be the leading power in the world. At age 18, Drake becomes the captain of a pirate ship that plunders and destroys property in Spain. In 1572, he participated in the capture of the Spanish "Silver Caravan", thanks to which he brought the treasury 30,000 kg of silver. In addition, with a 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 became acquainted with a then exotic vegetable - potatoes. For this, Drake was knighted and received the rank of admiral.
4 William Kidd (1645-1701)
His fate became a reminder to all pirates of inevitable punishment. According to the court's verdict, he was executed, and his body was displayed 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 included in the annals of piracy. The life of this girl is a continuous series of love and adventurous adventures. At first, she pirates with her father. Then, after the death of her father, she herself becomes the leader of the Owen clan. With a saber in her hands and her hair flowing, she made her enemies tremble. However, this did not stop her from loving and being loved. The mother of four children, even at an advanced age, continued to carry out raids. At the same time, she rejected the offer of the Queen of England to enter the service of Her Royal Majesty.
6 Olivier (François) le Vasseur (1690-1730)
One of the most famous pirates, whose homeland was France. Without taking direct part in pirate raids directed against the British and Spaniards, Vasser meanwhile received the lion's share of all the 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 refuge for pirate elements. Legend has it that over the years he managed the island, he accumulated more than £235 million. But his character, which deteriorated over time, played a cruel joke on him, as a result of which he became food for sharks. The gold, which has not yet been found, 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 a wife and then a widow famous pirate Zheng Y., She inherited more than 400 ships, which were a thunderstorm, after the death of her husband merchant fleet China. The strictest discipline was introduced on the ships, putting an end to such pirate liberties as 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 Arouj Barbarossa (1473-1518)
Son of a potter. His homeland was the island of Lesbos. Probably because he didn't find his great love, or maybe due to the capture of the island by the Turks, Barbarossa becomes a pirate at the age of 16. After 4 years, he enters into an agreement with the Tunisian authorities, 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 the Sultan of Algeria. However, as a result of a clash with the Spaniards, he was killed. His successor was his younger brother, known as Barbaross the Second.
10 Edward Teach (1680–1718)
It was not without reason that this name frightened the English 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 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.
There isn't much documentary material 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 lot has been devoted to this topic. large number folklore Considering all of the above, we decided to present a dossier on several legendary sea robbers.
Active period: 1696-1701
Territories: East Coast North America, Caribbean Sea, Indian Ocean.
How he died: he was hanged in a specially designated area in the docks located in east London. His body was subsequently hung over the Thames, where it hung for three years as a warning to potential sea robbers.
What is famous for: the founder of the idea of buried treasure.
In fact, the exploits of this Scottish sailor and British privateer were not particularly extraordinary. Kidd took part in several minor battles with pirates and other ships as a privateer for the British authorities, but none of them significantly influenced the course of history.
The most interesting thing is that the legend about Captain Kidd appeared after his death. During his career, many colleagues and superiors suspected him of exceeding his privateering powers and dabbling in piracy. After irrefutable evidence of his actions emerged, military ships were sent for him, which were supposed to return Kidd to London. Suspecting what awaited him, Kidd allegedly buried untold riches 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 not impressed 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 the 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: He was killed by a cannon shot during a battle against the British fleet.
What is famous for: he can be considered the most successful pirate.
Although Bartholomew Roberts may not be the most famous pirate, he was the best at everything he did. During his career, he managed to capture more than 470 ships. He operated in the waters of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean. In his youth, when he was a sailor aboard a merchant ship, his ship and its entire crew were captured by pirates.
Thanks to his navigational skills, Roberts stood out from the crowd of hostages. Therefore, he soon became a valuable resource for the pirates who captured their ship. In the future, an incredible career rise awaited him, leading to him becoming 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 Golden Age of Piracy came to an end.
Period of activity: 1716-1718
Territories: Caribbean Sea and East Coast of North America.
How he died: in a battle against the British fleet.
What is famous for: successfully blockaded the port of Charleston. He had a bright appearance and a thick dark beard, into which during battles he wove ignition wicks, frightening the enemy with clouds of smoke emitted.
He was probably the most famous pirate, both in terms of his pirate prowess and his memorable appearance. He managed to mobilize quite an impressive fleet of pirate ships and lead it in many battles.
Thus, the flotilla under the command of Blackbeard managed to blockade the port of Charleston for several days. During this time, they captured several ships and took many hostages, who were later exchanged for various medicines 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 a battle off the coast of North Carolina. Then Teach managed to kill many Englishmen. He himself died from multiple saber blows and gunshot wounds.
Active period: 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.
What is famous for: the first to use a flag with the image of the classic “Jolly Roger”.
Edward England became a pirate after being captured by a gang of thugs. He was simply forced to join the team. After a short stay in the waters Caribbean Sea A rapid rise up the pirate career ladder awaited him.
As a result, he began to command his own ship, used to attack slave ships in the Indian Ocean. It was he who came up with the flag with the image of a skull above two crossed femurs. This flag later became a classic symbol of piracy.
Active period: 1718-1720
Territories: waters of the Caribbean Sea.
How he died: hanged in Jamaica.
What is famous for: the 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 attempt at retirement, the pirate met and fell in love with Anne Bonny, who subsequently dressed as a man and joined his crew.
Some time later, Rackham's team captured a Dutch merchant ship, and without knowing it, they took another woman dressed as a man on board the pirate ship. Reed and Bonnie turned out to be brave and courageous pirates, which made Rackham famous. Jack himself cannot be called a good captain.
When his crew was captured by the ship of the governor of Jamaica, Rackham was so drunk that he did not even manage to get into a fight, and only Mary and Anne defended their ship to the last. Before his execution, Jack asked for a meeting with Anne Bonny, but she flatly refused and, instead of dying consoling words, told her former lover that his pitiful appearance caused her indignation.
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. Hearing about the demise of this terrible person, 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 was quite a 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. An example of this is William Dampier, 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 the Caribbean pirates and soon became a filibuster captain.
Grace O'Male (1530 - 1603)
Grace O'Male (1530 - 1603)
Grace O'Male is the lady of fortune. This fearless woman pirate could give a head start to any man. Her adventures are a whole adventurous novel! Grace from a young age, together with her father and his friends, took part in the attack on merchant ships that passed off the coast Ireland. After the death of her father, in battle she won the right to be the leader of the Owen clan. Beautiful Grace, with flowing hair and sabers in her hands, terrified her enemies, while causing admiration in the eyes of her companions. Such a turbulent pirate life did not interfere with this brave girl. to love and be loved, she had four children from two marriages. Grace did not leave 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. that she was arrested.
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, and indomitable passion for rum and women. His name made the entire Caribbean Sea tremble and English possessions North America. He was tall and strong, had a thick black beard braided, wore a wide-brimmed hat and a black cloak, and always had seven loaded pistols. The opponents surrendered in horror without resistance, considering him an incarnation of hell. In 1718, during the next battle, the pirate Blackbeard continued to fight to the last, wounded by 25 shots, and died from a blow from a saber.
1635 - 1688
This pirate was known as the Cruel or Pirate Admiral. One of the authors of the Pirate Code. Incredible man, who excelled in the pirate craft and was a respected lieutenant governor, commander-in-chief navy Jamaica. The pirate admiral was considered a talented military leader and a wise politician. His life was full of bright, major victories. Sir Henry Morgan died in 1688 and was buried with honors in St. Catherine's Church, Port Royal. Through, time due strong earthquake, his grave was swallowed up by the sea.
1645 - 1701
The most bloodthirsty pirate legend. He had amazing endurance, special cruelty, sadistic sophistication and skillful talent for piracy. William Kidd was an excellent expert in navigation. He had unconditional authority among pirates. His battles were considered the fiercest in the history of piracy. He robbed both at sea and on land. Legends about his victories and countless treasures live to this day. The search for the looted 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 of the World Ocean. During his career, Captain Francis Drake made many discoveries of lands unknown to mankind. For his numerous achievements and rich spoils, he received generous recognition from Queen Elizabeth I.
1682 - 1722
His real name is John Roberts, nicknamed Black Bart. The richest and most incredible pirate. He always loved to dress with taste, adhered to generally accepted manners in society, did not drink alcohol, wore a cross and read the Bible. He knew how to convince, subdue and confidently lead his minions to the intended goal. He fought many successful battles and mined a huge amount of gold (approximately 300 tons). He was shot dead 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 - received this nickname due to his fundamental refusal to wear a combed wig, preferring not to hide his unruly dark hair tied in a knot. Black Sam was led to the path of piracy by love. He was a noble, purposeful man, a wise captain and a successful pirate. Captain Sam Bellamy had both white and black pirates on board, 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, and a love of mockery and execution. He was involved in the pirate business together with his brother Khair. The Barbarossa Pirates were a threat to the entire Mediterranean. So, in 1515, the entire Azir coast was under the rule of Arouj Barbarossa. The battles under his command were sophisticated, bloody and victorious. Arouj Barbarossa died during the battle, surrounded by enemy troops in Tlemcen.
1651 - 1715
A sailor from England. By vocation he was a researcher and discoverer. Completed 3 round the world travel. Became a pirate in order to have the means to pursue his research activities- studying 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”, “The Direction of the Winds”. An archipelago in the North-West coast of Australia, as well as a strait between the western coast of New Guinea and the island of Waigeo, are named after him.
1530 - 1603
Female pirate, legendary captain, lady of fortune. Her life was full of colorful adventures. Grace had heroic courage, unprecedented determination and high talent as a pirate. For her enemies she was a nightmare, for her followers an object of admiration. Despite the fact that she had three children from her first marriage and 1 child from her second, Grace O'Mail continued her favorite business. Her work was so successful that Queen Elizabeth I herself invited Grace to serve her, to which she received a decisive refusal.
1785 - 1844
Zheng Shi closes the list of the most famous pirates in the world. She etched 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 together with her husband, but after his death, she boldly took over the reigns. Zheng Shi was an excellent, strict and wise captain; she formed a disciplined and strong army from a chaotic bunch of pirates. This ensured successful offensive operations and enchanting victories. Zheng Shi lived out her years in peace, as 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” 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 Jin, or Zheng Shi, was the most famous "sea robber" of her time. The army of pirates under her command terrified the coastal cities of Eastern and Southeast China at the beginning of the 19th century. 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 betrayed the perpetrators for plundering fishing villages and raping captive women death penalty. 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 with young age Together with his brother Atzor, he began to engage in piracy. Arouge 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 scattered silver and gold in order to delay his pursuers. 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 groups of islands - the Dampier archipelago. In 1703 he went to Pacific Ocean for the pirate trade. 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 history of Selkirk's stay on desert island formed the basis for 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 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 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).
