My grandmother smokes a pipe in her Khrushchev room,
My grandmother smokes a pipe and sees the waves of the seas through the smoke.
All the pirates in the world are afraid of her and are rightfully proud of her.
Because grandma robs and burns their frigates,
But spares the elderly and children!
Sukachev Garik and the Untouchables
M
ama is a pirate ... what could be more authoritative for a child, and it helps to keep her husband within limits.
For most people, the word "pirate" is associated with the image of a bearded sea robber with one leg and a boarded up eye. However, among the successful famous pirates, there were not only men, but also women. This post is about some of them.
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Scandinavian pirate princess Alvilda
One of the first pirates is Alvilda, who robbed in the waters of Scandinavia in the early Middle Ages. According to legend, this medieval princess, the daughter of a Gothic king (or a king from the island of Gotland), decided to become a “marine Amazon” in order to evade a marriage forced on her by Alf, the son of a powerful Danish king.
Having gone on a pirate voyage with a team of young women dressed in men's clothes, she became the number one "star" among the sea robbers. Since the dashing raids of Alvilda posed a serious threat to merchant shipping and the inhabitants of the coastal regions of Denmark, Prince Alf himself set off in pursuit of her, not realizing that the desired Alvilda was the object of his persecution.
Having killed most of the sea robbers, he entered into a duel with their leader and forced him to surrender. How surprised the prince of Denmark was when the pirate leader took off his helmet and appeared before him in the guise of a young beauty, whom he dreamed of marrying! Alvilda appreciated the perseverance of the heir to the Danish crown and his ability to brandish a sword. The wedding was played right there, on board a pirate ship. The prince swore to the princess to love her to the grave, and she solemnly promised him never again to go to sea without him.
Everyone is dead... Hallelujah! Is the story told true? The researchers found that for the first time the tale of Alvilda was told to readers by the monk Saxo Grammatik (1140 - c. 1208) in his famous work “The Acts of the Danes”. Most likely he learned about it from the ancient Scandinavian sagas.
Jeanne de Belleville
The Breton noblewoman Jeanne de Belleville, who was married to the knight de Clisson, became a pirate not out of a love of adventure and wealth, but out of a desire for revenge.
In the period 1337-1453, with several interruptions, there was a war between England and France, which went down in history as the Hundred Years' War. The husband of Jeanne de Belleville was accused of treason.
King Philip II of France ordered his arrest, and without any evidence or trial, on August 2, 1943, he was handed over to the executioner. Known for her beauty, charm and hospitality, the widow Jeanne de Belleville-Clison vowed cruel revenge. She sold her property and bought three fast ships. According to another version, she went to England, achieved an audience with King Edward and, thanks to her beauty, received three fast ships from the monarch for corsair operations against France.
She commanded one ship herself, the others - her two sons. The small fleet, dubbed the "Vengeance Fleet in the English Channel", became the "scourge of God" in French coastal waters. Pirates mercilessly sent French ships to the bottom, devastating coastal areas. They say that everyone who had to cross the English Channel on a French ship, first of all, wrote a will.
For several years, the squadron robbed French merchant ships, often even attacking warships. Zhanna participated in battles, excellently owned both a saber and a boarding ax. As a rule, she ordered the crew of the captured ship to be completely destroyed. Not surprisingly, Philip VI soon gave the order to "catch the witch dead or alive."
And once the French managed to surround the pirate ships. Seeing that the forces were unequal, Jeanne showed real deceit - with several sailors she launched a longboat and, together with her sons and a dozen rowers, left the battlefield, leaving her comrades-in-arms.
However, fate cruelly repaid her for betrayal. For ten days, the fugitives wandered the sea - after all, they did not have navigational instruments. Several people died of thirst (among them - the youngest son of Jeanne). On the eleventh day, the surviving pirates reached the coast of France. There they were sheltered by a friend of the executed de Belleville.
After that, Jeanne de Belleville, who is considered the first female pirate, left her bloody craft, remarried. Popular rumor said: she began to embroider with beads, got a lot of seals and settled down. This is what the life-giving cross does, which means a successful marriage ...
Leat kiligra
About two hundred years after Jeanne de Belleville, a new female pirate appeared in the English Channel: Lady Kiligru. This lady led a double life: in society she is the respected wife of the Governor Lord John Kiligru in the port city of Falmet, and at the same time secretly commands pirate ships that attacked merchant ships mainly in Falmet Bay. Lady Kiligru's tactics proved successful for a long time, as she never left living witnesses.
One day a heavily loaded Spanish ship entered the bay. Before the captain and crew could recover, the pirates attacked and captured him. The captain managed to hide and with great surprise discovered that the pirates were commanded by a young and very beautiful woman, which in cruelty could compete with men. The Spanish captain made it ashore and quickly headed for the city of Falmet to inform the royal governor of the attack. To his new surprise, he saw a pirate sitting next to the governor, Lord Kiligru. Lord Kiligru ruled over two fortresses, the task of which was to ensure the unhindered navigation of ships in the bay. The captain said nothing about what had happened, and immediately left for London. By order of the king, an investigation began, which brought unexpected results.
It turned out that Lady Kiligru carried violent pirate blood, as she was the daughter of the famous pirate Philip Wolversten from Sofolk, and as a girl she participated in pirate attacks. Thanks to her marriage to the lord, she gained a position in society, and at the same time created a large pirate company that operated not only in the English Channel, but also in neighboring waters. During the process, many mysterious cases of the disappearance of merchant ships were revealed, which until now were attributed to "supernatural forces".
Lord Kiligru was condemned to death and executed. His wife also received a death sentence, but later the king commuted it to life imprisonment.
Mary Ann Blyde
Irish Mary was exceptionally tall for her time - 190 cm and unearthly beauty. She became a pirate quite by accident, but she devoted herself entirely to this dangerous activity. One day she was on a ship to America and was captured by the most famous sea pirate in history - Eduard Ticchu, nicknamed Blackbeard. Thanks to her good upbringing, Mary Ann Blyde stayed with the kidnapper. Soon she proved herself to be an excellent student of Ticci and received her ship. Her passion was jewelry and precious stones. She and Ticch are said to have amassed $70 million worth of treasure, and together they buried it somewhere on the shores of North Carolina. Treasures have not been discovered so far.
All pirates, both men and women who did not die in battle, end their lives ingloriously: they are usually condemned to death or life imprisonment. Mary Ann, however, had a different fate. In 1729, during an attack on a Spanish ship, she fell in love with young man who was on this ship. The young man agreed to marry her, but on the condition that she abandon her occupation. Together they run away to Peru, and there their traces are lost...
Ann Bonnie
Ann Cormac (her maiden name) was born in a small Irish town in 1698. This red-haired beauty with an exuberant temperament became an icon of the Golden Age of Piracy (1650-1730s) after she secretly threw in her lot with a simple sailor named James Bonney. Ann's father, a respected person, having learned about his daughter's marriage, disowned her, after which she and her newly-made husband were forced to leave for the Bahamas, which at that time were called the Pirate Republic, a place where loafers and idlers lived. Happy family life Bonnie didn't last long.
After her divorce from her husband, Ann met the pirate Jack Rackham, who became her lover. Together with him, she went to the open sea on the ship "Revenge" to rob merchant ships. In October 1720, members of Rackham's crew, including Anne and her bosom friend Mary Read, were taken prisoner by the British. Bonnie blamed her lover for everything. On the last date in prison, she told him the following: "It's a pity to see you here, but if you fought like a man, you wouldn't be hanged like a dog."
Rackham was executed. Bonnie's pregnancy allowed her to get a reprieve from her death sentence. However, the fact that it was ever put into action is nowhere in the historical records. Rumor has it that Anne's influential father paid a huge amount of money to have his unlucky daughter released.
Mary Reid
Mary Read was born in London in 1685. Since childhood, by the will of fate, she was forced to portray a boy. Her mother, the widow of a sea captain, dressed an illegitimate girl in the clothes of an early deceased son in order to swindle money from a wealthy mother-in-law who did not know about her grandson's death. Pretending to be a man in the Renaissance was easy, because all men's fashion was very similar to women's (long wigs, big hats, puffy outfits, boots), which Mary managed to do.
At the age of 15, Mary was enlisted in the British army under the name Mark Read. During her service, she fell in love with a Flemish soldier. Their happiness was short-lived. He died unexpectedly, and Mary, dressed again in a man's dress, went on a ship to the West Indies. On the way, the ship was captured by pirates. Reid decided to stay with them.
In 1720, Mary joined the crew of Jack Rackham's ship The Revenge. At first, only Bonnie and her lover knew that she was a woman, who often flirted with "Mark", making Ann wildly jealous. A couple of months later, the whole team knew about Reed's secret.
After the ship "Revenge" was captured by the pirate hunter, Captain Jonathan Barnet, Mary, like Ann, managed to get her death sentence suspended due to pregnancy. But fate still overtook her. She died in her prison cell on April 28, 1721 from puerperal fever. What happened to her child is unknown. Some suspect that he died during childbirth.
Sadie Goat
Sadie Farrell, a 19th-century American pirate, got her rare nickname because of the strange way her crimes were committed. On the streets of New York City, Sadie gained a reputation as a merciless robber who attacked her victims, inflicting strong blows head. Sadie is said to have been kicked out of Manhattan after she got into a fight with a fellow criminal, Gallus Meg, which resulted in her losing part of her ear.
In the spring of 1869, Sadie joined the Charles Street gang and became its leader after stealing a moored sloop on a bet. Farrell and her new black-flagged team with Jolly Roger sailed the Hudson and Harlem rivers, plundering farm estates and rich mansions along the way, and sometimes kidnapping people for ransom.
By the end of the summer, such a fishery became too risky, as farmers began to defend their holdings, firing at the approaching sloop without warning. Sadie Farrell was forced to return to Manhattan and make amends with Gallus Meg. She returned a piece of her ear, which she kept for posterity in a jar with a special solution. Sadie, since then known as the "Queen of the Port", placed him in a locket, which she did not part with for the rest of her life.
Illyrian queen Teuta
After Teuta's husband, the Illyrian king Agron, died in 231 BC, she took over the reins of government, since her stepson Pinnes was then too young. In the first four years of her reign over the Ardiei tribe, who lived on the territory of the modern Balkan Peninsula, Teuta encouraged piracy as a means of fighting against the powerful neighbors of Illyria. The Adriatic sea robbers not only robbed Roman merchant ships, but also helped the queen recapture a number of settlements, including Dyrrhachium and Phoenicia. Over time, they expanded their influence into the Ionian Sea, terrorizing the trade routes of Greece and Italy.
In 229 BC, the Romans sent ambassadors to Teuta, who expressed dissatisfaction with the scope of the Adriatic pirates and urged her to influence her subjects. The queen derisively reacted to their requests, stating that piracy, according to Illyrian ideas, is a legitimate trade. How the Roman ambassadors reacted to this is unknown, but apparently not very politely, since after meeting with Teuta one of them was killed and the other was sent to prison. This was the reason for the start of the war between Rome and Illyria, which lasted two years. Teuta was forced to admit defeat and make peace on extremely unfavorable terms. Ardiei pledged to pay an annual burdensome tribute to Rome.
Teuta continued to oppose Roman rule, for which she lost her throne. There is no information about her further fate in history.
Jacotta Delaye
Jacotta Delaye was born in the 17th century to a Frenchman and a Haitian mother. Her mother died in childbirth. After Jacotta's father was killed, she was left alone with her younger brother, who suffered from mental retardation. This forced the red-haired girl to take up piracy.
In the 1660s, Jacotta had to fake his own death in order to escape the persecution of government troops. She lived for several years male name. When everything calmed down, Jacotta returned to her previous activities, taking the nickname "Red-haired, returned from the other world."
Breton lioness
Jeanne de Clisson was the wife of the wealthy nobleman Olivier III de Clisson. They lived happily, raised five children, but when the war broke out between England and France, her husband was accused of treason and executed by beheading. Jeanne vowed revenge on King Philip VI of France.
The widow de Clisson sold all her lands in order to buy three warships, which she dubbed the Black Fleet. Their crew consisted of merciless and cruel corsairs. Between 1343 and 1356, they attacked the ships of the French king sailing across the English Channel, killed crew members and beheaded with an ax all the aristocrats who had the misfortune to be on board.
Jeanne de Clisson worked as a sea robber for 13 years, after which she settled in England and married Sir Walter Bentley, an army lieutenant. English king Edward III. She later returned to France, where she died in 1359.
Anne Dieu-le-Veu
Frenchwoman Anne Dieu-le-Veu, whose surname translates as "God wants it", had a stubborn and strong character. She arrived on the island of Tortuga in the Caribbean in the late 60s or early 70s of the 17th century. Here she twice became a mother and a widow. Ironically, Ann's third husband was the man who killed her second husband. Dieu-le-Veu challenged Lawrence de Graaf to a duel to avenge the death of her late lover. The Dutch pirate was so mesmerized by Ann's courage that he refused to shoot himself and offered her his hand and heart. On July 26, 1693, they got married and had two children.
After her marriage, Dieu-le-Veu went to the open sea with her new husband. Most of his crew members believed that the presence of a woman on the ship meant bad luck. The lovers themselves laughed at this superstition. How their love story ended, no one knows for sure.
According to one version, Anne Dieu-le-Veu became the captain of de Graaff's ship after he was killed in a cannonball explosion. Some historians suggest that the couple fled to Mississippi in 1698, where they may have continued to engage in piracy.
Saida Al-Hurra
A contemporary and ally of the Turkish corsair Barbarossa, Saida al-Hurra became the last queen of Tetouan (Morocco); she inherited power after the death of her husband in 1515. Her real name is unknown. “Saida Al-Hurra” into Russian can be roughly translated as “noble lady, free and independent; a woman overlord who does not recognize any power over herself.
Saida al-Hurra ruled Tetouan from 1515 to 1542, controlling the western part with his pirate fleet mediterranean sea, while Barbarossa terrorized the eastern. Al-Hurra decided to engage in piracy in order to take revenge on the "Christian enemies" who in 1492 (after the conquest of Granada by the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile) forced her family to flee the city.
At the height of her power, Al-Hurra married the King of Morocco, but refused to hand over the reins of Tetouan to him. In 1542, Saida was overthrown by her stepson. She lost all power and property; nothing is known about her further fate. She is believed to have died in poverty.
Grace O'MailBald Greine"
Grace was also called the "Queen of the Pirates" and the "Witch of Rockfleet" . ABOUT it is impossible to write briefly for this woman))) everything in her life was so interesting and confusing. Dumas smokes nervously. She was so famous that the Queen of England Elizabeth I herself met with her.
Grace was born around 1530 in Ireland, in the family of the leader of the O`Malley clan, Owen Dubdara (Umall-Uakhtara). According to legend, she “lost her hair” by cutting off her hair in response to her father’s remark that a woman on a ship was a bad omen, and after her father’s death, she defeated her brother Indulf in a knife fight, becoming a leader.
By marrying O'Flaherty's tanist Domhnall the Warlike, Granual became the head of her husband's fleet. Three children were born in the marriage - Owen, Murrow and Margaret.
In 1560, Domhnall was killed, and Granual, with two hundred volunteers, went to Claire Island. Here she (continuing piracy) fell in love with the aristocrat Hugh de Lacy, who, however, was killed by the MacMahon clan, which was hostile to him. Granual, in response to this murder, took their fortress and killed the entire clan.
A year later, she announced a divorce and did not return the castle; however, she managed to give birth in this marriage to a son, Tibbot. According to legend, on the second day after giving birth, her ship was attacked. Algerian pirates, and Granual encouraged her men to fight, declaring that giving birth was worse than fighting. Considering that men will not have to give birth anyway, this is a dubious motivation. Apparently, female logic was the most logical then ....
Gradually capturing the entire Mayo coast, except for Rockfleet Castle, Granual married (according to Irish tradition, in the format of a "trial marriage" for a year) Iron Richard from the Burke clan.
In the life of Grania there were defeats; one day the British took her prisoner and placed her in Dublin Castle. Somehow, the pirate managed to escape, and on the way back she tried to spend the night in Howth. They didn't let her in; the next morning, she kidnapped the burgomaster's son, who went hunting, and released him free of charge, but on the condition that the doors of the city were to be open to everyone looking for an overnight stay, and there should be a place for them at every table.
Queen Elizabeth hosted her twice and wanted to enlist her in her service. The first time at the entrance, a hidden dagger was taken away from Grace and Elizabeth was very worried about the fact of his presence. Grace then refused to bow before the Queen because she "did not recognize her as the Queen of Ireland".
As Grace took a puff of snuff, one of the noble ladies handed her a handkerchief. Using it for its intended purpose, that is, blowing her nose, she threw the handkerchief into the nearest fireplace. Responding to Elizabeth's astonished look, Grace stated that they, in Ireland, once used a handkerchief are thrown away.
This meeting was captured in an engraving, the only lifetime image of a pirate; even the color of her hair is unknown, traditionally considered black, according to her father's nickname, but in one of the poems called red. Why her name was bald history is silent.
The pirate queen died in the same year as the queen of England - in 1603.
Zheng Shi
Zheng Shi has earned fame as the most merciless sea robber in history. Before meeting the famous Chinese pirate Zheng Yi, she made a living by prostitution. In 1801, the lovers got married. The Yi fleet was huge; it consisted of 300 ships and about 30 thousand corsairs.
On November 16, 1807, Zheng Yi died. His fleet passed into the hands of his wife, Zheng Shi ("Zheng's widow"). Zhang Bao, the son of a fisherman, whom Yi kidnapped and adopted, helped her manage everything. They turned out to be a great team. By 1810, the fleet consisted of 1,800 ships and 80,000 crew members. Zheng Shi's ships were subject to strict laws. Those who violated them paid for it with their heads. In 1810, Zheng Shi's fleet and authority weakened, and she was forced to conclude a truce with the emperor and go over to the side of the authorities.
Zheng Shi became the most successful and richest pirate of all time. She died at the age of 69.
Madame Shan Wong
200 years after the death of the first Chinese "pirate queen" in the same waters where her fleets robbed, a completely worthy successor to her work appeared, who rightfully won the same title. Shang, a former Cantonese nightclub dancer who became famous as China's most seductive diva, married no less famous person. His name was Wong Kungkim, he was the largest pirate chieftain in South-East Asia who began robbing merchant ships back in 1940.
His wife, Madame Wong, as her friends and foes called her, was a faithful friend and intelligent assistant to the pirate in all his operations. But in 1946, Wong Kungkit died. The story of his death is mysterious, it is believed that the pirate's competitors are to blame for it. When, in the end, two of Wong Kungkit's closest assistants came to the widow, so that she would formally (since everything had already been decided by these two) approve the candidate they had named for the post of head of the corporation. “Unfortunately, there are two of you,” Madame replied, not looking up from the toilet, “and the company needs one head ...” After these words, Madame turned around sharply, and the men saw that she was holding a revolver in each hand. This is how the “coronation” of Madame Wong took place, because after this incident there were no hunters to talk with her about power in the corporation.
Since then, her power over the pirates has been unquestioned. Her first independent operation was the attack on the Dutch steamer Van Heutz, which was boarded at night at the anchorage. In addition to the seizure of the cargo, everyone who was on board was robbed. Mining Madame Wong amounted to more than 400 thousand pounds. She herself rarely took part in the raids and in such cases she always wore a mask.
The police of the coastal countries, knowing that the pirates were led by a woman named Madame Wong, could not publish her portrait, which negated the possibility of her capture. It was announced that there was a £10,000 reward for her photograph, and whoever caught or killed Madame Wong could name the amount of the reward, and the authorities of Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines would guarantee him the payment of such an amount.
And one day, the head of the police of Singapore received a package with photographs, on which it was written that they were related to Madame Wong. They were photographs of two Chinese men cut into pieces. The caption read: They wanted to take a picture of Madame Wong.
That's almost all...
The theme of beautiful women among pirates is glorified by cinema... and every year it will only gain popularity.
Pictures (C) on the Internet. If they are highly artistic and colored, then they have nothing to do with the described pirate. I apologize to them and to you, I am sure of real life they looked better...
The phenomenon of piracy has given human history many names of legendary adventurers. The peak of maritime robberies came in the 17th century, when the World Ocean was the scene of a struggle between Spain, England and some other European colonial powers gaining momentum. Most often, pirates made a living by independent criminal robberies, but some of them ended up on public service and purposefully harmed the foreign fleet.
Francis Drake
Born in 1540, he came from an ordinary farming family, and nothing foreshadowed that he would become a great pirate and navigator. A sharp turn in his life happened at the age of 12, when his parents moved to Kent. There, the teenager became a cabin boy on a merchant barge. The owner of the ship was his distant relative. Dying, he handed over the ship as a legacy to Drake. So, by an amazing coincidence, already at the age of 18, the young man turned out to be a captain.
Like all other contemporary sailors, Francis dreamed of distant western seas, where the Spaniards continued to rule since their discovery. The most famous pirates of that time, as one, hunted royal galleons loaded with American gold. The Spaniards really controlled the West Indies and were not going to give its resources to the British. Skirmishes constantly occurred between the ships of these two countries. In one of them, in 1567, Francis Drake almost lost his life. Of the entire English flotilla, only two ships survived. After this episode, the Spaniards became Drake's sworn enemies.
Francis received from his authorities a letter of marque and the right to free robbery of enemy bases. Using this opportunity, the pirate captured Spanish fortresses and outposts in the Caribbean. In 1572, his detachment intercepted a huge cargo of silver. The robber sailed to England with 30 tons of precious metal.
Drake became famous not only as a thunderstorm of the Spaniards, but also as a brave navigator. In 1577, Queen Elizabeth I sent him to round the world expedition. It was this pirate who became the first Englishman to round the Earth. During his journey, he found out that Tierra del Fuego is an island, not southern mainland, as it used to be considered in Europe. After his triumphant return, Francis Drake received a knighthood and became a sir. The high rank did not change the habits of the sea wolf. On the contrary, over and over again he rushed into another adventurous voyage.
In 1588, Francis Drake participated in the defeat of the Spanish Invincible Armada. The victory of the English fleet was a harbinger of British maritime dominance for several centuries. After this success, Drake went on expeditions to the West Indies several times. In it, he destroyed enemy bases of pirates that interfered with the lucrative English trade. Sir Drake died in 1596 while traveling in Panama. His lead coffin was buried in the ocean. Without a doubt, the adventurer is the most famous pirate of the 16th century.
Henry Morgan
Henry Morgan was born in 1635 in the Welsh outback to a landowner's family. The boy could become the heir of his father, but from childhood his passion was not agriculture, but the sea. As time has shown, love for distant horizons was justified. The most famous pirates envied the success of Henry Morgan, who became a living legend of his time.
As a young man, an Englishman hired himself on a ship sailing to the harbor of the island of Barbados. Once in the Caribbean, Morgan began to build an amazing career as a pirate. Joining the sea robbers, he moved to Jamaica. Junga quickly became a participant in raids, the main purpose of which was to rob ships that came to hand. In a short time, the boy learned all the laws and customs of marine life. Already in his youth, he became the owner of considerable capital, knocked together from pirate proceeds and winnings in dice. With this money, Henry bought his first ship.
Very soon, even the most famous pirates heard about the prowess and luck of Morgan. A group of like-minded people formed around the pirate. New ships began to join his ship. The growth of influence could not but lead to the growth of ambitions. In 1665, Morgan decided to give up plundering ships and began planning an operation to capture the entire city. Trujillo was his first target. Then the robber captured several Spanish bases in Cuba. Both simple privateers and the most famous pirates could not boast of such success.
Morgan's most famous military enterprise was his campaign against Panama in 1670. By this time, the robber already had a fleet of 35 ships and a team of 2 thousand people at his disposal. This gang landed in Panama and moved to the Spanish fortress of the same name. Although the garrison consisted of 2.5 thousand soldiers, he was unable to defend the city. Having taken Panama, the pirates exterminated all those who resisted and plundered everything they could reach. The city was set on fire and destroyed. After this raid, the names of the most famous pirates faded against the background of the name of Henry Morgan.
When an English subject returned to Jamaica, which belonged to the crown, the authorities unexpectedly arrested him. The fact was that on the eve of London and Madrid made peace. Pirates did not act on behalf of the state, but enjoyed its benevolent connivance. Having made peace with Spain, the British government promised to rein in their pirates. Henry Morgan was expelled to his homeland. At home, a court was waiting for him, but the process turned out to be only a sham demonstration. The authorities were not going to punish the pirate who had rendered them so many services in the fight against Spanish rule at sea.
Henry Morgan soon returned to Jamaica. He became vice-governor of the island and commander-in-chief of its fleet and army. In the future, the pirate continued to faithfully serve the crown. He died in 1688 and was buried with honors in the church of Port Royal. A few years later, Jamaica was rocked by a catastrophic earthquake, and Morgan's grave was washed into the ocean.
Ann Bonnie
Although sea robbery has traditionally been considered an exclusively male business at all times, the most famous female pirates are no less interesting. One of them was (born in 1700). The girl came from a wealthy Irish family. When she was still a child, her father purchased an estate in distant America. So Ann moved to the New World.
At the age of 18, her daughter ran away from home and embarked on a path of adventurous adventure. She met a pirate and decided to join his sea adventures. The girl had to get used to men's clothes and master the skills of combat and shooting. Rackham's crew was seized by the authorities in 1720. The captain was executed, but the punishment for Ann was constantly postponed due to her pregnancy. Her further fate remains unknown.
According to one version, Bonnie freed herself and died during another raid, according to another, her influential father rescued her, after which the former robber spent her whole life in South Carolina and died in 1782 at a ripe old age. Be that as it may, the most famous female pirates (another famous robber at the time was even more rumored than their male counterparts.
Blackbeard
The legendary figure of Blackbeard remains one of the most recognizable in the pirate pantheon. Hidden under this nickname Edward Teach. Almost nothing is known about his childhood. The sailor made himself known in 1713, when at the age of 33 he joined the robbers of Benjamin Hornigold. Like all world-famous pirates, this team hunted in the Caribbean Sea, which is attractive for valuable cargo. Teach was the true ideal of a pirate. He knew nothing but regular raids and robberies. His ship, Queen Anne's Revenge, terrified both sailors and civilians on earth.
In 1717, thanks to the efforts of the governor of the Bahamas, the official authorities began an uncompromising fight against pirates. In new unusual conditions, many robbers (including the same Hornigold) decided to lay down their arms and receive a royal pardon. However, Teach refused to change his lifestyle. From that moment on, he became enemy No. 1 for the British military and naval forces.
Many famous pirates who did not want to fit into the new order joined Blackbeard. The most famous adventure of this captain was the blockade of Charleston in South Carolina. The raiders captured many high-ranking citizens and received a colossal ransom in exchange for their return.
The treachery of the owner of Queen Anne's Revenge did not go unpunished. The authorities promised 100 pounds for the head of a pirate, which was then a fortune. A real hunt began for Blackbeard. Very soon, on November 22, 1718, he died in a boarding battle against the team of Lieutenant Robert Maynard. Often the most famous pirates and their ships disturbed the seas for an extremely short, but eventful period. The same was the fate of Blackbeard.
Bartholomew Roberts
The fame enjoyed by the most famous pirates in history gave rise to many rumors and myths around them. Bartholomew Roberts was no exception to this rule. It is he who is credited with the authorship of the Code of Pirates - a set of rules according to which many generations of sea robbers lived.
Roberts was born in 1682 in the small Welsh town of Haverfordwest. His sea travels began on a slave ship, where Bartholomew was the captain's mate. He got to the pirates at the age of 37, when he was hired on the ship "Princess of London". A month and a half later, the novice robber was elected captain of his own ship.
Further independent enterprises of Roberts glorified him in many seas and countries. At that time, it was believed that he was the most famous pirate in the world. Bartholomew's team operated not only in the Caribbean, but also in coastal waters. West Africa, Brazil and even Canada. The thugs plundered everything that could be profitably sold: ships with noble metals, galleons with northern furs, barges with rare American goods. Roberts made his flagship a stolen French brig, which he called the "Royal Pirate".
Bartholomew was killed in 1722 while on another trip to Africa, where he intended to engage in a profitable slave trade. The legendary pirate was killed by the addiction of his companions to drink. When a British ship unexpectedly attacked Roberts' ship, his entire crew was dead drunk. The most famous pirates of the Caribbean and the admirals of the Royal Navy were amazed by what happened: it seemed to everyone that Bartholomew was invincible. Roberts stood out noticeably from his comrades not only in his own successes, but also in his habit of dressing well, as well as his aversion to gambling and foul language. There is no doubt that he was one of the most extravagant pirates of his time.
Henry Avery
During his short life, he managed to acquire many nicknames. Some contemporaries called him Lanky Ben, others called him the Arch-Pirate. Avery's love of the sea was predetermined by his own roots. Henry's father was a captain in the English navy. In 1659, a son appeared in the officer's family, who was destined to become one of the brightest and most legendary pirates of his era.
At first, the future criminal sailed on merchant ships and only then changed them to robber ones. In 1694, 25-year-old Emery was employed on a privateer ship. The main difference between such a ship and a classic pirate ship was that it robbed and attacked foreign merchants with the permission of its government. Sometimes contracts were violated: when the ship stopped paying salaries, the crew rebelled. The sailors decided to become pirates and instead of the old captain they chose a new one. It turned out to be Henry Emery.
The new leader of the robbers left the Caribbean and went to Indian Ocean, where there was also something to profit from. The place of the first long stop was Madagascar. Emery's team then attacked ships belonging to the Indian Mughal Empire. The robbers managed to capture a huge amount of rare oriental goods and all kinds of jewelry. All the pirates of America dreamed of such a profitable enterprise. After that expedition, Avery disappeared from view. There were rumors that he moved to England and tried to start an honest business and ended up completely broke.
Thomas Tew
The path that Henry Emery followed during his famous expedition was called the "Pirate Circle". Thomas Tew was the first to pass this route (Atlantic - South Africa - Madagascar - India). Like Emery, he started out as a privateer and ended up as a pirate. In 1693 he robbed several ships in the Red Sea. Before his attack, European thugs had never hunted in this area. Perhaps this is the reason for Tew's success - no one expected the appearance of Caribbean gentlemen of fortune.
During his second voyage to Madagascar, Thomas met Henry Emery by chance. Because of the rumors of easy money in the eastern countries, the most famous sea robbers now sought to repeat Tew's success. In the memory of the pirates, this captain remained precisely as the discoverer of the "Circle". He couldn't do more. In 1695, Thomas Tew died during an attack on a Mughal flotilla.
Thomas Cavendish
The list, which includes the most famous pirates in world history, cannot be complete without mentioning Thomas Cavendish (1560-1592). He was a contemporary of Francis Drake. The biographies of these two pirates, who acted in the interests of the English crown, have many similarities. Cavendish, following Drake, decided to travel around the world. The expedition, made in 1586-1588, was not peaceful at all. Rounding America, English pirates robbed many Spanish ships full of gold. In a sense, Thomas Cavendish's journey was audacity. The Spaniards considered the Pacific Ocean their "inland lake" and were furious when foreign robbers penetrated these still unknown waters.
The Cavendish team made the most profitable attack near the coast of Mexico. The subjects of Elizabeth I attacked the galleon, which was carrying a year's supply of Peruvian gold (120,000 pesos). Another lucrative enterprise for pirates was a stopover in Java. This island was famous for its pepper and cloves. Spices at that time were valued by the weight of precious metals. Cavendish managed to get a large cargo of this expensive commodity. The pirates returned to their native Plymouth in 1588. Having completed a round-the-world trip in 2 years and 50 days, they set a speed record that lasted for two whole centuries.
Cavendish quickly spent his fortune. A few years after his amazing success, he assembled a second expedition, intending to repeat his last triumph exactly. However, this time the pirate was pursued by failures. In 1592 he died in the waters Atlantic Ocean. Presumably Cavendish's ship sank near Ascension Island.
Francois Olone
Although the most famous pirates and their ships, as a rule, were associated with England, other countries also had their own nuggets. For example, the Frenchman Francois Olone (1630-1671) left a significant mark on history. In his youth, he became famous in the main Caribbean pirate port of Tortuga. In 1662, a young robber received a letter of marque and began to hunt Spanish ships. One day Olone's ship was wrecked. The pirate was thrown onto the Mexican coast, where he, along with his team, was attacked by the Spaniards who came to the rescue. All the French died, and only Olona, who pretended to be dead, managed to survive.
François' most ambitious undertaking was his capture of the Spanish city of Maracaibo in present-day Venezuela. The daredevils who attacked the colony fit in only five ships. On the way, the pirates plundered a Spanish ship and obtained a valuable cargo of jewelry and cocoa. Arriving on the mainland, Olone led the assault on the fort, which was garrisoned by 800 people. The pirates captured the fortress and got 80,000 silver piastres. In honor of the fall of Maracaibo, the captain was nicknamed "the scourge of the Spaniards."
The last campaign for the famous French robber was his expedition to Nicaragua. After three months of looking for profit, the pirates seized a ship loaded with cheap paper. Due to failure, part of the team returned to Tortuga. Olone continued the raid, but unfortunately for the captain near Cartagena, his ship ran aground. A French detachment of 40 people that reached the shore was attacked by a crowd of Indians. Local cannibals tore and ate Olone and his team.
Amaro Pargo
Amaro Pargo is one of the most famous Spanish pirates. He was born in 1678 in the Canary Islands and already in his youth began to trade in the transportation of slaves from Africa to America. Free laborers on the plantations were extremely highly valued, thanks to which Pargo quickly got rich. He was a sworn enemy of Blackbeard and, in general, of all English pirates.
Before his death in 1747, Pargo made a will, in which he indicated that he buried a chest with fabulous treasures: silver, gold, pearls, jewelry, precious stones and expensive fabrics. For several decades, many adventurers have tried to find this treasure, including the most famous pirates. In the story of Pargo's legacy, still a large number of white spots. Despite a long search, no one found the treasure of the Spanish pirate.
The history of piracy is as old as the history of navigation. At all times, sailors, adventurers, criminals and discoverers sought to gain and enrich themselves (mainly by force). Their personalities are surrounded by a halo of romance, legends are composed about them. So who are these famous pirates: bloodthirsty and cruel invaders or brave sailors and discoverers of new lands?
Gorgeous Francis Drake
The name of this English navigator, who indirectly contributed to the creation of the British colonial empire (for which he received the title of nobility), is known to all. Young Drake was taught to be a pirate by his uncle Hawkins, a pirate and slave trader. So, in 1572, Drake on the ships "Swan" and "Pasha" headed for the Isthmus of Panama. There he burned and plundered the city of Portobelo, delving into the wilds of the mainland, captured a Spanish caravan with gold and other treasures heading from Peru to Portobelo. Off the coast of Mexico, he made a successful and daring raid on Spanish ships.
As a result, after this adventure, the pirate returned to, earned the attention of the royal court and was invited to an official reception with the queen. Conversing with the monarch, Drake shared with her plans to search for the unknown southern continent, which, as scientists of that time assumed, was located in southern hemisphere. And also the pirate offered to attack the Spaniards in America from the west coast of the mainland. The Queen supported Drake's endeavors and financed his adventurous ventures. In 1577-1580, Drake made the second (after Magellan) voyage around the Earth. During it, the pirate discovered the strait between the island of Tierra del Fuego and Antarctica, named after him.
Reverend Henry Morgan
The island of Jamaica had a favorable location in the Caribbean region, so it became the main base where the famous English pirates concentrated. All naval actions of the British against Spanish power in America were planned here. An important role in the history of Jamaica and its central port of Port Royal in the 17th century was played by the actions of Henry Morgan. By the way, he is the most odious person in the entire era of piracy.
As a young man, Morgan arrived in the West Indies and participated in piracy, mainly in Cuba. His uncle, Sir Edward Morgan, held the prestigious post of lieutenant governor in Jamaica. Thanks to this, Henry became the head of the Jamaican fleet. His "track record" includes the capture and plunder of the cities of Puerto Principe (Cuba) and Portobelo (a strong Spanish fortress in the West Indies), Panama (where all the gold and silver looted by the Spaniards in Peru was concentrated). After the burning of Panama, the king demanded satisfaction and punishment for those responsible. Morgan arrived home under arrest to stand trial for his deeds. But against all accusations, the King of England knighted Henry Morgan. The newly minted Sir returned to Jamaica with the rank of Chief Justice and Deputy Governor himself. He later became governor of the island. In his new rank, Sir Morgan has now begun to fight against piracy himself. The famous pirate died in Port Royal in 1688.
Terrible Edward Teach (Blackbeard)
Like many famous but terrible pirates, this villain had the most terrible appearance. He had a shaggy beard down to his eyes. His clothes were covered in blood stains, his unwashed body exuded the "aroma" of gunpowder, sweat and strong rum. In battle, Teach always wielded three pistols in turn.
Edward Teach was born in 1680 in Bristol. He began his "career" with campaigns on English privateer ships. There he showed courage in boarding battles. Having captured one of the ships, Teach took command and began to piracy on his own. In fact, he treated the team quite cruelly, was constantly under the influence of alcohol (like all his subordinates). Later, having captured a French merchant ship, Teach became its commander and christened the sailing ship Queen Anne's Revenge. The pirate attacked all ships encountered on the way, robbed, took hostages. And he sold the stolen valuables from his hands in North Carolina. There, the local governor was quite loyal to the pirates.
Teach has been plundering along the American coast for a long time. But then he ventured into a daring act of piracy. Entering the port city of Charleston, Blackbeard captured 8 ships there with expensive trophies and the rich. The passengers were given a ransom. And gold and silver was seized in the amount of 1500 pounds. Teach later entered into a deal with the Governor of North Carolina. But the terrible pirate was hunted by the English fleet. An order was given to catch Edward Teach. November 17, 1718 was the last day in the life of Blackbeard. He died in a fierce fight with Captain Maynard. Moreover, 25 wounds were counted on Tich's body, 5 of them were gunshot wounds. The pirate's head was cut off and hung on a yardarm.
No matter how famous pirates really are - bloodthirsty or brave and noble, at all times the boys will read books about their sea voyages. And also dream of dangerous and exciting adventures.
Pirates! Gentlemen of the Seas. 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. Even though it's a name 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 a captain pirate ship who robs and destroys the property of Spain. 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.
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 whole Caribbean Sea shuddered and English possessions North America. 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 pirate trade 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 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
Successful English navigator and a 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 occupy 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, 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