Maybe he Captain Jack Sparrow dominate the oceans on movie billboards around the world, but long before the appearance of this famous fictional character played by the famous Johnny Depp, there were a remarkable number of buccaneers, corsairs and rascals who controlled the seven seas. If you are interested in learning more about the subject, AboutHistory We invite you to explore some of the pirates most famous to ever sail the waters of the Caribbean.
5 – Black Bart
Bartholomew Robertsalso know as BlackBartwas a pirate for a mere three years, however, he made his mark as one of the most successful in history, having captured almost 500 ships.
BlackBart he was known for his bravery, often attacking ships much larger than his own. But his reputation also spoke of a ruthless man. When the captain of a captured slave ship refused to pay ransom, Roberts set fire to the entire ship with the slaves inside.
In addition, he had his hobbies, he used to be seen very well dressed and, as a religious man who believed himself, he refused to attack on Sundays. Also, contrary to what is believed about other pirates, Black Bart was a teetotaler, and usually courteous and polite with women.
BlackBart he died in 1722 during a naval battle with HMS Swallow and his death marked the end of the golden age of piracy in America. It is assumed that he was thrown overboard, in his best clothes, just as he wished. To his credit he has some of the best approaches in the history of piracy, collected in the book «General history of robberies and murders of the most famous pirates«.
4Francis Drake
Hero in England, and scourge of Spain, Sir Francis Drake he was probably the most powerful and resourceful pirate in history. To Spain, he was nothing more than a pirate who plundered Spanish ports. However, to the English he was a noble corsair and an expert seaman. And the truth is that judging by the results that he obtained in battle and by the honors that were granted to him, there is no doubt that the English monarchy must have been very happy with him.
It is not for less, at the end of his career he only answered to Charles Howard or the queen Elizabeth I of England in person, who knighted him.
Drake It was not a pirate anyone, but a skilled navigator who used to attack Spanish settlements and galleons full of gold. The Spanish crown even offered a large reward for whoever captured or killed Francis Drakein what would be equivalent to about 6 million current dollars.
Beyond his bad fame among the Spanish, it should be noted that Drake he is known as the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe in 1580, and that the passage with the world’s stormiest waters bears his name (which Spain and Argentina mention in another way).
3 – William “Captain” Kidd
Perhaps one of the most unlucky pirates in the history of piracy, William “Captain” Kidd was going to be a noble Scottish corsair, but ended up being a simple pirate. To clarify this, it can be said that pirates sabotaged any ship and were persecuted by the authorities under penalty of death, while corsairs were sailors who attacked enemy ships by express order of their government.
In fact, initially Kidd I had the mission to hunt pirates by order of the Governor of New York and Massachusetts. He was trying to carry out his mission when his crew fell prey to cholera, his ship began to crack and all his attempted attacks failed.
Finally, Kidd captured an English ship full of riches and thus became a pirate, although he believed that it was a French ship. Many legends were told about the hiding place of the treasure of Kidd.
History, however, indicates that Kidd he was arrested in Boston when he showed up on the false promise that his crimes would be dealt with clemency. However, he ended up being tried and executed for piracy. He was hanged and his body was hung over the River Thames, as a warning to other pirates. He stayed there three years decomposing.
2 – Henry Morgan
Recognized for his leadership skills and courage, Henry Morgan He is one of the most famous buccaneers of all time.
Morgan He was born in Wales in 1635, but his ambition took him to Jamaica at a very young age to seek fame and fortune.
What privateer and English captain, built his wealth, power, and reputation by waging campaigns against Spanish and German shipping, capturing enemy ships, and pillaging their colonies.
Among his best-known large operations are the Sacking of Port-au-Prince, the sacking of Portobelo, the sacking of Maracaibo and Gibraltar or that of Panama City. This is what a famous Jamaican historian has to say about Henry Morgan: “He was much more than a buccaneer. He could blaspheme, curse, drink and fornicate with his comrades in any den, or lead a gang of criminals through hostile jungles and swamps… but he also proved to be a cunning politician, with a broad vision, superior to those he attracted with his peculiar magnetism.»
Unlike many pirates, Morgan he retired peacefully from his activity and died in 1688, when the golden age of piracy began to wane. He left no offspring with his wife Mary Elizabeth.
1 – Blackbeard
After spending some time among the crew pirate Under Benjamin Hornigold, Edward Teach, as he was known, began to rise through the ranks and eventually made his own ship, a 300-ton frigate which he named Queen Anne’s Revenge.
In addition, he made himself a new name: blackbeard, from which several ribbons of different colors were tied. He also carried three pairs of pistols, a sword, and small blades always at hand.
The wealth of blackbeard increased at the same time as the legends that surrounded it. Eventually, blackbeard he retired after receiving a pardon, selling his mutiny, abandoning his crew, and settling in the American colonies.
However, even in retirement, blackbeard he could not resist capturing ships further, which is why the Governor of Virginia gave the order to capture him dead or alive.
Without his crew and without his might, blackbeard he fell before the law in a battle that lasted longer than expected. When he finally died blackbeard he had more than 20 bullet and sword wounds on his body.
This has been a tour of the golden age of piracy and the most famous pirates of all time. But we still have some more surprises, like the video that we leave you below.
Video: Pirates of the Caribbean Sea
Make no mistake, this is not the film by Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley. This is a much more interesting documentary than the film itself, in which you will be able to learn more about some of the most famous corsairs who sailed through the undoubtedly dangerous waters of the Caribbean Sea. And it is that, as that song said, «the pirate life is the best life, without working, without studying, with the bottle of rum«:
It may interest you
If you are passionate about history and historical curiosities, you will surely find many other articles that you will like:
If you found the article curious or interesting, don’t forget to share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter or Google +.
Font: DiscoveryNews