The most famous pirate ships. The most famous pirates in history

Pirates, "gentlemen of fortune" at all times terrified the population of coastal cities. They were feared, raided, executed, but interest in their adventures never waned.

Madame Jin is the wife of her son

Madame Jing, or Zheng Shi, was the most famous "sea robber" of her time. An army of pirates under her command terrified the coastal cities of East and Southeast China in the early 19th century. Under her command were about 2,000 ships and 70,000 people, which could not even be defeated by the large fleet of the Qing emperor Jia-qing (1760-1820), sent in 1807 to defeat the willful pirates and capture the powerful Jin.

Zheng Shi's youth was unenviable - she had to engage in prostitution: she was ready to sell her body for hard currency. At the age of fifteen, she was kidnapped by a pirate named Zheng Yi, who, like a real gentleman, took her as his wife (after marriage, she received the name Zheng Shi, which meant "Zheng's wife"). After the wedding, they went to the shores of Vietnam, where the newly-made couple and her pirates, attacking one of the coastal villages, abducted a boy (Zheng Shi's one-year-old) - Zhang Baozai - whom Zheng Yi and Zheng Shi adopted, since the latter could not have children. Zhang Baozai became Zheng Yi's lover, which apparently did not bother the young wife at all. When her husband died in a storm in 1807, Madame Jin inherited a fleet of 400 ships. Under her, there was iron discipline in the flotilla, and nobility was no stranger to her, if this quality at all can be correlated with piracy. Madame Jin for the robbery of fishing villages and the rape of captive women betrayed the perpetrators to death. 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, placing in command of her fleet. But not everyone in Madame Jing's team was happy with the woman's power (especially after two captains failed to woo her, one of whom Zheng Shi shot). The disaffected revolted 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 maintained a brothel and gambling brothel until her death at the age of 60.

Aruj Barbarossa - Sultan of Algeria

This pirate, who terrified the cities and villages of the Mediterranean, was a cunning and cunning warrior. He was born in 1473 in the family of a Greek potter who converted to Islam, and from a young age, together with his brother Atzor, he began to engage in piracy. Urouge went through captivity and slavery in galleys owned by the Ionite knights, from which his brother ransomed him. The time spent in slavery hardened Urouge, ships belonging to Christian kings, he plundered with particular cruelty. So in 1504 Urouge attacked the galleys, loaded with a valuable cargo, which belonged to Pope Julius II. He managed to capture one of the two galleys, the second tried to flee. Arunj went for a trick: he ordered some of his sailors to put on the uniform of soldiers from the captured galley. Then the pirates went to the galley and took their own ship in tow, thus imitating the complete victory of the papal warriors. 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 side of the "trophy" without any hesitation. At this moment, Urouge gave a sign, after which the pirate crew began to brutally kill the fugitives. This event significantly increased Urouj'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, Urouj proclaimed himself sultan under the name Barbarossa (Redbeard), after which he began to plunder the cities of southern Spain, France, Italy with even greater zeal and cruelty, accumulating enormous wealth. Against him, the Spaniards sent a large expeditionary force (about 10,000 people) led by the Marquis de Comares. He managed to defeat the army of Uruj, and the latter began to retreat, taking with him the accumulated wealth over the years. And, as the legend says, Uruj scattered silver and gold all along the way of retreat in order to delay the pursuers. But this did not help, and Urouge 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 and 18th centuries, Mary Reed, had to hide her gender all her life. Even as a child, her parents had prepared her fate - to "take the place" of their brother, who died shortly before the birth of Mary. 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 disguised 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 left for Flanders and entered the infantry regiment as a cadet (still disguised as a man, under the name Mark). According to the memoirs of contemporaries, she was a brave fighter, but still could not advance in the service and went into the cavalry. There, the floor 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 soon they got married. After the wedding, they rented a house near the castle in Breda (Holland) and equipped the Three Horseshoes tavern there.

But fate was not favorable, soon Mary's husband died, and she, again disguised as a man, went to the West Indies. The ship she was sailing on was captured by British pirates. Then a fateful meeting took place: she met the famous pirate Anne Bonnie (just like her, a woman disguised as a man) 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, who was born into an ordinary peasant family and lost his parents early, had to fight his way into life himself. He began by becoming a cabin boy on a ship, then he took up fishing. A special place in his activities was occupied by a passion for research: he studied new lands, on which fate had thrown him, their flora, fauna, climatic features, participated in an expedition to explore the shores of New Holland (Australia), discovered a group of islands - the Dampira archipelago. In 1703, he went to the Pacific Ocean on a pirate trade. On the island of Juan Fernandez, Dampier (according to another version of Stradling, the captain of another ship) landed the sailing master (according to another version of the boatswain) Alexander Selkirk. The story of Selkirk's stay on a desert island formed the basis of the famous book by Daniel Defoe "Robinson Crusoe".

Bald Graine

Grace O'Mail, or, as she was also called, Bald Graine, is one of the controversial figures in English history. She was always ready to defend her rights, no matter what. She got acquainted with seafaring thanks to her father, who took his little daughter on long trade voyages. Her first husband was a match for Grace. About the clan O "Flagerty, to which he belonged, they said:" Cruel people who rob and kill their fellow citizens in the most insolent manner. "Although, in fairness, it should be noted that for the Irish clans of the mountainous Connacht, civil strife is common. killed, Grace returned to her family and took control of her father's flotilla, giving her a tremendous power to keep the entire West Coast of Ireland under her control.

Grace allowed herself to lead so freely, even in the presence of the queen. After all, she was also called the "queen", only the pirate. When Elizabeth I held out her lace handkerchief to Grace to wipe her nose after sniffing the tobacco, Grace, using it, said: “Do you need it? In my area they are not used more than once! " - and threw a handkerchief to her retinue. According to historical sources, two longtime opponents - and Grace managed to send to one dozen English ships - were able to agree. The queen granted the pirate, who at that time was already about 60 years old, forgiveness and immunity.

Black beard

Thanks to his courage and cruelty, Edward Teach became one of the most feared pirates operating in the Jamaica area. By 1718, more than 300 people were fighting under his leadership. 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 hauled up on the yard. It was he who became the prototype of the legendary Jetrow Flint, from "Treasure Island".

Pirate President

Murat Reis Jr., whose real name is Jan Janson (Dutch), converted to Islam in order to avoid captivity and slavery in Algeria. After that, he began to cooperate and actively participate in pirate raids by pirates such as Suleiman Reis and Simon the dancer, also like him - the Dutch who converted to Islam. Jan Janson moved to the Moroccan city of Salé in 1619, which lived off piracy. Shortly after Yanson arrived there, he declared his independence. There was created a pirate republic, the first head of which was Janson. In Sale, he married, his children followed in the footsteps of their father, becoming pirates, but then joined the Dutch colonists who founded the city of New Amsterdam (now New York).

All pirate ships, regardless of size and origin, met certain requirements to one degree or another. First of all, the pirate ship had to have sufficient seaworthiness, since it often had to endure storms in the open ocean.

A little about ships!

The so-called "golden age of piracy" (1690-1730) was marked by special piracy activity in the Caribbean Sea, on the Atlantic coast of North America, the west coast of Africa and in the Indian Ocean. The first two of these areas are famous for their frequent hurricanes, the season of which lasts from June to November, reaching a peak in August-September. At the beginning of the 17th century, sailors were already well aware of the existence of the Atlantic hurricane season and that these hurricanes originate off the West African coast. Mariners have learned to predict an approaching hurricane. Knowing that a storm was approaching, the ship's captain could try to get away from it or find shelter. The wind blowing at a speed of over 150 km / h has caused catastrophic destruction on the coast and sank ships for centuries. For pirates, for whom the road to most ports was closed, storms posed a particular threat. Their ships had to be particularly stable and withstand any storm. Mandatory attributes of a pirate ship were a set of storm sails, a solid hull, reliable pumps for pumping water out of the hold, and an experienced crew. For pirates, hurricanes also had a positive side, as they damaged other ships, leaving them defenseless. The pirate Henry Jennings began his career robbing Spanish galleons washed ashore by the hurricane of 1715. In the Indian Ocean, tropical cyclones, which in the western Pacific are known as typhoons, were no less dangerous. In the northern Indian Ocean, tropical cyclones are rampant from May to November, while further south, the cyclone season is from December to March. Meteorologists record an average of 85 hurricanes, typhoons and tropical cyclones per year. Apparently, during the "golden age of piracy" this number was about the same. Hurricanes and typhoons are dangerous even for modern ships. How dangerous they were for sailing "boats", deprived of the opportunity to receive a storm warning on the radio! Add to this the constant risk of Atlantic storms and excitement in the Cape of Good Hope area ... Interestingly, in those days, transatlantic crossings (and voyages around the world!) Were often made by sloops and even smaller vessels, which today are only used for coastal fishing (meaning vessels of the same size). For example, Bartholomew Roberts crossed the Atlantic several times, and also walked along the coast of the New World from Brazil to Newfoundland. Stress on wooden case the vessel during a long voyage is compatible with short-term load during a storm. The problem is further aggravated by the constant overgrowth of the bottom with algae and shells, which seriously impair the sailing performance of the vessel. Heavily overgrown sailing ship cannot reach a speed of more than three to four knots. Therefore, it is very important to periodically clean the bottom of the ship. But if at the disposal of the military and merchants there were shipyards in port cities, then the pirates had to clean the bottom of their ships secretly, hiding in secluded bays and river estuaries. Cleaning the bottom (pitching, pitching) of a small ship (sloop or brig) usually took a week. Larger ships required proportionally more time for this operation. During inclining, the ship was vulnerable to attack and attacks on pirate ships in a similar position are known. The ship is also threatened by carpenter worms. The waters of the Caribbean Sea are the most infested with woodworms, so the wooden ships sailing in this region decay faster than others. The Spaniards adhered to the rule that a ship making regular voyages to the Caribbean cannot last more than ten years, even if measures were taken to protect the hull. It should be noted that the problem of the longevity of the ship never arose before the pirates, because even the most successful of them, like Bartholomew Roberts, rarely operated for more than two years. Large ships were better suited for sailing across the Atlantic, but took longer to pitch. It is much easier to clean the bottom of a small ship. Small ships have a shallow draft, which allows them to navigate more confidently in coastal waters, as well as swim in river estuaries, sandbanks and inland waters. In 1715 the Governor of New York, Hunter, wrote the following lines to London: "The coast is teeming with privateers who, using the opportunity to paddle in shallow water, leave the ships of His Majesty." The Governor demanded at his disposal a fleet of sloops capable of fighting pirates in the shallow waters off Long Island and at the mouth of the Hudson.
Others mandatory requirement there was a high speed towards the pirate ship. There is a mathematical formula that determines the relationship between the size of the ship, the shape of the hull, and the number of sails that the ship can carry. In theory, a large ship can carry more sails, but its hull has a larger displacement as well. Big square sails have a positive effect on speed, while a large displacement, on the contrary, limits it. Small ships, such as brigantine, have little windage, but the ratio of sail area to displacement is greater than that of ships with straight sailing rig which gives them a speed advantage. Small, narrow and shallow-draft vessels such as sloops and schooners have improved hydrodynamics, which also increases their speed. Although speed is determined by a complex third-degree equation, the underlying reasons behind it are well known. Pirate ships were generally faster than straight-handed merchant ships. Certain types of ships were prized by pirates for their speed. Thus, single-masted sloops built in Jamaica or Bermuda were especially popular among pirates.
The speed of the ship is also influenced by such factors that are difficult to give in. mathematical expression... We have already spoken about bottom fouling. The pirates were required to regularly keel their ships, since everyone was important to them. additional node speed. Certain types of ships did better in certain winds. For example, ships with gaff sails could steer steeper to the wind than ships with straight sails, the Latin sail is especially good in a crosswind, but does not help much in a tailwind. But the most important thing was the experience of the captain and the qualifications of the team. Experienced sailors can squeeze an extra knot of speed knowing the characteristics of their vessel. All other things being equal, an experienced crew will definitely outplay the enemy. When in 1718 the ships of the Royal Navy sailed towards the Bahamas to intercept Charles Wayne, the pirate, thanks to his skill and the qualities of a ship, was able to break away from his pursuers. According to one English officer, Wayne was two feet when the royal ships did one. Finally, adequate weaponry was essential to the pirate ship. The more guns a ship carries, the greater its displacement, the lower the speed. For a successful pirate, getting the guns was not a problem. They could be found on any boarding ship. Pirates avoided deciding sea battle artillery duel, since they did not want to damage the trophy hull. However, it is surprising to learn that the pirates have tried to arm their ships as much as possible, sometimes turning them into real floating batteries. All this was done exclusively in case of a meeting with warships. Larger ships can carry more guns and provide a more comfortable combat platform. We will tell you more about the weapons of pirate ships below. For now, let's just note that pirates found a balance between weapons, speed and seaworthiness of their ships in different ways. While some preferred small, fast sloops with a minimum of weapons, others tried to acquire big ships capable of carrying impressive artillery and sailing weapons.

Bartholomew Roberts (1682-1722).

This pirate was one of the most successful and fortunate in history. It is believed that Roberts was able to capture over four hundred ships. At the same time, the cost of the extraction of the pirate amounted to more than 50 million pounds sterling. And the pirate achieved such results in just two and a half years. Bartholomew was an unusual pirate - he was enlightened and loved to dress fashionably. Roberts was often seen in a burgundy vest and breeches, he wore a hat with a red feather, and a gold chain with a diamond cross hung on his chest. The pirate did not abuse alcohol at all, as was customary in this environment. Moreover, he even punished his sailors for drunkenness. We can say that it was Bartholomew, who was nicknamed "Black Bart" and was the most successful pirate in history. In addition, unlike Henry Morgan, he never cooperated with the authorities. And was born famous pirate in South Wales. His naval career began as third mate on a slave ship. Roberts was responsible for looking after the "cargo" and its safety. However, after being captured by the pirates, the sailor himself was in the role of a slave. Nevertheless, the young European was able to please Captain Howell Davis, who had captured him, and he accepted him into his crew. And in June 1719, after the death of the leader of the gang during the storming of the fort, it was Roberts who led the team. He immediately captured the ill-fated city of Principe on the coast of Guinea and razed it to the face of the earth. After going to sea, the pirate quickly captured several merchant ships. However, booty off the African coast was scarce, which is why Roberts headed to the Caribbean in early 1720. The glory of the successful pirate overtook him, and the merchant ships were already shying away at the sight of the Black Bart's ship. In the north, Roberts sold African goods profitably. Throughout the summer of 1720, he was lucky - the pirate captured many ships, 22 of them right in the bays. However, even while engaging in robbery, Black Bart remained a devout man. He even managed to pray a lot in between murders and robberies. But it was this pirate who invented the cruel execution with the help of a board thrown over the side of the ship. The team loved their captain so much that they were ready to follow him even to the ends of the world. And the explanation was simple - Roberts was desperately lucky. At various times, he operated from 7 to 20 pirate ships. The teams included fugitive criminals and slaves of various nationalities who called themselves the "House of Lords". And the name of Black Bart terrified the entire Atlantic.

Henry Morgan (1635-1688)

Henry Morgan became the most famous pirate in the world, enjoying a kind of fame. This man became famous not so much for his corsair's exploits, but for his activities as a commander and politician. The main merit of Morgan was helping England to seize control over everything. Caribbean... Since childhood, Henry was a fidget, which was reflected in his adult life. In a short time he managed to be a slave, gather his own gang of thugs and get his first ship. Many people were robbed along the way. While in the service of the queen, Morgan directed his energy to the destruction of the Spanish colonies, he did it perfectly. As a result, everyone recognized the name of the active sailor. But then the pirate suddenly decided to settle down - he got married, bought a house ... However, his violent temper took his toll, and in his spare time, Henry realized that it was much more profitable to capture coastal cities than just rob ships. Morgan once used a clever move. On the way to one of the cities, he took a large ship and stuffed it to the top with gunpowder, sending it to the Spanish port at dusk. The huge explosion led to such a commotion that there was simply no one to defend the city. So the city was taken, and the local fleet was destroyed, thanks to the cunning of Morgan. Storming Panama, the commander decided to attack the city from land, letting the army go around the city. As a result, the maneuver was a success, the fortress fell. Last years Morgan spent his life as Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. His whole life passed at a frantic pirate pace, with all the delights of alcohol befitting the occupation. Only rum won the gallant sailor - he died of liver cirrhosis and was buried as a nobleman. True, the sea took his ashes - the cemetery after the earthquake plunged into the sea.

Francis Drake (1540-1596)

Francis Drake was born in England, the son of a priest. The young man began his maritime career as a cabin boy on a small merchant ship. It was there that the smart and observant Francis learned the art of sailing. Already at the age of 18, he received command of his own ship, which he inherited from the old captain. In those days, the queen blessed pirate raids, so long as they were directed against the enemies of England. During one of these voyages, Drake fell into a trap, but, despite the death of 5 other English ships, he managed to save his ship. The pirate quickly became famous for his cruelty, and fortune fell in love with him. Trying to take revenge on the Spaniards, Drake begins to wage his own war against them - robbing their ships, cities. In 1572 he managed to capture the "Silver Caravan", which was carrying more than 30 tons of silver, which immediately made the pirate rich. An interesting feature of Drake was the fact that he not only sought to plunder more, but also to visit previously unexplored places. As a result, many sailors were grateful to Drake for his work on clarifying and correcting the world map. With the Queen's permission, the pirate went on a secret expedition to South America, with the official version of Australia's exploration. The expedition was a great success. Drake maneuvered so cleverly to avoid enemy traps that he was able to travel around the world on his way home. On the way, he attacked Spanish settlements in South America, circled Africa and brought potato tubers home. The total profit from the campaign was unprecedented - more than half a million pounds sterling. Then it was twice the budget of the entire country. As a result, Drake was knighted on board the ship - an unprecedented event that has no analogues in history. The apogee of the pirate's greatness came at the end of the 16th century, when he took part as an admiral in the defeat of the Invincible Armada. Later, luck turned away from the pirate, during one of his subsequent voyages to the American shores, he fell ill with tropical fever and died.

Edward Teach (1680-1718)

Edward Teach is better known by his nickname Blackbeard. It was because of this external attribute that Teach was considered a creepy fiend. The first mentions of the activities of this corsair date back only to 1717, what the Englishman was doing before that remained unknown. By indirect indications, one can guess that he was a soldier, but deserted and became a filibuster. Then he was already pirating, catching horror on people with his beard, which covered almost the entire face. Teach was very brave and courageous, which earned respect from other pirates. He wicked wicks into his beard, which, smoking, terrified opponents. In 1716, Edward was given command of his sloop to conduct marque operations against the French. Teach soon seized the larger ship and made it his flagship, renaming it Queen Anne's Revenge. The pirate at this time acts in the Jamaica area, robbing everyone and recruiting new henchmen. By the beginning of 1718, there were already 300 people under the command of Teach. During the year, he managed to capture more than 40 ships. All the pirates knew that a bearded man was hiding a treasure on one of the uninhabited islands, but no one found out exactly where. The pirate's atrocities against the British and the robbery of the colonies forced the authorities to declare a hunt for Blackbeard. An impressive bounty was announced and Lieutenant Maynard was hired to hunt down Teach. In November 1718, the pirate was overtaken by the authorities and was killed during the battle. Teach's head was severed, and his body was suspended from a yarn.

William Kidd (1645-1701).

William Kidd Born in Scotland not far from the docks, the future pirate from childhood decided to link his fate with the sea. In 1688, Kidd, being a simple sailor, survived a shipwreck near Haiti and was forced to become a pirate. In 1689, betraying his comrades-in-arms, William took possession of the frigate, calling it "Blessed William". With the help of a privateer patent, Kidd took part in the war against the French. In the winter of 1690, part of the team left him, and Kidd decided to settle down. He married a wealthy widow, taking possession of land and property. But the pirate's heart demanded adventure, and now, after 5 years, he is already a captain again. The powerful frigate "Brave" was called upon to plunder, however, only the French. After all, the expedition was sponsored by the state, which did not need unnecessary political scandals. However, the sailors, seeing the scarcity of profits, periodically revolted. The seizure of a rich ship with French goods did not save the situation. Fleeing from his former subordinates, Kidd surrendered to the British authorities. The pirate was taken to London, where he quickly became a bargaining chip in the fight political parties... Kidd was sentenced to death on charges of piracy and the murder of a ship's officer (who was the instigator of the mutiny). In 1701, the pirate was hanged, and his body hung in an iron cage over the Thames for 23 years, as a warning to the corsairs of imminent punishment.

Mary Read (1685-1721).

Since childhood, Mary Reed has been dressed up as a boy's clothes. So the mother tried to hide the death of her early deceased son. At the age of 15, Mary went to serve in the army. In the battles in Flanders, she, under the name Mark, showed miracles of courage, but she did not wait for advancement. Then the woman decided to join the cavalry, where she fell in love with her colleague. After the end of hostilities, the couple got married. However, the happiness did not last long, her husband died unexpectedly, Mary, having changed into men's clothes, became a sailor. The ship fell into the hands of the pirates, the woman was forced to join them, cohabitating with the captain. In battle, Mary wore a man's uniform, participating in skirmishes on an equal basis with everyone. Over time, the woman fell in love with a craftsman who helped a pirate. They even got married and were about to end the past. But even here the happiness did not last long. A pregnant Reed was caught by the authorities. When she was caught along with other pirates, she said that she had committed robberies against her will. However, other pirates showed that there was no one more determined than Mary Reed in robbing ships and boarding. The court did not dare to hang the pregnant woman, she patiently waited for her fate in the Jamaica prison, not fearing a shameful death. But a strong fever finished her off earlier.

Bonnie Ann (1690 -?)

Bonnie Ann is one of the most famous female pirates. She was born in Ireland to the family of a wealthy lawyer William Cormack. She spent her childhood in South Carolina, where the family moved when Ann's father bought the plantation. Quite early she married a simple sailor James Bonnie with whom she fled in search of adventure. Then Anne Bonnie contacted the famous pirate Jack Rackham. She began to sail on his ship and participate in pirate raids. During one of these raids, Anne met Mary Reed. , after which they continued to engage in sea robbery together. It is not known exactly how many lives were ruined by the spoiled daughter of the ex-lawyer, but in 1720 the pirates' ship was ambushed, after which the gallows awaited all the robbers. However, by that time, Anne was already pregnant, and the intervention of rich daddy arrived very well in time, so that in the end the pirate managed to avoid the well-deserved gallows and even be released. Further her traces are lost. In general, Anne Bonnie's example is interesting, as a rare case in those days when a woman took up a purely male craft.

Zheng Shi (1785-1844)

Zheng Shi (1785-1844) is considered one of the most successful pirates. The scale of her actions will be evidenced by the facts that she commanded a fleet of 2,000 ships, on which more than 70 thousand sailors served. 16-year-old prostitute "Madame Jing" married the famous pirate Zheng Yi. After his death in 1807, the widow inherited a pirate fleet of 400 ships. The corsairs not only attacked merchant ships off the coast of China, but also swam deep into river estuaries, devastating coastal settlements. The emperor was so surprised by the actions of the pirates that he sent his fleet against them, but this did not have significant consequences. The key to Zheng Shi's success was the strictest discipline she established on the courts. She put an end to traditional pirate freedoms - robbery of allies and rape of prisoners were punishable death penalty... However, as a result of the betrayal of one of her captains, the female pirate was forced to conclude a truce with the authorities in 1810. Her further career took place as a keeper of a brothel and a gambling brothel. The history of the pirate woman is reflected in literature and cinema, there are many legends about her.

William Dampier (1651-1715)

William Dampier is often called not just a pirate, but also a scientist. After all, he did three whole circumnavigation opening in Pacific many islands. Orphaned early, William chose the nautical path. At first he took part in trade voyages, and then he managed to make war. In 1674, the Englishman came to Jamaica as a trade agent, but his career in this capacity did not work out, and Dampier was forced to become a sailor of a merchant ship again. After exploring the Caribbean, William settled on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, on the Yucatan coast. Here he found friends in the form of runaway slaves and filibusters. Dampir's further life took place in the idea of travel to Central America, plundering Spanish settlements on land and at sea. He sailed in the waters of Chile, Panama, New Spain. Dhampir almost immediately began taking notes of his adventures. As a result, in 1697 his book "A New Journey Around the World" was published, which made him famous. Dampier became a member of the most prestigious houses in London, entered the royal service and continued his research, writing a new book. However, in 1703, on an English ship, Dampier continued a series of robberies of Spanish ships and settlements in the Panama region. In 1708-1710 he took part as navigator of the corsair round the world expedition... The works of the pirate scientist were so valuable to science that he is considered to be one of the fathers of modern oceanography.

Edward Lau (1690-1724)

Edward Lau is also known as Ned Lau. For most of his life, this man was engaged in petty theft. In 1719, his wife died in childbirth, and Edward realized that from now on nothing would tie him to the house. Two years later, he became a pirate operating near the Azores, New England and the Caribbean. This time is considered the end of the age of piracy, but Lau became famous for the fact that for a short time managed to capture more than a hundred ships, while showing a rare bloodthirstiness.

Uruj Barbarossa (1473-1518)

Uruj Barbarossa (1473-1518) became a pirate at the age of 16 after the Turks took over his home island of Lesvos. Already at the age of 20, Barbarossa became a merciless and courageous corsair. Escaping from captivity, he soon captured a ship for himself, becoming the leader. Urouge entered into an agreement with the Tunisian authorities, which allowed him to organize a base on one of the islands in exchange for a share of the booty. As a result, Urouge's pirate fleet terrorized all Mediterranean ports. Having got involved in politics, Urouj eventually became the ruler of Algeria under the name of Barbarossa. However, the struggle with the Spaniards did not bring good luck to the Sultan - he was killed. His business was continued by his younger brother, known as Barbaross II.

Jack Rackham (1682-1720).

Jack Rackham and this famous pirate had the nickname Calico Jack. The fact is that he loved to wear calico pants, which were brought from India. And although this pirate was not the cruellest or most fortunate, he managed to become famous. The fact is that there were two women in Rackham's team at once, dressed in men's clothes - Mary Reed and Anne Boni. Both of them were the pirate's mistresses. Thanks to this fact, as well as the courage and courage of his ladies, the Rackham team became famous. But luck changed him when, in 1720, his ship met the ship of the governor of Jamaica. At that time, the entire team of pirates was dead drunk. To get away from pursuit, Rackham ordered to cut the anchor. However, the military were able to catch up with him and take him after a short fight. The pirate captain, along with his entire crew, was hanged in Jamaica, in Port Royal. Before his death, Rackham asked for a date with Anne Boni. But she herself refused him this, saying that if the pirate had fought like a man, he would not have died like a dog. It is said that it was John Rackham who is the author of the famous pirate symbol - the skull and bones, "Jolly Roger". Jean Lafitte (? -1826). This famous corsair was also a smuggler. With the tacit consent of the government of the young American state, he calmly plundered the ships of England and Spain in the Gulf of Mexico. The heyday of the pirate's activities fell on the 1810s. It is not known where or when exactly Jean Lafitte was born. It is possible that he was a native of Haiti and was an undercover Spanish agent. It was said that Lafite knew the Gulf Coast better than many cartographers. It was known for certain that he sold the stolen goods through his brother, a merchant, who lived in New Orleans. The Lafites illegally supplied slaves to the southern states, but thanks to their guns and people, the Americans were able to defeat the British in 1815 at the Battle of New Orleans. In 1817, under pressure from the authorities, a pirate settled on the Texas island of Galveston, where he even founded his own state of Campeche. Lafite continued to supply slaves as well, using intermediaries for this. But in 1821, one of his captains personally attacked a plantation in Louisiana. And although Lafitte is an impudent order, the authorities ordered him to sink his ships and leave the island. The pirate has only two ships left from the once whole fleet. Then Lafitte with a group of his followers settled on the island of Isla Mujeres near the coast of Mexico. Even then, he did not attack American ships. And after 1826 there is no information about the valiant pirate. In Louisiana itself, there are still legends about Captain Lafitte. And in the city of Lake Charles, even "Smuggler Days" are held in memory of him. A nature reserve near the coast of Barataria is even named after the pirate. And in 1958, Hollywood even released a film about Lafitte, played by Yul Brynner.

Thomas Cavendish (1560-1592).

Thomas Cavendish (1560-1592). Pirates not only plundered ships, but also were brave travelers, discovering new lands. In particular, Cavendish was the third sailor who decided to travel around the world. He spent his youth in the English fleet. Thomas led such a turbulent life that he quickly let go of all the inheritance he inherited. And in 1585 he left the service and went to rich America for his share of the booty. He returned to his homeland rich. Easy money and the help of fortune made Cavendish choose the path of a pirate to gain fame and fortune. On July 22, 1586, Thomas sailed from Plymouth to Sierra Leone at the head of his own flotilla. The expedition aimed to find new islands, study winds and currents. However, this did not prevent to engage in parallel and outright robbery. At the first stop in Sierra Leone, Cavendish, along with his 70 sailors, robbed local settlements. A successful start allowed the captain to dream of future exploits. On January 7, 1587, Cavendish passed through the Strait of Magellan and then headed north along the coast of Chile. Before him, only one European passed this way - Francis Drake. The Spanish controlled this part of the Pacific Ocean, generally calling it the Spanish Lake. The rumor of the British pirates forced the garrisons to gather. But the Englishman's flotilla was worn out - Thomas found a quiet bay for repairs. The Spaniards did not wait, finding pirates during the raid. However, the British not only repulsed the attack of the superior forces, but also put them to flight and immediately plundered several neighboring settlements. Two ships went further. On June 12 they reached the equator and until November the pirates were waiting for the "treasury" ship with all the proceeds of the Mexican colonies. Perseverance was rewarded, and the British captured a lot of gold and jewelry. However, when dividing the booty, the pirates fell out, and Cavendish was left with one ship. With him he went to the west, where robbery got a load of spices. On September 9, 1588, Cavendish's ship returned to Plymouth. The pirate not only became one of the first to sail around the world, but also did it very quickly - in 2 years and 50 days. In addition, 50 people from his team returned with the captain. This record was so significant that it lasted more than two centuries.

Olivier (François) le Wasser 1690-1730.

Olivier (François) le Wasser became the most famous French pirate. He was nicknamed "La Blues", or "buzzard". A Norman nobleman of noble birth was able to turn the island of Tortuga (now Haiti) into an impregnable fortress of filibusters. Initially, le Wasser was sent to the island to protect French settlers, but he quickly expelled the British (according to other sources - the Spaniards) and began to conduct his own policy. A talented engineer, the Frenchman designed an excellently fortified fortress. Le Wasser gave out very dubious documents as a filibuster giving him the right to hunt the Spaniards, taking the lion's share of the spoils for himself. In fact, he became the leader of the pirates, without taking a direct part in the hostilities. When in 1643 the Spaniards were unable to take the island, being surprised to find the fortifications, the authority of le Wasser rose noticeably. He finally refused to obey the French and pay royalties to the crown. However, the spoiled character, tyranny and tyranny of the Frenchman led to the fact that in 1652 his own friends killed him. According to legend, le Wasser collected and hid the largest treasure of all time, worth £ 235 million in today's money. Information about the location of the treasure was kept in the form of a cryptogram on the governor's neck, but the gold was never found.

Pirates are sea (or river) robbers. The word "pirate" (lat. Pirata) comes, in turn, from the Greek. πειρατής, cognate with the word πειράω ("to try, to test"). Thus, the meaning of the word would be "trying his luck". Etymology testifies to how shaky the border between the professions of seafarer and pirate was from the very beginning.

Henry Morgan (1635-1688) became the most famous pirate in the world, enjoying a kind of fame. This man became famous not so much for his corsair's exploits, but for his activities as a commander and politician. The main merit of Morgan was helping England to seize control of the entire Caribbean Sea. Since childhood, Henry was a fidget, which was reflected in his adult life. In a short time he managed to be a slave, gather his own gang of thugs and get his first ship. Many people were robbed along the way. While in the service of the queen, Morgan directed his energy to the destruction of the Spanish colonies, he did it perfectly. As a result, everyone recognized the name of the active sailor. But then the pirate suddenly decided to settle down - he got married, bought a house ... However, his violent temper took his toll, and in his spare time, Henry realized that it was much more profitable to capture coastal cities than just rob ships. Morgan once used a clever move. On the way to one of the cities, he took a large ship and stuffed it to the top with gunpowder, sending it to the Spanish port at dusk. The huge explosion led to such a commotion that there was simply no one to defend the city. So the city was taken, and the local fleet was destroyed, thanks to the cunning of Morgan. Storming Panama, the commander decided to attack the city from land, letting the army go around the city. As a result, the maneuver was a success, the fortress fell. Morgan spent the last years of his life as Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. His whole life was spent at a frantic pirate pace, with all the delights of alcohol befitting the occupation. Only rum won the gallant sailor - he died of liver cirrhosis and was buried as a nobleman. True, the sea took his ashes - the cemetery after the earthquake plunged into the sea.

Francis Drake (1540-1596) was born in England to a priest's family. The young man began his maritime career as a cabin boy on a small merchant ship. It was there that the smart and observant Francis learned the art of sailing. Already at the age of 18, he received command of his own ship, which he inherited from the old captain. In those days, the queen blessed pirate raids, so long as they were directed against the enemies of England. During one of these voyages, Drake fell into a trap, but, despite the death of 5 other English ships, he managed to save his ship. The pirate quickly became famous for his cruelty, and fortune fell in love with him. Trying to take revenge on the Spaniards, Drake begins to wage his own war against them - robbing their ships, cities. In 1572 he managed to capture the "Silver Caravan", which was carrying more than 30 tons of silver, which immediately made the pirate rich. An interesting feature of Drake was the fact that he not only sought to plunder more, but also to visit previously unexplored places. As a result, many sailors were grateful to Drake for his work on clarifying and correcting the world map. With the Queen's permission, the pirate went on a secret expedition to South America, with the official version of Australia's exploration. The expedition was a great success. Drake maneuvered so cleverly to avoid enemy traps that he was able to travel around the world on his way home. On the way, he attacked Spanish settlements in South America, circled Africa and brought potato tubers home. The total profit from the campaign was unprecedented - more than half a million pounds sterling. Then it was twice the budget of the entire country. As a result, Drake was knighted on board the ship - an unprecedented event that has no analogues in history. The apogee of the pirate's greatness came at the end of the 16th century, when he took part as an admiral in the defeat of the Invincible Armada. Later, luck turned away from the pirate, during one of his subsequent voyages to the American shores, he fell ill with tropical fever and died.

Edward Teach (1680-1718) is better known by his nickname Blackbeard. It was because of this external attribute that Teach was considered a creepy fiend. The first mentions of the activities of this corsair date back only to 1717, what the Englishman was doing before that remained unknown. By indirect indications, one can guess that he was a soldier, but deserted and became a filibuster. Then he was already pirating, catching horror on people with his beard, which covered almost the entire face. Teach was very brave and courageous, which earned respect from other pirates. He wicked wicks into his beard, which, smoking, terrified opponents. In 1716, Edward was given command of his sloop to conduct marque operations against the French. Teach soon seized the larger ship and made it his flagship, renaming it Queen Anne's Revenge. The pirate at this time acts in the Jamaica area, robbing everyone and recruiting new henchmen. By the beginning of 1718, there were already 300 people under the command of Teach. During the year, he managed to capture more than 40 ships. All the pirates knew that a bearded man was hiding a treasure on one of the uninhabited islands, but no one found out exactly where. The pirate's atrocities against the British and the robbery of colonies by them, forced the authorities to declare a hunt for Blackbeard. An impressive bounty was announced and Lieutenant Maynard was hired to hunt down Teach. In November 1718, the pirate was overtaken by the authorities and was killed during the battle. Teach's head was severed, and his body was suspended from a yarn.

William Kidd (1645-1701). Born in Scotland not far from the docks, the future pirate from childhood decided to link his fate with the sea. In 1688, Kidd, being a simple sailor, survived a shipwreck near Haiti and was forced to become a pirate. In 1689, betraying his comrades-in-arms, William took possession of the frigate, calling it "Blessed William". With the help of a privateer patent, Kidd took part in the war against the French. In the winter of 1690, part of the team left him, and Kidd decided to settle down. He married a wealthy widow, taking possession of land and property. But the pirate's heart demanded adventure, and now, after 5 years, he is already a captain again. The powerful frigate "Brave" was called upon to plunder, however, only the French. After all, the expedition was sponsored by the state, which did not need unnecessary political scandals. However, the sailors, seeing the scarcity of profits, periodically revolted. The seizure of a rich ship with French goods did not save the situation. Fleeing from his former subordinates, Kidd surrendered to the British authorities. The pirate was taken to London, where he quickly became a bargaining chip in the struggle of political parties. Kidd was sentenced to death on charges of piracy and the murder of a ship's officer (who was the instigator of the mutiny). In 1701, the pirate was hanged, and his body hung in an iron cage over the Thames for 23 years, as a warning to the corsairs of imminent punishment.

Mary Read (1685-1721). From the very childhood, the girl was dressed in the clothes of a boy. So the mother tried to hide the death of her early deceased son. At the age of 15, Mary went to serve in the army. In the battles in Flanders, she, under the name Mark, showed miracles of courage, but she did not wait for advancement. Then the woman decided to join the cavalry, where she fell in love with her colleague. After the end of hostilities, the couple got married. However, the happiness did not last long, her husband died unexpectedly, Mary, having changed into men's clothes, became a sailor. The ship fell into the hands of the pirates, the woman was forced to join them, cohabitating with the captain. In battle, Mary wore a man's uniform, participating in skirmishes on an equal basis with everyone. Over time, the woman fell in love with a craftsman who helped the pirates. They even got married and were about to end the past. But even here the happiness did not last long. A pregnant Reed was caught by the authorities. When she was caught along with other pirates, she said that she had committed robberies against her will. However, other pirates showed that there was no one more determined than Mary Reed in robbing ships and boarding. The court did not dare to hang the pregnant woman, she patiently waited for her fate in the Jamaica prison, not fearing a shameful death. But a strong fever finished her off earlier.

Olivier (Francois) le Wasser became the most famous French pirate. He was nicknamed "La Blues", or "buzzard". A Norman nobleman of noble birth was able to turn the island of Tortuga (now Haiti) into an impregnable fortress of filibusters. Initially, le Wasser was sent to the island to protect French settlers, but he quickly expelled the British (according to other sources - the Spaniards) and began to conduct his own policy. A talented engineer, the Frenchman designed an excellently fortified fortress. Le Wasser gave out very dubious documents as a filibuster giving him the right to hunt the Spaniards, taking the lion's share of the spoils for himself. In fact, he became the leader of the pirates, without taking a direct part in the hostilities. When in 1643 the Spaniards were unable to take the island, being surprised to find the fortifications, the authority of le Wasser rose noticeably. He finally refused to obey the French and pay royalties to the crown. However, the spoiled character, tyranny and tyranny of the Frenchman led to the fact that in 1652 his own friends killed him. According to legend, le Wasser collected and hid the largest treasure of all time, worth £ 235 million in today's money. The information about the location of the treasure was kept in the form of a cryptogram on the governor's neck, but the gold was never found.

William Dampier (1651-1715) is often referred to not only as a pirate, but also as a scientist. After all, he made three whole voyages around the world, discovering many islands in the Pacific Ocean. Orphaned early, William chose the nautical path. At first he took part in trade voyages, and then he managed to make war. In 1674, the Englishman came to Jamaica as a trade agent, but his career in this capacity did not work out, and Dampier was forced to become a sailor of a merchant ship again. After exploring the Caribbean, William settled on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, on the Yucatan coast. Here he found friends in the form of runaway slaves and filibusters. Dampir's further life took place in the idea of travel to Central America, plundering Spanish settlements on land and at sea. He sailed in the waters of Chile, Panama, New Spain. Dhampir almost immediately began taking notes of his adventures. As a result, in 1697 his book "A New Journey Around the World" was published, which made him famous. Dampier became a member of the most prestigious houses in London, entered the royal service and continued his research, writing a new book. However, in 1703, on an English ship, Dampier continued a series of robberies of Spanish ships and settlements in the Panama region. In 1708-1710 he took part as a navigator of the corsair round-the-world expedition. The works of the pirate scientist were so valuable to science that he is considered to be one of the fathers of modern oceanography.

Zheng Shi (1785-1844) is considered one of the most successful pirates. The scale of her actions will be evidenced by the facts that she commanded a fleet of 2,000 ships, on which more than 70 thousand sailors served. 16-year-old prostitute "Madame Jing" married the famous pirate Zheng Yi. After his death in 1807, the widow inherited a pirate fleet of 400 ships. The corsairs not only attacked merchant ships off the coast of China, but also swam deep into river estuaries, devastating coastal settlements. The emperor was so surprised by the actions of the pirates that he sent his fleet against them, but this did not have significant consequences. The key to Zheng Shi's success was the strictest discipline she established on the courts. She put an end to the traditional pirate freedoms - the robbery of allies and the rape of prisoners were punishable by death. However, as a result of the betrayal of one of her captains, the female pirate was forced to conclude a truce with the authorities in 1810. Her further career took place as a keeper of a brothel and a gambling brothel. The history of the pirate woman is reflected in literature and cinema, there are many legends about her.

Edward Lau (1690-1724) is also known as Ned Lau. For most of his life, this man was engaged in petty theft. In 1719, his wife died in childbirth, and Edward realized that from now on nothing would tie him to the house. Two years later, he became a pirate operating near the Azores, New England and the Caribbean. This time is considered the end of the century of piracy, but Lau became famous for the fact that in a short time he managed to capture more than a hundred ships, while showing a rare bloodthirstiness.

Urouj Barbarossa(1473-1518) became a pirate at the age of 16 after the Turks took over his home island of Lesvos. Already at the age of 20, Barbarossa became a merciless and courageous corsair. Escaping from captivity, he soon captured a ship for himself, becoming the leader. Urouge entered into an agreement with the Tunisian authorities, which allowed him to organize a base on one of the islands in exchange for a share of the booty. As a result, Urouge's pirate fleet terrorized all Mediterranean ports. Having got involved in politics, Urouj eventually became the ruler of Algeria under the name of Barbarossa. However, the struggle with the Spaniards did not bring good luck to the Sultan - he was killed. His business was continued by his younger brother, known as Barbaross II.

Bartholomew Roberts(1682-1722). This pirate was one of the most successful and fortunate in history. It is believed that Roberts was able to capture over four hundred ships. At the same time, the cost of the extraction of the pirate amounted to more than 50 million pounds sterling. And the pirate achieved such results in just two and a half years. Bartholomew was an unusual pirate - he was enlightened and loved to dress fashionably. Roberts was often seen in a burgundy vest and breeches, he wore a hat with a red feather, and a gold chain with a diamond cross hung on his chest. The pirate did not abuse alcohol at all, as was customary in this environment. Moreover, he even punished his sailors for drunkenness. We can say that it was Bartholomew, who was nicknamed "Black Bart" and was the most successful pirate in history. In addition, unlike Henry Morgan, he never cooperated with the authorities. And the famous pirate was born in South Wales. His naval career began as third mate on a slave ship. Roberts was responsible for looking after the "cargo" and its safety. However, after being captured by the pirates, the sailor himself was in the role of a slave. Nevertheless, the young European was able to please Captain Howell Davis, who had captured him, and he accepted him into his crew. And in June 1719, after the death of the leader of the gang during the storming of the fort, it was Roberts who led the team. He immediately captured the ill-fated city of Principe on the coast of Guinea and razed it to the face of the earth. After going to sea, the pirate quickly captured several merchant ships. However, booty off the African coast was scarce, which is why Roberts headed to the Caribbean in early 1720. The glory of the successful pirate overtook him, and the merchant ships were already shying away at the sight of the Black Bart's ship. In the north, Roberts sold African goods profitably. Throughout the summer of 1720, he was lucky - the pirate captured many ships, 22 of them right in the bays. However, even while engaging in robbery, Black Bart remained a devout man. He even managed to pray a lot in between murders and robberies. But it was this pirate who invented the cruel execution with the help of a board thrown over the side of the ship. The team loved their captain so much that they were ready to follow him even to the ends of the world. And the explanation was simple - Roberts was desperately lucky. At various times, he operated from 7 to 20 pirate ships. The teams included fugitive criminals and slaves of various nationalities who called themselves the "House of Lords". And the name of Black Bart terrified the entire Atlantic.

Jack Rackham (1682-1720). And this famous pirate had the nickname Calico Jack. The fact is that he loved to wear calico pants, which were brought from India. And although this pirate was not the cruellest or most fortunate, he managed to become famous. The fact is that there were two women in Rackham's team at once, dressed in men's clothes - Mary Reed and Anne Boni. Both of them were the pirate's mistresses. Thanks to this fact, as well as the courage and courage of his ladies, the Rackham team became famous. But luck changed him when, in 1720, his ship met the ship of the governor of Jamaica. At that time, the entire team of pirates was dead drunk. To get away from pursuit, Rackham ordered to cut the anchor. However, the military were able to catch up with him and take him after a short fight. The pirate captain, along with his entire crew, was hanged in Jamaica, in Port Royal. Before his death, Rackham asked for a date with Anne Boni. But she herself refused him this, saying that if the pirate had fought like a man, he would not have died like a dog. It is said that it was John Rackham who is the author of the famous pirate symbol - the skull and bones, "Jolly Roger".

Jean Lafitte (? -1826). This famous corsair was also a smuggler. With the tacit consent of the government of the young American state, he calmly plundered the ships of England and Spain in the Gulf of Mexico. The heyday of the pirate's activities fell on the 1810s. It is not known where or when exactly Jean Lafitte was born. It is possible that he was a native of Haiti and was an undercover Spanish agent. It was said that Lafite knew the Gulf Coast better than many cartographers. It was known for certain that he sold the stolen goods through his brother, a merchant, who lived in New Orleans. The Lafites illegally supplied slaves to the southern states, but thanks to their guns and people, the Americans were able to defeat the British in 1815 at the Battle of New Orleans. In 1817, under pressure from the authorities, a pirate settled on the Texas island of Galveston, where he even founded his own state of Campeche. Lafite continued to supply slaves as well, using intermediaries for this. But in 1821, one of his captains personally attacked a plantation in Louisiana. And although Lafitte is an impudent order, the authorities ordered him to sink his ships and leave the island. The pirate has only two ships left from the once whole fleet. Then Lafitte with a group of his followers settled on the island of Isla Mujeres near the coast of Mexico. Even then, he did not attack American ships. And after 1826 there is no information about the valiant pirate. In Louisiana itself, there are still legends about Captain Lafitte. And in the city of Lake Charles, even "Smuggler Days" are held in memory of him. A nature reserve near the coast of Barataria is even named after the pirate. And in 1958, Hollywood even released a film about Lafitte, played by Yul Brynner.

The stories about pirates excited the imagination back in the 19th century, but now, thanks to the series of Hollywood films "Pirates of the Caribbean", this topic has become even more popular. We invite you to "get acquainted" with the most famous of the real-life pirates.

10 PHOTOS

1. Henry Avery (1659-1699).

The pirate, known by the nickname "Lanky Ben", grew up in the family of a captain of the English navy. When a riot broke out on the ship where he served as first mate, Everett joined the rebels and became their leader. His most famous trophy was the Indian ship "Gang-i-Sawai", loaded with gold and silver coins, as well as precious stones.

2. Anne Bonnie (1700-1782).

Anne Bonnie, one of the few women who excelled at piracy, grew up in a wealthy mansion and received a good education. However, when her father decided to marry her off, she ran away from home with a simple sailor. After some time, Anne Bonnie met the pirate Jack Rackham and he took her to his ship. According to eyewitnesses, in courage and ability to fight Bonnie was not inferior to male pirates.

3. Francois Olone (1630-1671).

The French filibuster, known for his brutality, began his career as a soldier in the West India Company. He then became a buccaneer in San Domingo. Olone's most famous operations were the capture of the Spanish cities of Maracaibo and Gibraltar. The pirate ended his warlike and bloody path at the stake of the cannibals, to whom he was captured in Nicaragua.

4. Edward Lau (1690-1724).

Edward Lau was born into a family of thieves and was himself a robber from early childhood. At one time he served as a sailor, then gathered a crew and captured a small sloop. Thus began his career as a pirate. During his voyage, Edward Lau captured more than a hundred ships.

5. Jack Rackham (1682-1720).

Before becoming a pirate, Jack Rackham served in the navy with early age... Initially, things were not going well for Captain Rackham and his team - they were almost caught several times. The pirate became famous after he met Mary Reed and Anne Bonnie, and began to pillage in the waters of Jamaica. The glorious epic ended with the authorities declaring a hunt for them, as a result of which Rackham was hanged, and Reed died in prison.

6. Steed Bonnet (1688-1718).

Steed Bonnet is a nobleman, before becoming a pirate, he served as a major in the colonial militia on the island of Barbados. According to rumors, the reason why Bonnet became a pirate was the scandalous nature of his wife. Pirate long time robbed along the coast of North America and in the south, until he attracted the attention of the authorities, who sent two sloops to the pirate's place of residence. Bonnet's ship was captured and hanged at White Point.

7. Bartholomew Roberts (1682-1722).

Bartholomew Roberts did not become a pirate of his own free will, but was forcibly attached to the crew as a navigator after the pirates hijacked the ship he was sailing on. After becoming a captain just six weeks later, Roberts successfully traded in the Caribbean and Atlantic, capturing more than four hundred ships.

8. Henry Morgan (1635-1688).

The son of a landowner, Henry Morgan deliberately decided to become a pirate in order to make a fortune. Starting with the purchase of one ship, he soon commanded an entire flotilla of 12 pirate ships that captured entire cities. He was caught and sent to London, but soon the influential pirate was not only released, but also appointed lieutenant governor of Jamaica.

9. William Kidd (1645-1701).

According to some historians, William Kidd was not a pirate in the strict sense of the word, but carried out exclusively marque contracts. Kidd fought in the Augsburg League War, commanded various large ships, and captured French and pirate ships in the Indian Ocean. His further expeditions took place in various regions of the world. Most of all, Kidd became known after his death, in connection with the legends about the treasures hidden by him, which have not been found so far.

10. Edward Teach (1680-1718).

The famous English pirate Edward Teach, nicknamed "Blackbeard", began his pirate career under the command of Captain Hornigold. Later, when Hornigold surrendered to British authorities, Teach set sail on his own aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge. The most famous "feat" of the pirate is the blockade of Charlestown, during which 9 ships with influential passengers were captured, for which Teach received a huge ransom.

Olivier (François) le Wasser became the most famous French pirate. He was nicknamed "La Blues", or "buzzard". A Norman nobleman of noble birth was able to turn the island of Tortuga (now Haiti) into an impregnable fortress of filibusters. Initially, le Wasser was sent to the island to protect French settlers, but he quickly expelled the British (according to other sources - the Spaniards) and began to conduct his own policy. A talented engineer, the Frenchman designed an excellently fortified fortress. Le Wasser gave out very dubious documents as a filibuster giving him the right to hunt the Spaniards, taking the lion's share of the spoils for himself. In fact, he became the leader of the pirates, without taking a direct part in the hostilities. When in 1643 the Spaniards were unable to take the island, being surprised to find the fortifications, the authority of le Wasser rose noticeably. He finally refused to obey the French and pay royalties to the crown. However, the spoiled character, tyranny and tyranny of the Frenchman led to the fact that in 1652 his own friends killed him. According to legend, le Wasser collected and hid the largest treasure of all time, worth £ 235 million in today's money. The information about the location of the treasure was kept in the form of a cryptogram on the governor's neck, but the gold was never found.

Zheng Shi (1785-1844) is considered one of the most successful pirates. The scale of her actions will be evidenced by the facts that she commanded a fleet of 2,000 ships, on which more than 70 thousand sailors served. 16-year-old prostitute "Madame Jing" married the famous pirate Zheng Yi. After his death in 1807, the widow inherited a pirate fleet of 400 ships. The corsairs not only attacked merchant ships off the coast of China, but also swam deep into river estuaries, devastating coastal settlements. The emperor was so surprised by the actions of the pirates that he sent his fleet against them, but this did not have significant consequences. The key to Zheng Shi's success was the strictest discipline she established on the courts. She put an end to the traditional pirate freedoms - the robbery of allies and the rape of prisoners were punishable by death. However, as a result of the betrayal of one of her captains, the female pirate was forced to conclude a truce with the authorities in 1810. Her further career took place as a keeper of a brothel and a gambling brothel. The history of the pirate woman is reflected in literature and cinema, there are many legends about her.

Bartholomew Roberts (1682-1722). This pirate was one of the most successful and fortunate in history. It is believed that Roberts was able to capture over four hundred ships. At the same time, the cost of the extraction of the pirate amounted to more than 50 million pounds sterling. And the pirate achieved such results in just two and a half years. Bartholomew was an unusual pirate - he was enlightened and loved to dress fashionably. Roberts was often seen in a burgundy vest and breeches, he wore a hat with a red feather, and a gold chain with a diamond cross hung on his chest. The pirate did not abuse alcohol at all, as was customary in this environment. Moreover, he even punished his sailors for drunkenness. We can say that it was Bartholomew, who was nicknamed "Black Bart" and was the most successful pirate in history. In addition, unlike Henry Morgan, he never cooperated with the authorities. And the famous pirate was born in South Wales. His naval career began as third mate on a slave ship. Roberts was responsible for looking after the "cargo" and its safety. However, after being captured by the pirates, the sailor himself was in the role of a slave. Nevertheless, the young European was able to please Captain Howell Davis, who had captured him, and he accepted him into his crew. And in June 1719, after the death of the leader of the gang during the storming of the fort, it was Roberts who led the team. He immediately captured the ill-fated city of Principe on the coast of Guinea and razed it to the face of the earth. After going to sea, the pirate quickly captured several merchant ships. However, booty off the African coast was scarce, which is why Roberts headed to the Caribbean in early 1720. The glory of the successful pirate overtook him, and the merchant ships were already shying away at the sight of the Black Bart's ship. In the north, Roberts sold African goods profitably. Throughout the summer of 1720, he was lucky - the pirate captured many ships, 22 of them right in the bays. However, even while engaging in robbery, Black Bart remained a devout man. He even managed to pray a lot in between murders and robberies. But it was this pirate who invented the cruel execution with the help of a board thrown over the side of the ship. The team loved their captain so much that they were ready to follow him even to the ends of the world. And the explanation was simple - Roberts was desperately lucky. At various times, he operated from 7 to 20 pirate ships. The teams included fugitive criminals and slaves of various nationalities who called themselves the "House of Lords". And the name of Black Bart terrified the entire Atlantic.