Real pirates in history. The most infamous pirates

The peak of sea robberies came in the 17th century, when the World Ocean was the arena of struggle between Spain, England and some other growing European colonial powers. Most often, pirates made their living by independent criminal robberies, but some of them ended up in public service and deliberately harmed the foreign fleet. Below is a list of the ten most famous pirates in history.

William Kidd (January 22, 1645 - May 23, 1701) - Scottish sailor who was convicted and executed for piracy after returning from a voyage to the Indian Ocean, where he was supposed to hunt pirates. It is considered one of the most cruel and bloodthirsty sea robbers of the seventeenth century. The hero of many mysterious stories. Some modern historians, such as Sir Cornelius Neil Dalton, consider his pirate reputation to be unfair.

Bartholomew Roberts (May 17, 1682 - February 17, 1722) was a Welsh pirate who in two and a half years robbed about 200 ships (according to another version, 400 ships) in the vicinity of Barbados and Martinique. Known primarily as the opposite of the traditional pirate image. He was always well dressed, had exquisite manners, hated drunkenness and gambling, and dealt well with the crew of the ships he had captured. He was killed by cannon shot during a battle with a British warship.

Blackbeard or Edward Teach (1680 - November 22, 1718) - an English pirate who hunted in the Caribbean in 1716-1718. He liked to strike terror into his enemies. During the battle, Teach weaved incendiary wicks into his beard, and in puffs of smoke, like Satan from Hell, burst into the ranks of the enemy. Due to his unusual appearance and eccentric behavior, history made him one of the most famous pirates, despite the fact that his "career" was rather short, and his success and scale of activity were much smaller than his other colleagues on this list.

Jack Rackham (December 21, 1682 - November 17, 1720) - an English pirate, famous primarily for the fact that his crew included two more no less famous corsairs, female pirates Anne Bonnie, nicknamed "the ruler of the seas" and Mary Reid.

Charles Wayne (1680 - March 29, 1721) was an English pirate who plundered ships from 1716 to 1721 in North American waters. He became famous for his extreme cruelty. As history says, Wayne was not attached to such feelings as compassion, pity and sympathy, he easily broke his own promises, did not respect other pirates and did not take anyone's opinion at all. The meaning of his life was only prey.

Edward England (1685 - 1721) was a pirate operating off the coast of Africa and in the waters of the Indian Ocean from 1717 to 1720. He differed from other pirates of that time in that he did not kill prisoners unless absolutely necessary. Ultimately, this led his crew to riot when he refused to kill sailors from yet another captured English merchant ship. Subsequently, England was landed in Madagascar, where he survived for some time by begging, and eventually died.

Samuel Bellamy, nicknamed Black Sam (23 February 1689 - 26 April 1717) was a great English sailor and pirate who hunted at the beginning of the 18th century. Although his career lasted a little more than a year, he and his crew captured at least 53 ships, making Black Sam the richest pirate in history. Bellamy was also known for his mercy and generosity towards those he captured in his raids.

Saida al-Khurra (1485 - about July 14, 1561) - the last queen of Tetouan (Morocco), who ruled between 1512-1542, a pirate. In alliance with the Ottoman corsair Aruj Barbarossa of Algeria, al-Hura controlled the Mediterranean Sea. She became famous for her struggle against the Portuguese. She is considered one of the most prominent women in the Islamic West of the modern era. The date and exact circumstances of her death are unknown.

Thomas Tew (1649 - September 1695) was an English privateer and pirate who made only two major pirate voyages, later known as the Pirate Circle. He was killed in 1695 while trying to rob the Mughal ship Fateh Muhammad.

Steed Bonnet (1688 - December 10, 1718) - an outstanding English pirate, nicknamed "the pirate gentleman". Interestingly, before Bonnet turned to piracy, he was a fairly wealthy, educated and respected man who owned a plantation in Barbados.

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Nothing is more audible than the hard, harsh and quick-catching name of a pirate. Having gone to sea robbers, people often changed their names in order to make it difficult for the authorities to identify them. For others, the name change was purely symbolic: newly minted pirates mastered not only new activity but also absolutely new life, which some preferred to enter with a new name.

In addition to the many pirate names, there are also many recognizable pirate nicknames. Nicknames have always been an integral part of gangster culture, and pirates were no exception. We will tell you about the most common pirate nicknames, analyze their origins and provide a list of the most popular.

• Blackbeard... The origin of the nickname is very trivial. he had a thick black beard, and, according to legend, before the battle, he weaved burning wicks into it, the smoke of which made him look like the devil himself from the underworld.
• Calico Jack... The nickname of the pirate, as he was christened for his love of various decorations made of chintz fabric.
• Spanish killer... That is how the famous was called cruel and ruthless in relation to the Spaniards.
• Redhead, Bloody Henry... Two nicknames that belonged to the famous pirate. The first nickname is directly related to the color of his hair, and the second - to his far from merciful deeds.
• Gentleman of the pirates... A nickname given to him due to his aristocratic background.
• Vulture... Nickname for the French pirate. It is not completely clear why this nickname stuck to him, apparently, it, after all, better reflected his character and temper.
• Lanky John... Pirate nickname for a fictional pirate. In addition to this nickname, he had one more - Ham.
• Black Corsair... Nickname of the protagonist in the novel of the same name by Emilio Salgari.

These were the nicknames of the most famous real and fictional pirates. If you need unique thematic names, then in the game Corsairs Online, when creating a character, you have a generator of pirate nicknames at your disposal, you can try to choose something interesting for yourself.

Pirate Party Names

If you are throwing a pirate-style party and you need to somehow name everyone present, then the list below should help you with this.

Pirates are sea (or river) robbers. The word "pirate" (lat. Pirata) comes, in turn, from the Greek. πειρατής, related to 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 the seafarer and the pirate was from the very beginning.

Henry Morgan (1635-1688) became the world's most famous pirate, enjoying a kind of fame. This man became famous not so much for his corsair's exploits as for his activities as a commander and politician. The main merit of Morgan was helping England to seize control of the entire Caribbean Sea. Ever 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 own, besides, at his leisure, 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 has passed at a frantic pirate pace, with all the charms befitting the occupation in the form of alcohol. Only rum won the gallant sailor - he died of cirrhosis of the liver 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 unknown 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 embarked 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 in a row 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 knew 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 the 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 penalty... 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 male 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 (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 drove out 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 issued a filibuster very dubious documents on 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 could not take the island, being surprised to find 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 he was killed by his own friends. 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 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 trading agent, but his career did not work out in this capacity, 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 turned out to be 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 in 1810 was forced to conclude a truce with the authorities. 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 traded in petty theft. In 1719, his wife died in childbirth, and Edward realized that from now on nothing would tie him to the house. After 2 years, he became a pirate operating around 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) 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 seized a ship for himself, becoming the leader. Urouj 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, Uruj eventually became the ruler of Algeria under the name of Barbarossa. However, the fight against 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. 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 waistcoat 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 ground. 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 a 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. All 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.

There are not so many documentary materials on piracy. Many of existing facts are only partly true. Information about who these people really were has undergone many different interpretations. As often happens in the absence of reliable first-hand data, a fairly large amount of folklore is devoted to this topic. With all of this in mind, we decided to present a dossier on several legendary sea robbers.

Period of activity: 1696-1701
Territories: East coast of North America, Caribbean Sea, Indian Ocean.

How he died: He was hanged in a designated place at the docks located in the East London area. Subsequently, his body was hung over the Thames, where it hung for three years as a warning to would-be sea robbers.
Famous for: Originator of the idea of ​​buried treasures.
In fact, the exploits of this Scottish sailor and British privateer were not particularly extraordinary. Kidd took part in several small battles with pirates and other ships as a privateer commissioned by the British authorities, but none of them significantly influenced the course of history.
The most interesting thing is that the legend of Captain Kidd appeared after his death. During his career, many colleagues and superiors suspected him of exceeding marque and piracy. After the emergence of irrefutable evidence of his actions, military vessels were sent for him, which were supposed to return Kidd to London. Suspecting what awaited him, Kidd allegedly buried untold wealth on Gardines Island off the coast of New York. He wanted to use these treasures as insurance and a bargaining tool.
The British court was not impressed by the stories of the buried treasure, and Kidd was sentenced to the gallows. This is how his story suddenly ended and a legend appeared. It was thanks to the efforts and skill of writers interested in the adventures of a terrible robber that Captain Kidd became one of the most famous pirates. In fact, his actions significantly lost the glory of other sea robbers of that time.

Period of activity: 1719-1722
Territories: from the eastern shores of North America to the eastern shores of Africa.
How he died: He was killed by a cannon shot during a battle against the British fleet.
Famous for: He can be considered the most successful pirate.
Despite the fact that Bartholomew Roberts was not the most famous pirate, he was the best in everything he undertook. During his career, he managed to capture more than 470 ships. He operated in the waters of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean. In his youth, when he was a sailor aboard a merchant ship, his ship, along with all the crew, were captured by pirates.
Thanks to his navigational skills, Roberts stood out favorably from the crowd of hostages. Therefore, he soon became a valuable frame for the pirates who seized their ship. In the future, he was waiting for an incredible career rise, which led to the fact that he became the captain of a team of sea robbers.
Over time, Roberts came to the conclusion that it was completely pointless to fight for the miserable life of an honest employee. From that moment on, his motto was the assertion that it is better to live for a short time, but for your own pleasure. It is safe to say that with the death of 39-year-old Roberts came the end of the Golden Age of piracy.

Period of activity: 1716-1718
Territories: Caribbean Sea and East Coast of North America.
How he died: in a battle against the British fleet.
Famous for: Successfully blocked the port of Charleston. He had a bright appearance and a thick dark beard, into which, during battles, he weaved fuses, frightening the enemy with puffs of smoke emitted.
He was probably the most famous pirate, both in terms of pirate prowess and in terms of memorable appearance... He managed to mobilize a fairly impressive fleet of pirate ships and lead it in many battles.
So, the flotilla under the command of Blackbeard managed to block the port of Charleston for several days. During this time, they captured several ships and took many hostages, who were subsequently exchanged for various medicines for the crew. Over the years, Teach kept the Atlantic coast and the West Indies at bay.
This continued until his ship surrounded the British fleet. This happened during the battle off the coast of North Carolina. Then Teach managed to kill many Englishmen. He himself died from multiple blows from sabers and gunshot wounds.

Period of activity: 1717-1720
Territories: Indian Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
How he died: died shortly after being removed from command of the ship and landing in Mauritius.
Famous for: First to use the classic Jolly Roger flag.
Edward England became a pirate after being captured by a gang of thugs. He was simply forced to join the team. After a short stay in the waters Caribbean he was waiting for a rapid rise in the pirate career ladder.
As a result, he took command of his own ship, used to attack slave ships in the Indian Ocean. It was he who invented the flag depicting a skull over two crossed femurs. This flag later became the classic symbol of piracy.

Period of activity: 1718-1720
Territories: waters of the Caribbean Sea.
How he died: was hanged in Jamaica.
Famous for: First pirate to allow women on board.
Calico Jack cannot be counted among the successful pirates. His main occupation was the capture of small commercial and fishing vessels. In 1719, during a brief attempt at retirement, the pirate met and fell in love with Anne Bonnie, who later changed into men's clothing and joined his crew.
After some time, Rackham's team captured a Dutch merchant ship, and without knowing it, took another woman in a man's outfit on board the pirate ship. Reed and Bonnie turned out to be brave and brave pirates, which made Rackham famous. Jack himself is by no means a good captain.
When his crew captured the Governor of Jamaica's ship, Rackham was so drunk that he could not even get into a fight, and only Mary and Anne defended their ship to the last. Before the execution, Jack asked for a date with Anne Bonnie, but she flatly refused and instead of dying words of comfort told her ex-lover that his pathetic appearance makes her indignant.

Incredible facts

Blackbeard

Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard, established a terror in the Caribbean that lasted from 1716 to 1718.

The sailor started out as a privateer, fighting for England during the War of the Spanish Succession, honing his skills as a sea robber before turning to piracy.

A fierce fighter, Blackbeard was known for both his distinctive style of capturing ships and his enormous mane of hair.

Anne Bonny

The most famous female pirate in history was as intimidating as her male counterparts, and she was also very intelligent and educated.

The daughter of a plantation owner, Anne left her arranged life in the early 1700s and went to conquer the seas.

They joined the crew of the Calico Jack Rackham ship disguised as a man, but legend has it that she was saved from death after the crew was captured because she was pregnant.

Captain Samuel Bellamy

Despite the fact that he died at a very young age (he was only 28 years old), "Black Sam" made a name for himself after capturing several ships, including Whydah Gally, a ship that was full of gold, silver and other valuable commodity. Bellamy made the ship his own in 1717, but he sank in a storm that same year.

Jin Shih

China was also involved in the golden age of piracy, and women on board or even at the helm were not uncommon.

Since 1801, her "career" has developed very rapidly, and she became one of the most powerful female captains, and, in the end, the commander of a fleet of 2,000 ships and 70,000 sailors.

It is believed that the key to Jin's success was the iron discipline that reigned in her courts.

Bartholomew Roberts

"Black" Bart Roberts was one of the most successful pirates of the Golden Age, patrolling the waters off the coast of Africa and the Caribbean.

In less than four years, he captured 400 ships.

Bart was very cold-blooded and rarely left anyone alive on captured ships, so he was actively sought by the British authorities. He died at sea.

Captain Kidd

Pirate or privateer? Scottish sailor William Kidd is known for his high-profile lawsuits with the British government over his worst crimes and pirate attacks.

However, the veracity of this claim is still disputed. According to some modern historians, Kidd acted according to the privateer patent issued to him and did not attack the Allied ships.

However, he was hanged in 1701. Rumors of the whereabouts of the enormous treasures he hid still thrill the minds of many adventurers to this day.

Henry Morgan

So popular that rum was named after him, Captain Morgan first served as a privateer in the Caribbean, then became a pirate, and famously wreaked havoc on the golden Spanish colony of Panama City in the mid-1600s.

He is also known as one of the few pirates who managed to "retire".

Calico Jack

"Jolly Roger Flag Pioneer" Calico Jack Rackham was a pirate of the Caribbean who had several epic names but is known for his conducted association with Anne Bonnie as well as his classic pirate death.

Captured in Jamaica in 1720, Rackham was hanged, doused with tar and set on fire to show what would happen to each pirate. Now the place where this event took place is called Kay Rakham.

Sir Francis Drake

Noble to some and criminal to others, Drake spent his time between the defeat of the Spanish armada in 1588 and travel around the world actively engaged in piracy and the slave trade in the Caribbean.

The seizures he made, especially the attacks on the Spanish colonies in Central America, were considered some of the richest in piracy history.

Brothers Barbarossa

Names like Aru and Khizir may not sound familiar to you, but the nickname given to Turkish corsairs by Europeans - Barbarossa (red beard) - probably conjures up images of tough and harsh sailors in the Mediterranean.

In the 16th century, using North Africa as a base, the Barbarossa brothers attacked several coastal cities and became some of the most powerful people in the area.