The most famous pirate ship names. Names of pirate ships from the Jolly Roger themed section

The imagination of the robbers was quite mundane, but rich, and pirates, alien to pretentiousness, willingly gave their brothers all sorts of simple nicknames. A variety of people could be hiding behind nicknames. Some preferred to keep their real names secret, others - special favorites of the pirate world - proudly wore nicknames as an honorary title, and some pirates had such unusual physical features that it was simply impossible to ignore them.

Nicknames were often given based on geography. It is not difficult to understand where Ghassan Veneiano, the famous Algerian corsair of the 16th century, came from. The legendary Jean François No, known as Olone and famous for his cruelty, was born in the town of Sables d'Olonne. The nicknames of Pierre the Picardian, Miguel Le Basque, Roca the Brazilian or Bartolomeo the Portuguese also betray their nationality or remind of the countries with which they were in one way or another these people are connected.

Nicknames associated with the physical characteristics of their bearers hardly need any special explanation. For example, Long Ben, Pierre Long, Handsome, Teach Blackbeard, two red-bearded brothers Urouj and Hayraddin, who went down in history as Barbarossa I and II. The nickname Wooden Leg was widely used. The familiar pirate John Silver from “Treasure Island” may owe his appearance to the fame of two real-life heroes of pirate battles in the Spanish Maine - the Frenchman Francois Leclerc and the Dutchman Cornelis Yelu. In other cases, the pirates' imagination was more sophisticated. If the nickname of the filibuster leader Alexander the Iron Hand suggests that its bearer had an all-crushing powerful blow and enormous physical strength, then Pierre Legrand (French “grand” - “big”, “great”) was probably just a tall man, and perhaps he had a great mind. A certain West Indian freebooter was known as Strong-Toothed, and another was known as Light-Footed. It is difficult to determine what qualities the pirate nicknamed Fair Wind became famous for. It may well be that for his comrades he was something of a talisman, and his presence on the ship promised the desired direction of the wind, and perhaps he earned the nickname because of his constant readiness to take part in a glorious fight and a dashing drinking session. An obviously humorous nickname was coined for one famous Algerian robber - the Death's Head. His completely bald head resembled a waterless, dead desert, where there was no place for living vegetation.

More elaborate nicknames were given for special “differences.” The world of the Caribbean has retained a few fairly typical nicknames - for example, Slick or Storm of the Tides. The most famous nickname was the Exterminator, received by the Chevalier de Montbard for his all-consuming passion for the extermination of the Spaniards.

Finally, there were also mysterious pseudonyms. These include the name taken by the famous pirate Henry Avery, or John Avery. His real name was Bridgeman, and he came from a family of honest, law-abiding sailors. In order not to tarnish his relatives, he came up with a strange Avery (English, “every” - “any, everyone”). It is not easy to recognize by such a nickname what the real name of its owner is.

The example of the pirate James Kelly is very indicative. Throughout his turbulent life, filled with adventures and voyages, he changed his name several times and either acted under his own surname or became Sampson Marshall or James Gilliam. It is impossible to determine with accuracy at what stages the reincarnation of this trickster took place. His activities in the field of piracy and privatization lasted almost twenty years. It began in 1680, when a young Englishman left his native country and set sail for the west coast of Africa on a slave trading ship. Here the ship was captured by captain Yankee's pirates, and Kelly decided to become a robber. For several years he robbed in Spanish Main, moving from one ship to another. He eventually ended up on John Cook's pirate ship. In the spring of 1683, the ship arrived on the shores of Virginia in Chesapeake Bay, where a crew was recruited and provisions were purchased. Note that among the new members of the team were the later famous William Dampier and Ambrose Cowley, who left notes about this voyage. Cook's ship set sail in April. In the Atlantic, he intercepted a Dutch merchant ship. Cook's crew liked its draft and strength, and the pirates moved onto it, taking valuable cargo (sixty black slaves) and leaving their ship to the Dutchman in exchange. Now the ship on which Kelly sailed began to be called the Bechelos Delight (Bachelor's Delight). The pirates set sail for the Pacific Ocean, but after passing Cape Horn they encountered a terrible storm. After difficult trials in the southern latitudes, they finally reached the Chilean coast. Here they met other pirate ships, and a reputable Anglo-Franco-Dutch company continued their joint hunt for the Spanish galleons. No major success was achieved, the crews fell out and the community fell apart. Kelly found himself in a group under the command of Edward Davis (Cooke had died by this time) that went back to the Caribbean. Here Kelly went to Jamaica and accepted the amnesty of William I, becoming a privateer. However, he soon grew tired of the official status and returned to piracy. Having captured the sloop "Diamond" ("Diamond"), Kelly, already as a captain, headed to the Indian Ocean, where he disappeared for several years. It is believed that he spent a lot of time on the island of Madagascar, and possibly was in captivity. It ended with Kelly, under the name of Marshall, with the crew of the famous Robert Culliford coming to the island of Sainte-Marie. Here he met Captain Kidd and returned with him to the West Indies, but under the name James Gilliam. But Kelly did not stay in America, but returned to England and settled in London with his family. He died as a respectable gentleman, surrounded by love and respect.

Whatever the reasons for the authors of the nicknames, all nicknames carried a certain psychological load, adding mystery and unusualness to pirate life. Sometimes these nicknames turned into a kind of calling cards, from which potential victims of their owners shuddered with fear.

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The names of pirate ships played an important role in influencing the enemy psychologically. Maritime robbery researcher M. Rediker, having analyzed the names of forty-four pirate ships, found: in eight cases (18.2%) the word “revenge” was mentioned (remember Teach’s famous brig “Queen Anne’s Revenge” or Stead Bonnet’s ship “Revenge”), in seven (15.9%) contain the word “ranger” or “rover”, in five cases the name of the ship refers to royalty.

The most famous symbol of piracy is the ominous Jolly Rodger flag. It was first recorded by the Oxford English Dictionary in 1724. It became very widespread and was known in various variants. On the black field was placed the favorite sign of sea robbers - a skull with crossbones or a full-length skeleton. Various paraphernalia of sea life, weapons and other items were used, depending on the imagination and preferences of the team. In most cases, these were weapons - from boarding blades and swords to knives and arrows. For example, a black flag fluttered over the ship of Captain Spriggs, in the middle of which was a white skeleton. In one hand he held an arrow piercing the heart, from which three drops of blood flowed, in the other there was an hourglass, indicating to the ship that it met that the hour of death had struck. Previously, the same flag, but called “Old Roger,” was recorded by the pirate John Quelch, who came to Brazil in 1703. Bartholomew Roberts had a creepy skeleton standing on two skulls, under which were written the letters "AVN" and "AMN". Of course, the authorities of the islands of Barbados and Martinique, sworn enemies of Roberts, knowing about these letters under the death heads, could not forget about the robber’s special “attachment” to their possessions.

There is a report of a black flag with a skeleton holding a bowl of punch in one hand and a sword in the other. Sometimes the colors varied, and then a black skeleton appeared on a white field.

There are many controversial issues associated with The Jolly Roger. Firstly, it is known that this name was not the only one for pirate flags. Both “Black Flag” and “Roger” were used, as well as the already mentioned “Old Roger”. Secondly, the color of the pirate flag was not always black. Actually, the first mention of the color black dates back only to 1700, and the flag of the French pirate Emmanuel Dune had this background.

Previously, black color (as well as black scarves) was widely used by Spanish pirates. One of the rules defining the procedure for registering hearses for the funeral of the Spanish king states: “A black flag should not be hung either at the top or on any of the floors of the mourning tower. Despite being the sign and color of the king, this flag is disgraced(our discharge), as a flag used on pirate ships. Therefore, we should limit ourselves to a flag of dark violet or cardinal’s purple.”

Perhaps the Spanish robbers mocked not only the monarch - the flags of the Spanish military squadrons were also worn black (including those on the “Invincible Armada”). In addition, the black suit of the Spanish aristocrat served as a distinctive sign of belonging to the upper classes and a sign of “high fashion” of the 16th century. It is not surprising that the pirates wanted to “join” high society.

However, the favorite of the bandits (especially the British and French) was the red, or bloody, flag, the color of which, apparently, symbolized bloodshed, the willingness of the one who threw this flag to shed blood and be in constant combat readiness. It is no coincidence that the red flag was a signal of danger, announced alarm and later became the flag of uprisings. Captain Massersie's logbook gives a story about how a detachment of filibusters met Indians on the side of the Spaniards on the road to the city of Capone in Western Mexico: “When they saw us, they were afraid... We immediately lowered the white flag and raised the red one with a white skull and crossbones.” Let us also recall the famous 1680 attack on Panama by the First Pacific wave of buccaneers. Five of the seven detachments flew under red flags: the vanguard (first detachment) of Captain Bartholomew Sharpe under a red flag with white and green ribbons; the main forces are the second detachment of Richard Sawkins under a red flag with yellow stripes, the third and fourth detachments (Peter Harris's teams) under green flags, the fifth and sixth detachments under red flags; rearguard (seventh division) of Edmond Cook under a red flag with a yellow stripe, a naked hand and a sword.

The red flag of the robbers repeated the bloody battle flag of the military fleets. Order No. 1 of the Lord of the Admiralty in 1596 established “for the duration of the battle, raise a red battle flag instead of a permanent nasal flag.” In D. Defoe’s novel “Robinson Crusoe,” the hero recalls one clash with the enemy and says that at first a white flag of negotiations was raised on his ship, and with the beginning of the battle a red flag hoisted from the mast. Close to red was the light orange color in which Tich Blackbeard’s cloth was painted.

Note that in the 17th century. sea ​​robbers preferred to sail under their national flag or use the flag of the state that granted them a marque license. But if, upon meeting with the enemy, a bloody banner was raised on the mast, then its appearance indicated that there would be no mercy for anyone (the same on land). The uncompromising, totally hostile nature of the red flag was recorded by witnesses. Thus, Captain Richard Hawkins, captured by pirates in 1724, said that if pirates fight under the Jolly Roger, they seem to give the intended victim the opportunity to consider whether to resist, and are ready to accept voluntary surrender, but if a red flag appears, This means that things have reached the extreme point, and the fight will be life and death. The bloody flag played the same function, for example, in Avery. This robber swam under the cross of St. George, using his own symbolism - four silver chevrons on a red field. The appearance of this flag meant that Avery was ready to enter into negotiations for surrender, but when a simple red flag flew up the flagpole, the crew of the merchant ship should have prepared for hand-to-hand combat. It is possible that the black flag, used, like the red one, to intimidate the enemy, carried some kind of peace-loving overtones. The symbolism of the choice could be based on the fact that black was considered the color of mourning, sorrow and death, while red was seen as the color of rebellion and rebellion, a sign of merciless war and death.

Third, The question of the origin of the name “Jolly Roger” remains open. If this is due to the ferocious grin of the skull, then it is likely that the pirates ("jokingly") could call this creepy monster "cheerful." But what does Roger have to do with it? Researcher Patrick Pringle has offered several explanations. One of them notes the fact that the French filibusters and buccaneers called the red flag “joli rouge”. When pronouncing the first word, the pirates deliberately emphasized the final vowel, adding the sound “e”. The English filibusters brought their own interpretation to the name, and in the course of evolution, “joli” became “jolly”, and “rouge” became “Roger”. Moreover, all this came together in a black flag. According to another version, the term originated in the Indian Ocean. The leader of the local pirates who sailed under the red flags had the title Ali Raja. He was called the "king of the sea." Among the English who came here, the word “Raja” turned into “Roger”, and Ali became the property of any Roger - Ally, Old or Jolly. However, it is possible that the English “roger” is etymologically related to the word “rogue” (“rogue”, “tramp”) and denoted the beginning of an independent vagabond life.

As for the skull, its appearance on the flag apparently goes back to the history of the spread and use of this sign as a symbol of death. And this was not at all the invention of pirates. The skull as an emblem of death was accepted long ago and spread to European armies of the 16th century. The captains of merchant ships used skulls and crossbones when making entries in the ship's logs, declaring the death of one of the crew members.

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The use of symbols and attributes of a “personal nature” gave a special flavor to piracy, without which it is impossible to imagine the robber world of the sea. Is it possible to talk about a sailor without talking about a tattoo? Sea signs, talismans, symbols, mysterious writings, letters - sophisticated imagination suggested thousands and thousands of different variations. On the port streets of the Old and New Worlds, the East Indies, sailors found special “salons” where masters applied tattoos that allowed their owners not only to show off in front of other crew members, but also... to hide from justice. The fact is that a tattoo, a sign of belonging to a maritime caste, in addition to aesthetic and psychological connotations, had an additional function: with its help, robbers hid eternal, indelible traces of justice - the “stigma of shame” (as defined by Cardinal de Richelieu), a mark. It was impossible to erase and destroy lilies and crowns applied with a hot iron - and then the criminals hid them among many tattoos and drawings (skulls, skeletons with braids, sabers, knives, crosses, monograms of Christ, Madonna) applied to the shoulders and forearms.

Here are a few examples of such “retouched” marks.

Rice. 1 - 3 illustrate options for hiding the signs of French justice - Bourbon lilies. In Fig. 1 “royal” flower is covered with a bunch of lightning, personifying fearlessness and power (XVII century). The mark on the left shoulder (second quarter of the 18th century) is hidden: in Fig. 2 - applied skulls; in Fig. 3 - an image of a naked beauty. In Fig. 4a - 4b shows the transformation that the mark of the Spanish Inquisition underwent (the letter “P”, from “praedo” (Latin) - “robber”, “pirate”, “robber”, crowned with the sign of the royal crown), burned on the right side of the chest, — the resulting sad composition consists of a gallows with a hanged man and a bird sitting on it.

A most interesting example is demonstrated by the tattoo in Fig. 5 - the Spanish mark (the old coat of arms of the Kingdom of Castile), supplemented at the bottom with an anchor, turned into the coat of arms of the 17th century. Spanish Admiralty. In Fig. 6 and 7 depict characteristic tattoos of sea robbers of the 17th - 18th centuries. In the first case (Fig. 6) it is a tattoo that brings good luck (wind rose, heart, anchor and two magic triangles); in the second (Fig. 7) there is a tattoo promising good luck (the sun above the ship).

Any robber, not too educated, superstitious person also associated hope for fortune, rich booty, a happy voyage and good luck in battle with the presence of amulets, various talismans, sacred totems and the practice of magical cults. There is a well-known test - a kind of rite of passage, initiation - that Teach Blackbeard conducted for new team members. They were placed in a cramped room (usually in the hold) and fumigated with sulfur, finding out how “strong” the newcomer was by the time that the sailor could withstand. One can also recall the enchanting action of “lunar sharpening” - sharpening edged weapons on the moonlight, which usually took place on the eve of military campaigns. Stupefied with narcotic potions (most often peyote was used, a narcotic substance extracted from a cactus), the robbers with drawn blades gathered in a circle and waited for the moon to rise; when the light fell on the weapon, they inflicted slight wounds on each other and did not wipe the blood off the blade. Prohibitions based on superstitious beliefs were also widespread: spitting overboard while sailing, shaving or trimming hair while sailing, taking food and drink with the left hand.

In the same row are amulets inseparably associated with sea robbery. Their number is infinite. Here are some examples (XVI - XVIII centuries):

1) An amulet that protects against a treacherous shot. Made from a lead bullet, flattened on a shell or metal part of the rigging: it was set in silver or gold and worn on a neck chain.

2) Astrological, with owner's horoscope.

3) An amulet that guarantees a happy return home,- bear tooth (earth sign).

4) Navigation amulet, promising good sailing - Neptune's anchor.

5) Amulet of Friendly Spirits— lava circle with heraldic and astrological signs and letters.

6) An amulet that protects against Indian and Negro spells,— jade turtle with the sign of the cross; worn on a cord woven from horsehair (an ancient amulet of the conquistadors).

7) Amulet against witchcraft, deception and evil spells- a gypsy amulet in the form of sechin.

8) An amulet that ensures victory in battle,— a battle hatchet with a magical pentagram.

9) Safe Navigation Amulet in the Southern Hemisphere— a shell of a mollusk with burnt signs of the Moon and the Southern Cross.

10) Amulet that removes witchcraft widespread in the Mediterranean.

11) An amulet that guarantees the wife's fidelity and good luck in love affairs,- a tuft of black goat hair.

12) Amulet against wounds and death from firearms- a bow with a string (must be woven from the hair of someone killed in battle).

13) An amulet that brings grief to the enemy - a piece of coral in the shape of a human head (the material could not be processed).

1. An amulet that protects those killed from vengeance,- a skull with the owner’s zodiac signs (in the figure - Pisces) and a point symbolizing injury.

15) An amulet that ensures victory in a shootout- Fire sword.

16) Amulet of safety - figurine of the devil, carved from a piece of ebony.

Let's name a few more magical talismans and amulets. A fragment of a bladed weapon (knife, dagger, stiletto, rapier, etc.), removed from a wound, guaranteed victory in battle (it was worn in a leather pocket near the belt). Yemeni pirates had a common talisman in the shape of the “hand of Fatma” (curiously, in Morocco it was a female talisman), Moorish pirates had lion fangs, and Algerian pirates had leopard ears.

In conclusion, let us recall another amulet, which, in our opinion, clearly characterizes the specific character of the pirate community. This is the so-called sister amulet. The sister pirates, having made incisions on the left forearm, collected a few drops of blood into vessels made from a hollowed out cactus, and added a little earth to them from the place where the whole procedure took place. The vessels were covered with wax, and the “brothers” exchanged talismans. If ever one of them received such a vessel, he had to drop all his affairs and go to the aid of his brother-friend.

Gloomy symbolism was the means by which robbers terrified their victims. The flag of death, revenge, ferocity and doom, waving over the seas, challenged the whole world. Such attributes were an integral part of the pirate world, an independent world that dared to challenge civilized society. Piracy as an isolated system, trying to isolate itself on its own exclusivity, turned into a society of doomed people, united by relationships unusual for civilization. The savagery, ferocity, cruelty and doom of these outcasts were combined with their awareness of their criminal exclusivity, a certain chosenness of people who went against the accepted laws of the society that gave birth to them. And, realizing this, the civilized, respectable world declared a ruthless war on the robbers: the corpses of those hanged at crossroads and on embankments aggravated the gloomy tone of the pirate trade, recalling the irreconcilable confrontation between the two worlds.

The underworld rose like a dark ghost over the seas. He carried a warning about what fatal destructive force lurked in the depths of human society. “Defenders of justice,” these pirate Robin Hoods, intimidating their enemies without accepting the “system,” seemed to be deliberately dooming themselves to destruction. But they themselves looked at life with different eyes. Rejecting a society based on nobility and wealth, the pirates painted for themselves a fundamentally different picture of the structure of their closed society. On pirate ships and in robber settlements, their own rules reigned. Taking upon themselves the mission of revenge for injustice, the pirates did not limit themselves to calls for destruction. The pirate ship became a symbolic cauldron in which a special social product was boiled, a kind of attempt to erect a society of social alternative. Its components were the democratic principles of democracy and egalitarian ideas of property distribution. The white flag of Libertalia fluttered above the new building.

Libertalia

The white flag of purity and freedom with the inscription “For God and Freedom” first flew over the French ship “Victoire” (“Victory”). This happened in the early 90s of the 17th century. during the French War against the League of Augsburg. In a battle with the English privateer ship Winchester in the Martinique region, Victoire prevailed.

A high price was paid for the victory - almost all the officers and about half the crew died. Only one noble officer from Provence, Lieutenant Misson, survived. With his friend, the young Italian monk Caraccioli, he approached the sailors with an offer to become pirates. But this will not be a simple robbery, said the rebel, intellectual Misson, we will carry around the world the light of the ideas of equality, human brotherhood and rid humanity of the power of gold. Caraccioli echoed him: “We are not pirates. We, free people, are fighting for the right of man to live according to the laws of God and nature. We have nothing in common with pirates, except that we seek our fortune at sea." The stunned sailors agreed. The pirate ship set off on a liberation voyage. On the ships that the robbers captured along the way, they could not recover from amazement. The pirates did not “rob”, but only took the equipment and food they needed. Gold found on captured ships went to the treasury of the future state. Only the Dutch ship carrying a cargo of slaves from Africa was seriously damaged. All captured valuables were divided equally, the liberated blacks were declared free, dressed in the clothes of the murdered Dutch and taken to their homeland. The pirates let everyone who was dissatisfied with the strange order go home. The ship of freedom wandered for a long time in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean, until in 1694 it entered the deserted, deserted bay of Diego Suarez, located on the northeastern tip of the island of Madagascar. On the rocky shores of the bay, pirates built a village and announced the newly-minted republic of justice, Libertalia (Land of Freedom). A world of equal people, racial equality, a fair structure of society in which “the strong will not beat down the weak” - such “reasonable laws” guided its creators. The free city sent its ships to the ocean and invited all pirates to go to the kingdom of justice. Calls from Libertalia did not go unanswered. So, the crew of the pirate Kidd abandoned their captain and went to Madagascar. One of the leaders of the new state was the Caribbean pirate Thomas Tew, who arrived in the city of Liberty with his ship.

The inhabitants of Libertalia called themselves Liberians. Private property was abolished. The city had a common treasury, replenished through piracy. From here the funds necessary for the development of the surrounding area, urban construction and provision for the disabled were drawn. There was no money in circulation. According to legend, Libertalia citizenship was granted regardless of nationality or race. The British, the Dutch, the French, the Africans, and the Arabs lived here in equal conditions. Gambling, drunkenness, swearing and fighting were prohibited. The city was governed by the Council of Elders, re-elected every three years. The Guardian, Misson, was placed at the head of the state, Caraccioli was chosen as Secretary of State, and Tew was chosen as the great admiral, commander of the naval forces of the Republic. The “filibuster republic of equality” gradually took hold on the island. The attack of the Portuguese squadron was repulsed, the material well-being of the city grew due to successful robberies and successful colonization of the surrounding area. However, the wonderful dream came to an end when the Libertalia fleet, led by Misson, went on another raid. Warlike local tribes suddenly attacked the city, plundered it, seized the treasury and massacred all the inhabitants, leaving smoking ruins in place of the commune. Only a handful of Liberians managed to escape and, sailing away on a small boat, reached the squadron and told about the disaster. Misson and Tew (Caraccioli died in the attack on Libertalia) went to America to start all over again. But on the way their ships separated. Misson's sloop crashed off the Cape of Good Hope and the entire crew drowned. Tew sailed for several more years and was a well-known figure in the world of pirate business. We don’t know for certain how his life ended - according to one version, he died off the coast of Arabia in a battle with the ship of the Great Mogul, according to another, he was hanged by the British.

The story of the utopian pirate republic of Libertalia was told to us by the mysterious Captain Johnson. It is unknown what formed the basis of the legend of the pirate state - a talented hoax inspired by social problems and hopes for the renewal of human civilization, or real events that led to the creation of a society that seemed to embody the ideals of justice and equality. One way or another, the principles of piracy, the ideas of sea robbers about the social ideal could well turn into an attempt to create such a “society of harmony.”

The sea routes led from a society of inequality and private property - a “criminal society” - to a society of criminals, enemies of the laws governing respectable people. The injustice of modern civilization pushed thousands of adventurers in search of “truth.” Robust piracy under the black flag of intimidation has become a terrible scarecrow for the whole world. But was the white flag of the vigilante robbers a warning to the world of private property?

D. N. Kopelev

From the book “The Golden Age of Sea Robbery”

Notes

In other cases, place names ("Lancaster"), women's names ("Mary Ann"), animal names ("Black Robin" - "Black Robin"), etc. were used. The mention of bachelor life is also interesting - we have already encountered “Bechelos Delight” (“Delight of a Bachelor”) and “Bechelos Adventure” (“Bachelor’s Adventure”). There is nothing strange in this, since most pirates do not have a good personal life. Dozens of pirate ships with similar names left traders no hope of impunity. Fierce warnings rushing from the sides of pirate ships turned the ocean into a real hell, inhabited by gloomy avengers.

AVN (A Barbadians Head - Head of a Barbadian; AMN (A Martinician Head) - Head of a Martinican.

There is also no consensus among researchers on the question of the origin of black flags. It is unlikely that this is connected with the black sails of Theseus’ ship, returning from Crete after defeating the Minotaur - it is doubtful that the pirates studied ancient Greek myths and knew the secret of the hero’s agreement with the king of Athens. Most likely, in our opinion, the assumption is that the black color allowed the robbers to camouflage themselves in cloudy weather and at night.

In the 17th century officials of the French kingdom were faced with situations where there was simply nowhere to put the mark - the entire body of the condemned person was covered with intricate ornaments and tattoos. It is no coincidence that they were considering whether to put a brand on their foreheads. In fairness, we emphasize that in the Moscow state such a problem did not face justice, and the branded criminal always revealed himself when he “beat with his forehead” (removed his hat).

Instead of the name of the ship there is a dash - November 24, 1659
Captain Philippe Bekul - instead of the name of the ship there is a dash - December 3, 1659
Captain Jan Peterszoon - instead of the name of the ship there is a dash - December 31, 1659
Captain Lakve - bark without name - December 31, 1659
Captain Allen - "The Thriver" - April 1, 1660
Captain Wade - "The Sea Horse" - April 4, 1660
Captain William James - frigate "The America" ​​- May 16, 1660
Captain Edward Mansfield - dash instead of ship's name - December 4, 1660

List of Port Royal buccaneers in Jamaica (1663)

Captain Sir Thomas Whetstone - ship captured from the Spaniards - 7 guns - 60 crew
Captain Adrian van Diemen - frigate "The Griffin" - 14 guns - 100 crew
Captain Richard Guy - frigate "The James" - 14 guns - 90 crew
Captain William James - frigate "The American" - 6 guns - 70 crew
Captain William Cooper - frigate without name - 10 guns - 80 crew
Captain Morris Williams - untitled brigantine - 7 guns - 60 crew
Captain George Brimacane - frigate without name - 6 guns - 70 crew
Captain Edward Mansfield - untitled brigantine - 4 guns - 60 crew
Captain Goodled - dash instead of ship name - 6 guns - 60 crew
Captain William Blauvelt* - bark without name - 3 guns - 50 crew
Captain Hardew - frigate captured from the Spaniards - 4 guns - 40 crew
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Total 11 ships
* - he had patents from both the British and the Dutch

List of freebooters who appeared at Port Royal but did not have commissions from the Governor of Jamaica (1663)

Captain Senolve (Dutch) - three small ships - 12 guns - 100 crew
Captain David Maarten (Dutch) - Dutch ship - 6 guns - 40 crew
Captain Antoine Dupuy (French from Tortuga) - float - 9 guns - 80 crew
Captain Philippe Becule (French from Tortuga) - French frigate - 8 guns - 70 crew
Captain Clostres (French from Tortuga) - instead of the name of the ship there is a dash - 9 guns - 68 crews

List of Buccaneers of Jamaica (May 1665)

Captain Maurice Williams - "The Speake" - 18 guns
Captain John Harmenson - "The Saint John" - 12 guns
Captain Rock Brazilian - "The Civilian" - 16 guns
Captain Robert Searle - "The Pearl" - 9 guns
Captain John Outlaw - "The Olive Branch" - 6 guns
Captain Albert Bernardson - "The True Man" - 6 guns
Captain Nathaniel Cobham - "The Susannah" - 2 guns
Captain John Bamfield - "The Mayflower" - 1 gun
Captain Abraham Malherbe - untitled galliot - 1 gun

List of ships of the fleet of Jamaican Admiral Henry Morgan (Panama Expedition)

The list was compiled on the island of Wash in December 1670, then sent by the Governor of Jamaica, Sir Thomas Modyford, in London to Lord Arlington. Filed in Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies 1669-74.

Admiral Henry Morgan - frigate "The Satisfaction" - tonnage 120 - guns 22 - crew 140
Captain Thomas Harris - frigate "The Mary" - 50 - 12 - 70
Captain Joseph Bradley - "The Mayflower" - 70 - 14 - 100
Captain Lawrence Prince - "The Pearl" - 50 - 12 - 70
Captain Jan Erasmus Reining - "Civilian" - 80 - 12 - 75
Captain John Morris - frigate "Dolphin" - 60 - 10 - 60
Captain Richard Norman - "Lily" - 50 - 10 - 50
Captain Delliatt - "Port Royal" - 50 - 12 - 55
Captain Thomas Rogers - "Gift" - 40 - 12 - 60
Captain John Payne - armed a merchant ship in the port of Younghall (Ireland) - 70 - 6 - 60
Captain Humphrey Furston - "Thomas" - 50 - 8 - 45
Captain Richard Ladbury - "Fortune" - 40 - 6 - 40
Captain Kuhn Debrons - "Constant Thomas" - 60 - 6 - 40
Captain Richard Dobson - "Fortune" - 25 - 6 - 35
Captain Henry Wills - "Prosperous" - 16 - 4 - 35
Captain Richard Taylor - “Sacrifice of Abraham” - 60 - 4 - 30
Captain John Bennett - "Virgin Queen" - 15 - 0 - 30
Captain John Shepherd - "Recovery" - 18 - 3 - 30
Captain Thomas Woodriff - sloop "William" - 12 - 0 - 30
Captain William Carson - sloop "Betty" - 12 - 0 - 25
Captain Clement Simons - captured ship "Fortune" - 40 - 4 - 40
Captain John Harmenson - Endeavor - 25 - 4 - 35
Captain Roger Taylor - "Bonaventure" - 20 - 0 - 25
Captain Patrick Dunbar - "Prosperous" - 10 - 0 - 16
Captain Charles Swan - "Endeavour" - 16 - 2 - 30
Captain Richard Powell - sloop Lamb - 30 - 4 - 30
Captain Jonas Ricks - "Fortune" - 16 - 3 - 30
Captain Roger Kelly - "Free Gift" - 15 - 4 - 40
Captain François Trebutor - “La Sainte-Catherine” - 100 - 14 - 110
Captain Le Gascon - "La Gallardena" - 80 - 10 - 80
Captain Diego - "Le Saint-Jean" - 80 - 10 - 80
Captain Pierre Le Picard - “Le Saint-Pierre” - 80 - 10 - 90
Captain Dumangle - "Le Diable Volant" - 40 - 6 - 50
Captain Joseph - sloop "Le Cerf" - 25 - 2 - 40
Captain Charles - sloop "Le Lion" - 30 - 3 - 40
Captain Jean Lino - “La Sainte-Marie” - 30 - 4 - 30

Total: 36 ships of the British and French (total tonnage 1,585, guns 239, crew 1,846 people).
Of these, from Tortuga and Saint-Domingue: 520 people.

After the expedition to Panama, Jamaica never issued commissions again. Thus, the English filibuster lasted only 12 years.

List of buccaneers sailing to the South Sea (1680)

Captain Peter Harris - tonnage 150 - guns 25 - crew 107
Captain Richard Savkins - 16 - 1 - 35
Captain John Coxon - 80 - 8 - 97
Captain Edmund Cook - 35 - 0 - 43
Captain Bartholomew Sharp - 25 - 2 - 40
Captain Robert Ellison - 18 - 0 - 24
Captain Thomas Maggott - 14 - 0 - 20
Captain Michel Andresson - 90 - 6 - 86
Captain Jean Rose - 20 - 0 - 25

List of buccaneers in the South Sea (1681)

Captain John Coxon - 10 guns - 100 crew
Captain Thomas Paine - 10 - 100
Captain William Wright - 4 - 40
Captain John Williams - 0 - 20
Captain Jan Willems (Yankee) - barque "Le Dauphin" - 4 - 60
Captain Archambu - 8 - 40
Captain Jean Tocard - brigantine - 6 - 70
Captain Jean Rose - barque - 0 - 25
Captain Jean Tristan - barque - 0 - 50

List of filibusters of Saint-Domingue (compiled by Governor de Cussy on August 24, 1684)

Captain Michel de Grammont (nickname General) - ship "Hardi", 400 tons (hereinafter - displacement), 52 guns, 300 crew.
Captain Pedneau - ship "Chasseur", tonnage not specified, 20 guns, 120 crew.
Captain Dumesnil - ship "Trompeuse", tonnage not specified, 14 guns, 100 crew.
Captain Jean Tokar - ship "L" Hirondelle, tonnage not specified, 18 guns, 110 crew.
Captain Pierre Bar (nickname of Breha) - ship "Diligente", tonnage not specified, 14 guns, 100 crew.
Captain Laurent de Graff - ship "Cascarille" (Spanish prize), tonnage not specified, 18 guns, 80 crew.
Captain Brouage - ship "Neptune" (formerly captain de Graff), tonnage not specified, 45 guns, 210 crew.
Captain Michel Andresson - ship "Mutine", 250 tons, 54 guns, 198 crew.
Captain Nicolas Brigault - ship name not specified, tonnage 40, guns 4, crew 42.
Captain Jean Bernano - ship "Scitie" tonnage not specified, 8 guns, 60 crew.
Captain Francois Gronier (nickname Cashmare) - ship "Saint-Francois", tonnage not specified, 6 guns, 70 crew.
Captain Blo - ship "Guagone", tonnage not specified, 8 guns, 90 crew.
Captain Vineron - barque "Louise", tonnage not specified, 4 guns, 30 crew.
Captain Petit - bark “Ruse”, tonnage not specified, 4 guns, 40 crew.
Captain Ian Williams (nickname Yankee) - ship “Dauphine”, tonnage not specified, 30 guns, 180 crew.
Captain Francois Lesage - ship "Tigre", tonnage not specified, 30 guns, 130 crew.
Captain Lagarde - ship "Subtile", tonnage not specified, 2 guns, 30 crew.
Captain Verpre - “Postillon”, tonnage not specified, 2 guns, 25 crew.

List of buccaneers operating near Panama in 1685

Captain Edward Davis - “The Batchelor's Delight” - 36 guns - 156 people
Captain Charles Swan - "The Cygnet" - 16 guns - 140 men
Captain Francis Townley - barque - 110 people
Captain Peter Harris - barque - 100 people
Captain Brandy - barque - 36 people
Samuel Leith - 14 people

Pirates have always been associated with adventurers, robbers, brigands and rowdies who gained fame not only at sea, in love affairs, but even in politics. But let’s look at their activities in the sea, since it was precisely this that brought those fabulous riches that are still being sought today. Even the names of pirate ships were intended to frighten their opponents, and the Jolly Roger flag completely instilled panic in the crew of the attacked ship.

The most famous pirates

Speaking about the era of piracy, it is worth considering that not all adherents of this way of earning and living were pirates in the truest sense of the word. In those days, there was a division into outright robbers, corsairs, privateers, filibusters, etc.

Interestingly, privateering was legalized in England, which tried with all its might to prevent Spain from entering the New World. Roughly speaking, the English crown secretly issued patents for the robbery of Spanish galleons, which were returning from the Americas with gold and silver.

But in general, if you make a list of the most desperate and famous personalities of that era in their field, it could look something like this:

• Captain Kidd.
• Edward Teach "Blackbeard".
• Henry Morgan.
• L'Ollone.
• Jetrow Flint.
• Olivier Le Vasseur.
• William Dampier.
• Arouge Barbarossa.
• Jen Shi and many others.

Famous names of pirate ships. List

Naturally, each of these thugs preferred to have their own ship, and, if possible, a flotilla of three or more ships. However, if secondary ships had names, sometimes even satirical ones, the flagship had to bear such a name so that it would be on everyone’s lips. Allegories or openly provocative names were often used. Here is an incomplete list of the most famous ships of that time (the names of pirate ships in English or French are given along with the Russian translation):

• "Golden Hind"
• Adventure Galley;
• Queen Ann's Revenge;
• "The Careless Corsair" (El corsario descuidad);
• "Periton" (Le Periton) - flying deer;
• "Avenger";
• "Whydah"
• “Royal Fortune”;
• "Fantasy" (Fancy);
• “Happy Delivery”;
• "Rising Sun";
• "Retribution" (Revenge), etc.

And that's not all. Very often you could find the names of pirate ships like “Unipresent Death”, “Victoria the Bloody Baroness”, “Lucky Prize”, “Bell”, “Cerberus”, “Black Widow”, “Leviathan”, “Water Shaver”, etc. In general, there was plenty of imagination. But let's dwell on what the famous pirate ships were. Their names did not always reflect the true nature of the threat, because by and large the Spanish galleons were 36-48-gun frigates that were not possible to board for capture. The pirate ship would have been shot on the way, no matter how well it maneuvered.

Therefore, usually the robbers were content with frigates of a lower rank. Having 24, 36 or 40 guns on board was considered top. And escort by several ships with 20 or even 12 guns on board could play a decisive role in the battle.

Main characteristics of ships

Despite the loud and sometimes intimidating names of pirate ships, they could not always compare with the same Spanish ships or the English fleet.

For example, William Kidd's Adventure was a 34-gun brigantine frigate of an unusual type (with straight sails and an oar crew).

Queen Anne's Revenge, originally called Concorde, was more powerful, having 40 guns. The "Golden Hind" was first launched from the stocks as the "Pelican", according to various estimates, with 18-22 guns.

The most famous literary hero and his squadron

In literature, the names of pirate ships were replenished with another famous character - Captain Blood (Rafael Sabatini - “The Odyssey of Captain Blood”, “The Chronicles of Captain Blood”), whose unrequited love for the daughter of the governor of Barbados (and then of Jamaica) forced him to name the captured from the Spaniards 36- gun frigate "Cinco Llagos" named after her. Since then, "Arabella" has become a thunderstorm of the seas.

By the way, the work mentions and names Levasseur, and his ship is called “La Foudre” (“Lightning”). There is also the name “Avenger” of one of the constant opponents of the main character - Captain Easterling.

Captain Blood himself, in his characteristic humorous manner, named minor ships like "Elizabeth" (in honor of the Queen of England) or in honor of three Greek goddesses - "Atropos", "Clotho" and "Lachesis".

Only towards the end of the story was the 80-gun frigate Victorieuse, commanded by Baron de Rivarol, captured. But, according to the plot, the author could not rename it, because Blood became the governor, and his ships became part of the Jamaican squadron.

Cinema

And how can we do without the “Black Pearl” from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” quadrology? There are also some nuances here. Captain Barbossa's name clearly echoes Barbarossa.

And there’s no need to talk about “The Flying Dutchman” at all. The film indicates that this is a ship, although in fact no one knows who owned this ghost ship, and whether it exists at all or only in a single copy.

Instead of an afterword

Well, if we take into account that children love this kind of adventure, it’s not difficult to come up with a name for a pirate ship for children, because their imagination is often much more developed than that of an adult. Even common names like "Thunderstorm" or "Thunder" will do. Here children are masters of using associations that frighten their peers.

But, seriously, the names of pirate ships are very often associated not with abstract concepts or mystical phenomena, but rather with the history of England, because most of these fortune-seekers, one way or another, were associated with the English crown, and by and large fought against the Spaniards. Naturally, there were those who robbed indiscriminately, but privateering in those days was, so to speak, the most gentlemanly craft with a huge number of restrictions. Take the same Henry Morgan, who later became the lieutenant governor of Jamaica, or Sir (English admiral). History is full of surprises...

Adventure Galley is the favorite ship of William Kidd, an English privateer and pirate. This unusual frigate galley was equipped with straight sails and oars, which made it possible to maneuver both against the wind and in calm weather. The 287-ton ship with 34 guns accommodated 160 crew and was primarily intended to destroy the ships of other pirates.

Queen Anne's Revenge is the flagship of the legendary captain Edward Teach, nicknamed Blackbeard. This 40-gun frigate was originally called Concorde, belonged to Spain, then passed to France, until it was finally captured by Blackbeard Under his leadership, the ship was strengthened and renamed. "Queen Anne's Revenge" sank dozens of merchant and military ships that stood in the way of the famous pirate.

Whydah is the flagship of Black Sam Bellamy, one of the pirates of the golden age of sea robbery. The Ouida was a fast and maneuverable vessel capable of carrying a lot of treasure. Unfortunately for Black Sam, only a year after the start of his pirate “career” the ship was caught in a terrible storm and was thrown ashore. The entire crew, except two people, died. By the way, Sam Bellamy was the richest pirate in history, according to Forbes' recalculation, his fortune amounted to about 132 million dollars in modern equivalent.

"Royal Fortune" belonged to Bartholomew Roberts, the famous Welsh corsair, with whose death the golden age of piracy ended. Bartholomew had several ships during his career, but the 42-gun, three-masted ship of the line was his favorite. On it he met his death in battle with the British warship "Swallow" in 1722.

Fancy is the ship of Henry Avery, also known as Long Ben and the Arch-Pirate. The Spanish 30-gun frigate Charles II successfully plundered French ships, but eventually a mutiny broke out on it, and power passed to Avery, who served as first mate. Avery renamed the ship Imagination and sailed on it until his career ended.

Happy Delivery is a small but beloved ship of George Lowther, an 18th-century English pirate. His signature tactic was to ram an enemy ship with his own while simultaneously boarding it with lightning speed.

The Golden Hind was an English galleon that circumnavigated the world between 1577 and 1580 under the command of Sir Francis Drake. The ship was originally named "Pelican", but upon entering the Pacific Ocean, Drake renamed it in honor of his patron, Lord Chancellor Christopher Hatton, who had a golden hind on his coat of arms.

The Rising Sun was a ship owned by Christopher Moody, a truly ruthless thug who took no prisoners as a matter of principle. This 35-gun frigate terrified Moody's enemies until he was safely hanged - but she went down in history with the most unusual pirate flag known, yellow on a red background, and even with a winged hourglass to the left of the skull.

Speaker is the first of the capital ships of the corsair John Bowen, a successful pirate and excellent tactician. The Talkative was a large 50-gun vessel with a displacement of 450 tons, originally used to transport slaves and, after being captured by Bowen, for daring attacks on Moorish shipping.

Revenge is the ten-gun sloop of Steed Bonnet, also known as the "Pirate Gentleman". Bonnet lived a rich, albeit short, life, managing to be a small landowner, serve under Blackbeard, receive an amnesty, and again take the path of piracy. The small, maneuverable Retribution sank many larger ships.

Large and tiny, powerful and maneuverable - all these ships, as a rule, were built for completely different purposes, but sooner or later they ended up in the hands of corsairs. Some ended their “career” in battle, others were resold, others sank in storms, but all of them glorified their owners in one way or another.

All pirate ships, regardless of size and origin, met certain requirements to one degree or another. First of all, the pirate ship had to be sufficiently seaworthy, since it often had to endure storms on the open ocean. The so-called "golden age of piracy" (1690-1730) was marked by particular 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 frequent hurricanes, the season of which lasts from June to November, reaching its peak in August-September. At the beginning of the 17th century, sailors were already well aware of the existence of a hurricane season on the Atlantic and that these hurricanes originated off the West African coast. Sailors have learned to predict the approaching hurricane. Knowing that a storm was approaching, the ship's captain could try to get away from it or find shelter. Winds blowing at speeds of more than 150 km/h have caused catastrophic destruction on the coast and sunk ships for centuries. For pirates, for whom access 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 durable 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. Pirate Henry Jennings began his career by plundering Spanish galleons washed ashore in the 1715 hurricane. 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 occur from May to November, while further south the cyclone season occurs from December to March. Meteorologists report an average of 85 hurricanes, typhoons and tropical cyclones per year. Apparently, during the "golden age of piracy" this number was approximately the same. Hurricanes and typhoons are dangerous even for modern ships. How dangerous they were for sailing ships, deprived of the opportunity to receive a storm warning by radio! Add to this the constant risk of Atlantic storms and rough seas in the Cape of Good Hope area... It is interesting that in those days transatlantic crossings (and circumnavigations!) were often carried out by sloops and even smaller vessels, which today are used only 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. The load on the wooden hull of a ship during a long voyage is compatible with short-term load during a storm. The problem is further aggravated by the constant fouling of the bottom with algae and shells, which seriously impair the performance of the vessel. A heavily overgrown sailing ship cannot reach a speed of more than three or four knots. Therefore, it is very important to periodically clean the bottom of the ship. But if the military and merchants had shipyards in port cities at their disposal, the pirates had to clean the bottom of their ships secretly, hiding in secluded bays and river mouths. Cleaning the bottom (heeling, pitching) of a small ship (sloop or brig) usually took a week. Larger ships required proportionately more time for this operation. While careening, the ship was vulnerable to attack and cases of attacks on pirate ships in a similar position are known.

The ship is also threatened by woodworms. The waters of the Caribbean Sea are the most infested with woodworms, so wooden ships sailing in this region deteriorate faster than others. The Spaniards adhered to the rule that a ship making regular voyages to the Caribbean could not last longer than ten years, even if measures were taken to protect the hull. It should be noted that the problem of the ship's durability never arose before the pirates, because even the most successful of them, like Bartholomew Roberts, rarely operated for more than two years. Larger ships were better suited to sailing across the Atlantic, but required more time to heel. It is much easier to clean the bottom of a small ship. Small ships have a shallow draft, which allows them to sail more confidently in coastal waters, as well as swim into river mouths, sandbanks and inland waters. In 1715, New York Governor Hunter wrote the following lines to London: “The coast is infested with privateers, who, taking advantage of the opportunity of rowing in the shallow waters, are moving away from His Majesty’s ships.” The governor demanded at his disposal a flotilla of sloops capable of fighting pirates in the shallow waters of Long Island and the mouth of the Hudson.

Another mandatory requirement for a pirate ship was high speed. 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 the ship can carry. Theoretically, a large ship can carry more sails, but its hull also has a greater displacement. A large sail area has a positive effect on speed, while a large displacement, on the contrary, limits it. Small ships such as a brigantine have a small sail area, but the ratio of sail area to displacement is greater than that of square-rigged ships, giving 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 main reasons that determine it are well known. Pirate ships were generally faster than square-rigged merchant ships. Pirates valued certain types of ships precisely for their speed. Thus, single-masted sloops built in Jamaica or Bermuda were especially popular among pirates.

The speed of a ship is also influenced by factors that are difficult to express mathematically. We have already talked about fouling of the bottom. Pirates needed to keel their ships regularly, since every additional knot of speed was important to them. Certain types of ships sailed better in certain winds. For example, ships with gaff sails could stay steeper to the wind than ships with straight sails; a lateen sail is especially good in a crosswind, but helps little in a tailwind. But most important was the experience of the captain and the qualifications of the team. Experienced sailors can squeeze out an extra knot of speed by 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 set off towards the Bahamas to intercept Charles Vane, the pirate, thanks to his skill and the quality of the ship, was able to break away from his pursuers. According to the testimony of one of the English officers, Vane made two feet when the royal ships made one. Finally, adequate weaponry was important for a pirate ship. The more guns a ship carries, the greater its displacement, the lower its speed. For a successful pirate, getting guns was not a problem. They could be found on any boarded ship. The pirates avoided solving a naval battle with an artillery duel, as they did not want to damage the hull of the trophy. However, it is surprising to learn that pirates tried to arm their ships as much as possible, sometimes turning them into real floating batteries. All this was done solely in case of a meeting with warships. Larger ships can carry more guns and provide a more useful fighting platform. We will talk in more detail about the armament 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 large ships capable of carrying impressive artillery and sailing weapons.

The most famous pirates.

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 more than four hundred ships. At the same time, the cost of the pirate's production 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 on his chest hung a gold chain with a diamond cross. 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”, who was the most successful pirate in history. Moreover, unlike Henry Morgan, he never cooperated with the authorities. And the famous pirate was born in South Wales. His maritime career began as a third mate on a slave trading ship. Roberts' responsibilities included supervising the “cargo” and its safety. However, after being captured by pirates, the sailor himself was in the role of a slave. Nevertheless, the young European was able to please the captain Howell Davis who 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, production 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 merchant ships were already shying away at the sight of 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 engaged 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 came up with the idea of ​​a cruel execution using a board thrown over the side of the ship. The team loved their captain so much that they were ready to follow him to the ends of the earth. And the explanation was simple - Roberts was desperately lucky. At different times he managed from 7 to 20 pirate ships. The teams included escaped criminals and slaves of many different nationalities, calling themselves the "House of Lords". And the name of Black Bart inspired terror throughout the Atlantic.

Henry Morgan(1635-1688) became the most famous pirate in the world, enjoying a unique fame. This man became famous not so much for his corsair exploits as for his activities as a commander and politician. Morgan's main achievement was helping England seize control of the entire Caribbean Sea. Since childhood, Henry was restless, which affected his adult life. In a short time, he managed to be a slave, gather his own gang of thugs and get his first ship. Along the way, many people were robbed. While in the queen's service, Morgan directed his energy to the ruin of the Spanish colonies, which he did very well. As a result, everyone learned the name of the active sailor. But then the pirate unexpectedly decided to settle down - he got married, bought a house... However, his violent temper took its toll, and in his spare time, Henry realized that it was much more profitable to capture coastal cities than simply rob sea ships. One day Morgan used a cunning move. On the way to one of the cities, he took a large ship and filled it to the top with gunpowder, sending it to the Spanish port at dusk. The huge explosion led to such turmoil that there was simply no one to defend the city. So the city was taken, and the local fleet was destroyed, thanks to Morgan's cunning. While storming Panama, the commander decided to attack the city from land, sending his army bypassing the city. As a result, the maneuver was a success and the fortress fell. Morgan spent the last years of his life as Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. His whole life passed at a frantic pirate pace, with all the delights appropriate to the occupation in the form of alcohol. Only rum defeated the brave sailor - he died of cirrhosis of the liver and was buried as a nobleman. True, the sea took his ashes - the cemetery sank into the sea after the earthquake.
Francis Drake(1540-1596) was born in England, in the family 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 navigation. 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, as 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 also loved him. Trying to take revenge on the Spaniards, Drake begins to wage his own war against them - he plunders their ships and cities. In 1572, he managed to capture the "Silver Caravan", 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 loot more, but also to visit previously unknown places. As a result, many sailors were grateful to Drake for his work in clarifying and correcting the world map. With the permission of the queen, the pirate went on a secret expedition to South America, with the official version of the exploration of Australia. The expedition was a great success. Drake maneuvered so cunningly, avoiding the traps of his enemies, that he was able to travel around the world on his way home. Along the way, he attacked Spanish settlements in South America, circumnavigated Africa and brought home potato tubers. The total profit from the campaign was unprecedented - more than half a million pounds sterling. At that time it was twice the budget of the entire country. As a result, right on board the ship, Drake was knighted - 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, the pirate’s luck turned away; 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 terrible monster. The first mention of the activities of this corsair dates back only to 1717; what the Englishman did before that remains unknown. Based on indirect evidence, one can guess that he was a soldier, but deserted and became a filibuster. Then he was already a pirate, terrifying people with his beard, which covered almost his entire face. Teach was very brave and courageous, which earned him respect from other pirates. He wove wicks into his beard, which, when smoking, terrified his opponents. In 1716, Edward was given command of his sloop to conduct privateering operations against the French. Soon Teach captured a larger ship and made it his flagship, renaming it Queen Anne's Revenge. At this time, the pirate operates in the Jamaica area, robbing everyone and recruiting new henchmen. By the beginning of 1718, Tich already had 300 people under his command. Within a year, he managed to capture more than 40 ships. All the pirates knew that the bearded man was hiding treasure on some uninhabited island, but no one knew where exactly. The pirate's outrages against the British and his plunder of the colonies forced the authorities to announce a hunt for Blackbeard. A massive reward was announced and Lieutenant Maynard was hired to hunt down Teach. In November 1718, the pirate was overtaken by the authorities and killed during the battle. Teach's head was cut off and his body was suspended from a yardarm.

William Kidd(1645-1701). Born in Scotland near the docks, the future pirate decided to connect his destiny with the sea from childhood. In 1688, Kidd, a simple sailor, survived a shipwreck near Haiti and was forced to become a pirate. In 1689, betraying his comrades, William took possession of the frigate, calling it the Blessed William. With the help of a privateering 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 rich widow, taking possession of lands and property. But the pirate’s heart demanded adventure, and now, 5 years later, he is already a captain again. The powerful frigate "Brave" was designed to rob, but only the French. After all, the expedition was sponsored by the state, which did not need unnecessary political scandals. However, the sailors, seeing the meager profits, periodically rebelled. The capture of a rich ship with French goods did not save the situation. Fleeing from his former subordinates, Kidd surrendered into the hands of the English authorities. The pirate was taken to London, where he quickly became a bargaining chip in the struggle of political parties. On charges of piracy and the murder of a ship's officer (who was the instigator of the mutiny), Kidd was sentenced to death. 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 childhood, girls were dressed in boy's clothes. So the mother tried to hide the death of her early deceased son. At age 15, Mary joined the army. In the battles in Flanders, under the name Mark, she showed miracles of courage, but she never received any 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, dressed in men's clothing, became a sailor. The ship fell into the hands of pirates, and the woman was forced to join them, cohabiting with the captain. In battle, Mary wore a man's uniform, participating in skirmishes along with everyone else. Over time, the woman fell in love with the artisan who helped the pirate. They even got married and were going to put an end to the past. But even here the happiness did not last long. Pregnant Reed was caught by authorities. When she was caught along with other pirates, she said that she committed the robberies against her will. However, other pirates showed that there was no one more determined than Mary Read in the matter of plundering and boarding ships. The court did not dare to hang the pregnant woman; she patiently awaited her fate in a Jamaican prison, not fearing a shameful death. But a strong fever finished her off early.
Bonnie, Anne(1690 -?) - one of the most famous female pirates. She was born in Ireland into the family of a wealthy lawyer, William Cormack. She spent her childhood in South Carolina, where the family moved when Ann’s father bought a plantation. Quite early she married a simple sailor James Bonney, with whom she ran away in search of adventure. Then Anne Bonny got involved with a famous pirateJack Rackham. She began sailing on his ship and participating in pirate raids. During one of these raids, Anne metMary Reid. , after which they continued to engage in maritime robbery together. It is not known exactly how many lives the spoiled daughter of an ex-lawyer ruined, but in 1720 a pirate ship was ambushed, after which all the robbers faced the gallows. However, by that time Anne was already pregnant, and the intervention of her rich daddy arrived very opportunely, so that in the end the pirate managed to avoid the well-deserved gallows and even went free. Then her traces are lost. In general, the example of Anne Bonny is interesting as a rare case in those days when a woman took on a purely male craft.

Olivier (Francois) le Vasseurbecame the most famous French pirate. He was nicknamed "La Blues", or "the buzzard". A Norman nobleman of noble origin was able to turn the island of Tortuga (now Haiti) into an impregnable fortress of filibusters. Initially, Le Vasseur was sent to the island to protect the French settlers, but he quickly expelled the British (according to other sources, the Spaniards) from there and began to pursue his own policy. Being a talented engineer, the Frenchman designed a well-fortified fortress. Le Vasseur issued a filibuster with very dubious documents for 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 direct part in the hostilities. When the Spaniards failed to take the island in 1643, and were surprised to find fortifications, Le Vasseur's authority grew noticeably. He finally refused to obey the French and pay royalties to the crown. However, the deteriorating 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 Vasseur 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 remained unfound.

Zheng Shi(1785-1844) is considered one of the most successful pirates. The scale of her actions will be indicated by the fact that she commanded a fleet of 2,000 ships, on which more than 70 thousand sailors served. The 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. Corsairs not only attacked merchant ships off the coast of China, but also sailed deep into river mouths, ravaging 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 strict discipline she established on the courts. It put an end to traditional pirate freedoms - robbery of allies and rape of prisoners was 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 the owner of a brothel and a gambling den. The story of a female pirate is reflected in literature and cinema; there are many legends about her.

William Dampier(1651-1715) is often called not just a pirate, but also a scientist. After all, he completed three voyages around the world, discovering many islands in the Pacific Ocean. Having been orphaned early, William chose the sea path. At first he took part in trade voyages, and then he managed to fight. In 1674, the Englishman came to Jamaica as a trading agent, but his career in this capacity did not work out, and Dampier was forced to again become a sailor on a merchant ship. After exploring the Caribbean, William settled on the Gulf Coast, on the Yucatan coast. Here he found friends in the form of runaway slaves and filibusters. Dampier's further life revolved around the idea of ​​traveling around Central America, plundering Spanish settlements on land and sea. He sailed in the waters of Chile, Panama, and New Spain. Dhampir almost immediately began keeping notes about his adventures. As a result, his book “A New Journey Around the World” was published in 1697, 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 a corsair expedition around the world. The works of the pirate scientist turned out to be so valuable for science that he is considered to be one of the fathers of modern oceanography.

Edward Lau(1690-1724) also known as Ned Lau. For most of his life, this man lived in petty theft. In 1719, his wife died in childbirth, and Edward realized that from now on nothing would tie him to home. After 2 years, 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 in a short time he managed to capture more than a hundred ships, while showing rare bloodthirstiness.

Arouge Barbarossa(1473-1518) became a pirate at age 16 after the Turks captured his home island of Lesbos. Already at the age of 20, Barbarossa became a merciless and brave corsair. Having escaped from captivity, he soon captured a ship for himself, becoming the leader. Arouj entered into an agreement with the Tunisian authorities, who allowed him to set up a base on one of the islands in exchange for a share of the spoils. As a result, Urouge's pirate fleet terrorized all Mediterranean ports. Getting involved in politics, Arouj eventually became the ruler of Algeria under the name of Barbarossa. However, the fight against the Spaniards did not bring success to the Sultan - he was killed. His work was continued by his younger brother, known as Barbaross the Second.

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 most cruel or the luckiest, he managed to become famous. The fact is that Rackham’s team included two women dressed in men’s clothing - Mary Read and Anne Boni. Both of them were the pirate's mistresses. Thanks to this fact, as well as the courage and bravery of his ladies, Rackham's team became famous. But his luck changed when in 1720 his ship met the ship of the governor of Jamaica. At that time, the entire crew of pirates was dead drunk. To escape pursuit, Rackham ordered the anchor to be cut. However, the military were able to catch up with him and take him after a short fight. The pirate captain and his entire crew were hanged in Port Royal, Jamaica. Just before his death, Rackham asked to see Anne Bonney. 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 John Rackham is the author of the famous pirate symbol - the skull and crossbones, the 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 robbed the ships of England and Spain in the Gulf of Mexico. The heyday of pirate activity occurred in the 1810s. It is unknown where and when exactly Jean Lafitte was born. It is possible that he was a native of Haiti and was a secret Spanish agent. It was said that Lafitte knew the Gulf coast better than many cartographers. It was known for sure that he sold the stolen goods through his brother, a merchant who lived in New Orleans. The Lafittes illegally supplied slaves to the southern states, but thanks to their guns and men, the Americans were able to defeat the British in 1815 at the Battle of New Orleans. In 1817, under pressure from the authorities, the pirate settled on the Texas island of Galveston, where he even founded his own state, Campeche. Lafitte continued to supply slaves, using intermediaries. But in 1821, one of his captains personally attacked a plantation in Louisiana. And although Lafitte was ordered to be insolent, the authorities ordered him to sink his ships and leave the island. The pirate has only two ships left from what was once a whole fleet. Then Lafitte and a group of his followers settled on the island of Isla Mujeres off the coast of Mexico. But 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, “smugglers’ days” are even 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, he was played by Yul Brynner.

Thomas Cavendish(1560-1592). Pirates not only robbed ships, but were also brave travelers, discovering new lands. In particular, Cavendish was the third sailor who decided to travel around the world. His youth was spent in the English fleet. Thomas led such a hectic life that he quickly lost all his inheritance. And in 1585, he left the service and went to rich America for his share of the spoils. He returned to his homeland rich. Easy money and the help of fortune forced Cavendish to choose the path of a pirate to gain fame and fortune. On July 22, 1586, Thomas headed his own flotilla from Plymouth to Sierra Leone. The expedition aimed to find new islands and study winds and currents. However, this did not stop them from engaging in parallel and outright robbery. At the first stop in Sierra Leone, Cavendish, along with his 70 sailors, plundered 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 Spanish Lake. The rumor of English 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, having found the pirates during the raid. However, the British not only repelled the attack of 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 waited for a “treasury” ship with all the proceeds of the Mexican colonies. Persistence was rewarded, and the British captured a lot of gold and jewelry. However, when dividing the spoils, the pirates quarreled, and Cavendish was left with only one ship. With him he went to the west, where he obtained a cargo of spices by robbery. On September 9, 1588, Cavendish's ship returned to Plymouth. The pirate not only became one of the first to circumnavigate the world, but also did it very quickly - in 2 years and 50 days. In addition, 50 of his crew returned with the captain. This record was so significant that it lasted for more than two centuries.
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