Sushi paddles! Now I will tell you about something without which not a single sailor would become a sailor, without which sea wolves would be ordinary land ragamuffins. I'll tell you about pirate ships!

The pirate ship performed several functions at once. It was a barracks for the crew, as well as a warehouse for trophies. Since pirate crews usually outnumbered ordinary ships, there was often not enough space on the ships. The pirate ship was a warship, so it had to carry powerful cannon weapons. In addition, the pirates not only attacked, but they often had to evade pursuit, so the ship had to have increased speed. In order for a pirate ship to meet all the requirements for it, pirates had to rebuild ordinary merchant or warships they captured. Strictly speaking, in maritime terminology the word “ship” means a three-masted vessel with a full set of straight sails. Such “ships” were very rare among pirates.

American colonial schooner of the 18th century.
The sloop differed from the schooner in its smaller size
and the presence of only one mast. Both types were
popular among pirates for its speed and shallow draft.

Pirates obtained their ships as a result of capture at sea or mutiny of the crew. If a ship captured in this way turned out to be completely unsuitable for pirate activities, it was abandoned as soon as something more suitable could be obtained. Former privateers also often became pirates. Privateering ships were originally adapted for pirate activities. Upon expiration of the contract, privateers who did not want to stop their fishing turned into pirates. Some pirates spent their entire (usually short) career sailing on one ship, while others changed ships several times. So, Bartholomew Roberts changed the ship six times, each time giving the new ship the name “Royal Fortune”. The pirates either sunk the captured ships, sold them, or used them themselves.

Privateering, which flourished during the War of the Spanish Succession (1700-1714), led to the construction of many ships originally intended for privateering. After the end of the war, English privateers almost all took up privateering. Privateering was legal piracy. Privateer ships were equally suitable for pirate activities, without requiring any modification. Those same privateers who managed to overcome the temptation to become pirates entered the service of local authorities and began to fight pirates.
Pirates preferred small but fast ships like sloops, brigandines or schooners. Caribbean sloops were perfect for the role of a pirate ship. Some pirate crews preferred to use larger, more spacious ships. In addition to speed, small ships had an advantage over larger ones in draft. This allowed them to operate in shallow waters where large ships did not risk sailing. Smaller ships were easier to repair and clean their hulls to maintain speed. To clean the bottom, the ship was pulled ashore and the algae and shells that had grown during the voyage were peeled off.

When remodeling, unnecessary bulkheads between the decks of the ship were usually removed. This made it possible to free up space on the gun deck. Usually the forecastle was cut off and the quarterdeck was lowered so that the upper deck ran from bow to stern. Thanks to this measure, an open combat platform was created. Additional ports for guns were made in the sides, and the load-bearing elements of the hull were strengthened to compensate for the increased load. Swivel guns were installed on the gunwale.

Royal James and Henry fighting off Cape Fear River, North Carolina, September 27, 1718. Upon learning of the close presence of Steed Bonnet,
Governor of the Colony of South Carolina sent Colonel William Rhett
to hunt for a pirate. The chase ended in a battle, which resulted in
Bonnet capitulated, was captured and later hanged.

Types of pirate ships

Sloops

At the beginning of the 18th century, sloop meant various ships built in the Caribbean islands. Sloops were usually small, single-masted ships carrying disproportionately powerful sails. This made them fast and maneuverable, which, combined with their shallow draft, made them the ideal pirate ship. Typically, sloops were equipped with a slanting main sail and a jib at the bow. Sloops could also be called two- and three-masted ships with similar sailing weapons.

Bartholomew Roberts on the West African Coast.
Behind him is a fleet of slave trading ships he captured.
The "Royal Fortune" and "Great Reinder" ships are also located there
Roberts. Images of two flags are clearly visible.

Schooners

Throughout the 18th century, schooners became an increasingly common type of ship. Typically, schooners are defined as two-masted ships with forward sails on both masts. The narrow hull and large sail area made them fast; the schooner's usual speed with a tailwind exceeded 11 knots. The schooner's draft was also shallow, allowing them to sail freely among the shallows and close to the shore. With a displacement of up to 100 tons, the pirate schooner carried 8 cannons and a crew of about 75 people. The disadvantage of the schooner was its insufficient cruising range. It was necessary to frequently call at ports to replenish water and food supplies. However, with sufficient knowledge and skill, the pirates took everything they needed into the sea.

Brigandines

Another type of ship often found along the American coast was the brigandine. Brigandine is a two-masted ship, with straight sails on the foremast, and an oblique lower sail and straight topsails on the mainmast. Such sailing rig allows the brigandine to effectively sail both jibe and close-hauled. The length of the brigandine is about 24 m, displacement is about 150 tons, crew of 100 people, armament of 12 guns.

A variant of the brigandine was the brig, but this type of ship was quite rare in American waters. The brig carried straight sails on both masts, although slanting sails were sometimes installed between the masts. Sometimes a slanting gaff sail was placed on the mainmast. In this form the ship was called shnyava. The Royal Navy used shniavs as patrol ships in Caribbean waters.

Three-masted ships (straight sail)

Three-masted ships with direct sails could be considered ships in the full sense of the word. Although three-masted ships were slower than pirate schooners and sloops, they still had a number of undeniable advantages. First of all, they were distinguished by better seaworthiness, carried heavier weapons and could accommodate a large crew. Many pirates, including Bartholomew Robert and Charles Vane, preferred three-masted ships.

Three-masted merchant ships were actively used during that period. Edward Teach's Queen's Revenge was a converted slave trading ship, equipped to carry 40 cannons. Typically, a merchant ship with a displacement of 300 tons carried more than 16 guns. Three-masted warships were divided into several ranks. A ship of the 6th rank carried from 12 to 24 guns. The 5th rank ship already carried up to 40 guns. These weapons were usually more than enough to defeat any pirate in an artillery battle. The only exceptions were Roberts's Royal Fortune and Teach's Queen N Revenge, as well as several other pirate ships that carried comparable weapons.

Pirate ships at sea

A ship, a flag and appearance - only these three things could put a pirate above the rest of the world. A fast ship, a flag with a bad reputation, and a terrifying appearance were often enough for the enemy to surrender without a fight. When success depends on how much fear you can instill in the victim, these three things were of no small importance, and they also served as evidence of the pirate’s luck.

The pirates did not build their own ships. Pirate ship had to be fast, maneuverable and well armed. When capturing a ship, they first looked at its seaworthiness. Daniel Defoe said that a pirate ship is, first of all, “a pair of light heels that will be very useful when you need to quickly grab something or run away even faster if they grab you”. On captured merchant ships, hold bulkheads, deck superstructures and one of the masts were often removed, the poop was made lower, and additional gun ports were cut into the sides.

As a rule, pirate ships were faster than ordinary ships, which was very important both in order to catch up with the victim and in order to evade pursuit. For example, when Charles Vane hunted a ship in the Bahamas in 1718, he easily evaded naval patrols, "making two feet on their one".

Most pirate captains did not change ships throughout their careers(which was often very short - we can even talk about months, not years; even Blackbeard's empire of terror lasted only a few years). However, there were also those who changed ships like gloves - Bartholomew Roberts had about six of them. As for the captured ships, they were usually sold or simply burned.

A pirate ship needs constant care; it is especially important to timely clean the bottom of shells and algae so that they do not slow down the ship’s progress.. This procedure was performed once every three months. Usually, the pirates swam to some safe place, placed cannons at the entrance to the bay to repel a possible attack, and heeled the ship - that is, using tackles they pulled it onto the sandbank and cleaned the bottom. Heeling was also used in cases where it was necessary to repair the underwater part of the hull. The biggest threats to the ship were shellfish and the shipworm (woodworm), which gnawed into the wood and could make tunnels up to 6 feet (2 meters) long in it. These worms were capable of completely destroying the ship's hull.

Vessel dimensions

The size of a pirate ship was quite important. A larger ship is easier to deal with storms and can also carry more guns. However, larger ships are less maneuverable and more difficult to heel. In movies, pirates are usually shown on large ships, such as galleons, because they look very impressive, but in reality, pirates preferred small ships, most often sloops; they were fast and easy to care for. In addition, their shallower draft allowed them to sail in shallow waters or take refuge among sandbanks where a larger ship could not reach.

They were so large that anyone could participate in everyday naval duties, but in battle one gun required the service of four, or even six, people. A ship with twelve cannons on board needed seventy people just to fire, and it was also necessary to supply cannonballs and gunpowder.

Sometimes you look at the names of miserable buckets of branded bolts called “yachts” crowded in the marina and think “what do these people even know about the names of ships?!” Well, you can go and see for yourself, at the same time you can easily distinguish those that go on the sea a lot and often from those that are rotting away so that the owner can enjoy membership in the yacht club and pick up women.

I'll give you a hint: Most yacht names symbolize the qualities of their captains, and their size is usually (but not always) inversely proportional to the number of miles spooled on the log. Exceptions are usually noticed immediately by the features of the equipment and - usually - the work carried out on board. On the pontoon yachts, barbecue work and sunbathing of busty beauties are carried out.

Ship names

But let's talk about names. The name of the ship is usually given on the slipway, and under this name it appears in the statements. And by and large you can forget about it, because it rarely turns out to be successful. The ship acquires its real name during operation, and is usually assigned for life. For example, one schooner got its name "this bitch", and it fully corresponded to her extremely bastard character. Her favorite pastimes were mud baths and diving - apparently she had submarines in her family, hence the mania for lying down on the ground right next to the pier.

Many good ships that have plied the oceans since time immemorial did not pay attention to what was written on their sides and stern. The crew and captain knew that it was better not to interfere with their voyage - these ships pulled their crew out of terrible storms and managed to stay afloat regardless of the number of cannonballs that made holes in their sides. Many troughs, on the other hand, had proud and arrogant names, but at the same time floated with the same grace as a refrigerator. And a sailor who wanted to be hired on a ship, unless of course he was a fool or was not so desperate as to go anywhere, usually tried to hear how the sailors were talking about the ship.

It should be emphasized that no matter how bad the sailor feels, he will never, I emphasize, never scold his ship. He would rather blaspheme, and few people can put a sailor to shame when it comes to swearing. So, the intonation with which the sailors talk about the ship says a lot about it, and if you’re lucky, you can hear its real name. Here, by the way, there is another point that is lost in the Russian language, but which is important to know: the ship/vessel is feminine, and they are spoken of as “she”. A good ship for the captain - wife, daughter, girlfriend, goddess - choose any one.

And finally, the name of the ship that floats and does not pretend to be an iPhone is almost always short. The reason is that in those turbulent times of boarding battles, there were peculiar traditions - both the king, meaning all states, said “we,” and so did the captain, when asked “who is coming?” - he called the name of his ship, and during the battle he could yell “come to me!”, calling on everyone who could still fight to break through to it and with joint efforts throw the enemy into the sea. Now imagine that your ship is called “Admiral Ivan Ivanovich Molotoboytsev.” Yes, they will kill you before you say it, not to mention the fact that this may create confusion in the presentation.

There are ships that have gained fame for their names, and then, when a new ship is laid down, they are given the name of the one that has already retired. If you don’t remember the “Argo” paradox, this is one of the hopes of attracting good luck with the help of a name, or giving a ship the name of a glorious person. Few people know, but the Aurora was once a glorious ship of the Russian Imperial Navy, whose batteries destroyed the British in the Far East (of course, the tea-shoppers don’t like to remember this, because in that battle their marines lost their flag, and the admiral shot himself from such a shame) . And when the laying of new armored cruisers took place, one of them was named after the glorious sailing ship and - it crowned itself with even greater glory, becoming one of the symbols of the Revolution.

And while the winds will blow, beautiful ships will plow the seas, carrying glorious names like banners through the centuries.

If one day you take command of a ship, treat it like a woman. Find out about his history, watch how he walks on the waves, his weaknesses, his character, his secret name - and if you match the characters, you will understand why the Santa Clara was affectionately called "Nina", why the captains shared the fate of their ships , although they could have been saved... Well, if you don’t get along, then it’s better to change the ship, otherwise by the end of the journey only one of you will remain afloat.

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. Large 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 does not help much 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 the 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 vessels. 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 around 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 ran out; 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 from there (according to other sources, the Spaniards) 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 Voyage 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 courage 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 the “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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