Pirate has been spelt Pyrate, Pirate, Pyrat, or Pirat. It seems spelling has been a bit hit and miss through the ages. However it’s spelt, the word ‘Piracy’ roughly means any theft or violent action for your own gain without authorisation from a recognised sovereign nation. In the days of fighting for profit a Letter of Marque and Reprisal was a government license sanctioning the use of force to attack and capture enemy vessels. If you decided to operate without one, you were indeed a pirate and out for your own ends. The afore mentioned was an honourable occupation and the after, well, it was universally reviled.
The glory days of pirating were during the Elizabethan wars with Spain in the late 16th Century. Why? Treasure laden Spanish galleons, that’s why. There’s not a decent pirate around who couldn’t smell the sweet scent of gold and precious jewels and not raise their sails to the occasion.
The most famous Pirates of the Caribbean were:
Blackbeard
His real name was a not so scary Edward Teach, but that’s where the not so scary ends. If you were to meet him he was always armed to the teeth, with three braces of cocked and primed pistols, a couple of daggers and if all else failed a trusty cutlass. He was said to have been married approximately 14 times. At the height of his ‘career’ he was in command of around four ships and over 300 men. Lieutenant Maynard was sent by Virginia Governor Spottswood in November 1718 to deal with the pirate. The blow dealt was fatal. When Blackbeard’s body was found it contained more than 25 wounds and 5 of those were gunshot wounds. His severed head served to decorate Maynard’s bowsprit for his journey home.
Famous Pirates
- Interesting Facts and information about Famous Pirates in the Golden Age of Pirates Age
- Blackbeard, Calico Jack, Anne Bonny and Henry Morgan
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