Historical Study: Golden Age of Piracy

Ever since I was a little kid, I've always been fascinated by the idea of pirates. They have often been portrayed as villainous mercenaries of the sea yet also celebrated for their lifestyle of adventure. Pirates have been a part of pop culture for many years now demonstrated in books, movies, television shows, songs, sports teams, and so forth. Perhaps my earliest association of the cliche portrayal of pirates must have been the Disney films, Peter Pan and Hook. I was especially partial to the story of Peter Pan since we performed the play at school when I was in 1st grade. In J.M. Barrie's classic novel, the heroic Peter Pan does battle with a gang of pirates led by the cruel Captain Hook. From then on began many other associations to the adventurous portrayal of pirates.

Pirates in Popular Culture

Another early association for me was the many sports teams that carry pirate themes. For starters the private school I went, our team name was the St. John New Haven Raiders. Also there was my love of baseball as a young boy, and I remember that cool team out of Pittsburgh with their black and yellow colors led by their superstar Barry Bonds, known as the Pirates. By the time I had gotten to fourth and fifth grade I began to enjoy the NFL, and became familiar with the Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As a young boy/teenager it just seemed cool to be a free-spirited pirate sailing the sea in search of treasure. 

I later remember in junior high reading the novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and becoming familiar with the infamous character Captain Long John Silver. I also loved seafood since I was kid (perhaps part of being Catholic) and loved our trips to the pirate-themed seafood restaurants of Red Lobster and Long John Silver. I later remember in my teenage years enjoying the Nickelodeon cartoon Spongebob Squarepants which also had major pirate elements to it's comedy.

Then of course when I was in high school Disney released perhaps one of the most iconic pirate films to date, the Pirates of the Caribbean starring Johnny Depp as the iconic Captain Jack Sparrow. The film series went on to release 4 more sequels yet none were near as good as the original. Nonetheless Disney made a fortune from the film series and revitalized the legends of pirates celebrated in classics such as Treasure Island and Peter Pan. To this day pirates are a popular theme among kids, costume parties, seafaring trips, or any other form of entertainment. However the question I would like to better understand is the history of these pirates. 

As I noted in the previous post, this recent fascination with pirates and the age of exploration is derived from the game Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag (of which I will later have a review on.). The game is set on the Caribbean Islands during the early 1700s in what is often considered as the Golden Age of Piracy. There can be no doubt that this idea of piracy goes back to the ancient days of history and was quite prevalent during the height of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. Yet the iconic portrayal of pirates as we know them today was derived from the period ranging from 1650-1730. This was an age of lawlessness in a new world that was undergoing discovery and establishment. 

History of the Golden Age

By the late 1500's the Caribbean had become a booming center of trade, attracting many Europeans (such as the Spanish, British, French, and Dutch) to seek new fortune. There was a new boom in privateering businesses, seeking former navy sailors to set sail on warships of trade, exploration, or military purposes. This privateer lifestyle offered new freedoms from the harsh discipline of the navy and many Europeans quickly sought out work as privateers. In essence these were mostly sea-mercenaries hired by the government or some major company to seek a fortune. From this new booming business came the wicked cousin of the privateer, piracy. 

The major difference between the privateer and the pirate, was that the pirate was operating without any financial backing. Unlike the privateer, still operating as an employee, the pirate was more so a freeman loyal to the captain and the ship. Also worth noting there were good pirates and bad pirates. The good ones often operated on behalf of their nation such as the English, Francis Drake . Others stole from the rich to give to the poor such as the the famous Spanish corsair, Amaro Pargo. However the bad ones took advantage of their lifestyle of lawlessness and partook in crime, pillaging, and plunder. By the early 1600s the piracy business had begun to thrive in the new world of the Caribbean, with major seaports operating out of Tortuga, Nassau, and Port Royal.  

These thriving pirates operating out of the Caribbean were also referred to as Buccaneers (to separate them from piracy elsewhere in the world). The piracy in the North Africa trade routes were referred to as Barbary pirates or Ottoman corsairs. After the Thirty Years War was finished in 1650 the Europeans (specifically the Spanish and English) re-averted much of their financial endeavors into sea trade. Spain was in the midst of a major transition, losing much of the power they had once held under King Philip. Therefore the Caribbean region became a booming center of colonial trade that was highly contested among warring nations, yet also freelance pirates. During this time the Caribbean Sea had become a melting pot of chaos, outlaw, and opportunity, similar to the Wild West, which gave way to the Golden Age of Piracy.

By the late 1600s there were nearly 2400 active pirates operating throughout the Caribbean Sea. Most of which were former sailors, criminals, slaves, privateers, or various other seafaring backgrounds. They lived a life of freewheeling, loyal to the code of their ship and to their captain. Many notorious sea captains found great success as pirates during this age such as Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, Bartholomew Roberts, and Mary Read. By the early 1700s in response to this booming problem of piracy, the European nations began establishing navy ports in the Caribbean to protect their financial interests. New laws were enacted with very harsh punishments against piracy, including executions and public hangings. By the 1720s following the post Spanish Succession period, piracy in the Caribbean had withered away. 

Famous Historical Pirates

• Barbarossa Brothers 
• Origin: Ottoman
• Years Active: 1500-1545
• Piracy: Hayreddin Barbaossa and his elder brother Oruc Reis, were notorious Ottoman corsairs during the early 1500s. They raided many European trade ships along North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. Hayreddin was later made grand admiral of the Ottoman Navy by Suleiman the Magnificent. His greatest claim to fame was the capture of Algiers in 1516 from the Spanish by which he became ruler of and later annexed the territory to the Ottoman Empire.  
• Sir Francis Drake

• Origin: English
• Years Active: 1563-1596
• Piracy: Perhaps one of the most famous British naval captain's in history, he was regarded as a privateer, an explorer, a military captain, yet also a pirate. His first claim to fame came in 1577 with his circumvention of the world in one single trip and his discovery of California. During this voyage he partook in a campaign of piracy against Spanish ships located in the South Pacific Ocean. He captured and looted treasure from these Spanish ships in the name of his English Queen Elizabeth. The Queen later rewarded Francis Drake's loyalty with a knighthood and a vice-admiral post. After his piracy and exploration campaigns Sir Francis Drake played a vital role in commanding the English navy to victory at the Spanish Armada of 1588. 
• Francis l'Olonnais
• Origin: French
• Years Active: 1660-1668
• Notable Ships:
• Piracy: Francis l'Olonnais was a French servant who later became a buccaneer based out of Tortuga and established a crew of pirates. His greatest claim to fame was his sacking of Maracaibo, Venezuela in 1666 with a fleet of 8 ships and 440 pirates. This plunder of Spanish wealth brought him great profit yet also notoriety by which he was later hunted by the Spanish Empire. Also known as the "Bane of Spain", Francis' final campaign was in Nicaragua in 1667 by which he was forced to retreat to land, and was later captured and executed by an indigenous tribe in Panama.   
• Henry Morgan

• Origin: Welsh
• Years Active: 1663-1671
• Notable Ships: Oxford
• Piracy: In the likes of Sir Francis Drake, Henry Morgan was a heroic pirate he acted on behalf of his British Empire. Throughout the late 1660s he conducted various campaigns of piracy against the Spanish fleets located in Maracaibo. Perhaps his greatest claim to fame was his sack of Panama City in 1671. In an effort to appease Spanish hostilities the British kingdom recalled and arrested Henry Morgan for his pirate campaigns. However revered by the British public as a hero, Henry Morgan was later assigned to public office, as lieutenant governor of Jamaica. He is among the most iconic pirates celebrated in various novels and films, yet most recognized for the popular Jamaican brand of rum, Captain Morgan.     
• Henry Every
• Origin: English
• Years Active: 1694-1696 
• Notable Ships: Charles II later renamed the Fancy
• Piracy: Henry Every, also referred to as Benjamin Bridgeman or Long Ben is often considered to be one of the most profitable of pirates in history. His greatest claim to fame was being able to retire with his loot, rather than be captured or executed for his crimes. His greatest plunder in 1695 was of the Mughal Empire, and their 25-ship convoy of treasure located in the Indian Ocean. Despite there being a worldwide manhunt for him, Henry Every was able to retire from piracy and live out the rest of his days in hiding. 
• William Kidd

• Origin: Scottish
• Years Active: 1695-1701
• Notable Ships: Adventure Galley, Quedagh Merchant
• Piracy: William Kidd is one of several famous pirates who transitioned from privateering to pirating. He was first commissioned to hunt pirates throughout the Indian Ocean in 1695. However after facing various mutiny threats from his crew he switched his allegiance and began piracy campaigns from the ports of Madagascar. His greatest plunder came in 1697 when he commandeered the Armenian ship Quedagh Merchant. This not only gave him a sizable profit yet also a powerful new ship. Kidd was eventually hunted and arrested in the Boston harbor. In 1701 he was tried and executed by the English courts, and his body was famously hung in a cage on the River Thames to warn others against piracy. 
• Amaro Pargo
• Origin: Spanish
• Years Active: 1712-1729
• Notable Ships: Ave Maria y Las Animas
• Piracy: Often considered the Spanish equivalent to Sir Francis Drake, Amaro Pargo was another example of a patriotic pirate acting on behalf of his country. Throughout his heyday he stole from various English and Dutch ships throughout the Atlantic and Caribbean. He was also renown for giving away much of his treasure and loot to the poor, in a rather Robin Hood style. In 1725 he was honored by the Spanish Crown as a hero of nobility.  
• Edward Teech "Blackbeard"
• Origin: English
  
• Years Active: 1716-1718
• Notable Ships: Queen Anne's Revenge
• Piracy: Often regarded as one of the most infamous and notorious pirates in history, Edward Teech was renown for his cruel and unusual tactics. He was a very intimidating figure with his black beard that he would often light with fuses. During his brief heyday he established one of the most threatening ships in the North Atlantic Ocean with 40 cannons and a crew of 300. His blockade and ransom of the port of Charleston, SC was perhaps his greatest claim to fame. Shortly after this the governor of Virginia, Alexander Spotswood organized a fleet to capture Blackbeard by which he was killed in battle in November of 1718. His terrifying appearance has become the iconic image of the fictional pirate villain. 
• John Rackham "Calico Jack"
• Origin: English
• Years Active: 1718-1720
• Notable Ships: The Kingston
• Piracy: While a rather short-lived campaign of piracy his story is most celebrated for his love affair with the female pirate Anne Bonny. His first claim to fame came in 1718 when he lead a mutiny of the infamous pirate of the Bahamas, Charles Vane. He later became captain of the Kingston and conducted various raids of piracy throughout Port Royal. During this time he fell for Anne Bonny, the wife of another sailor, and ran off with her to take part in piracy together. Calico Jack was eventually hunted, captured, and executed in Port Royal in November of 1720
• Anne Bonny

• Origin: Irish
• Years Active: 1718-1720
• Piracy: She lived as wife to a sailor located in Nassau, Bahamas which was a booming port of piracy during the time. It was there that she began a love affair with the pirate Calico Jack and later ran off with him. Since it was often considered bad luck to have a woman onboard a ship, she would disguise herself as a man. However she later became pregnant and had her baby in Cuba. She later rejoined Calico Jack's crew, until they were all captured and imprisoned in 1720. Anne managed to give birth, however there is no source pertaining to her death. 
• Mary Read
• Origin: English
• Years Active: 1718-1721
• Piracy: At an early age Mary Read was a bit of a tomboy and often dressed as a boy to get further ahead. On a voyage to the West Indies in 1718 her ship was attacked by pirates of which she decided to join. She later joined Calico Jack's crew, disguised as a man, and was secretly discovered by Anne Bonny, who was also disguised as a man onboard the ship. For this reason there is often speculation that the two shared some form of lesbian relationship, alongside Bonny's affair with captain Calico Jack. This unique love triangle is no doubt the stuff of a juicy adventure soap-opera. Nonetheless Mary Reed was also captured with Calico Jack and Anne Bonny and eventually she died in prison in 1721. 
• Bartholomew Roberts
• Origin: Welsh
  
• Years Active: 1719-1722
• Notable Ships: The Good Fortune
• Piracy: Also known as "Black Bert" Bartholomew Roberts is often regarded as the most successful pirate of the golden age of piracy, measured by the amount of vessels he captured, over 400 ships. Beginning as a privateer, Roberts later became renowned for his leadership and navigation abilities and became a captain engaged in piracy. In  July of 1719 he conducted various campaigns near Brazil and throughout the Caribbean Sea. In 1720 he plundered ships along the American Atlantic coastline, as far north Newfoundland. In 1721 he engaged in piracy along the coast of West Africa until he was hunted by a British navy officer and killed in battle near the Calabrar River of Nigeria. Bartholomew Roberts is often regarded as one of the principle sources of the pirate code.    

Books, Movies, and Shows about Pirates

• General History of the Pyrates (1724) biographical book by Captain John Charles Johnson. This biographical book by the mysterious author, is considered the main source of history and lore regarding the golden age of Piracy. This book went on to inspire the whole swashbuckling fascination with Pirates, most notably the famous novel, Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. 
• Treasure Island (1883) novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. This is no doubt the most famous novel pertaining to pirates. It tells the tale of a young boy's experience hunting for treasure with a band of mischievous pirates led by the iconic Captain Long John Silver. The book has undergone many film and tv adaptations and even influenced a popular fast food chain Lohn John Silvers. 
• Peter Pan (1904) theater play and book by J.M. Barrie. Perhaps the 2nd most iconic story recounting pirates after Treasure Island. This is a classic tale of a young girl who doesn't want to grow up and escapes to Neverland with Peter Pan. Here on this fantasy island she encounters other run-away children, fairies, mermaids, native-Americans, and villainous pirates. One of the most infamous of these pirates is Peter Pan's arch-nemesis Captain Hook. This original work by JM Barrie went on to inspire many other TV and film adaptations such as Walt Disney's animated film (1953) and live action film Captain Hook (1991). 
• Captain Blood (1934) this was one of many classic pirate films and stars the iconic outlaw Errol Flynn. It was nominated for 5 Oscars and considered among the most famous of early pirate films. 
• The Buccaneer (1938) Another classic pirate film, directed by the great Cecil B. Demille. It recounts the story of the French buccaneer Jean Lafitte, who aided the Americans in defeating the French at the Battle of New Orleans in 1812. The film was later re-made in 1958 starring Antony Quinn and Charlton Heston. 
• Treasure Island (1950) Of the many film and TV adaptations this one is often regarded as the pinnacle. The film was one of the first of many Disney pirate-themed productions and stars Robert Newton as Captain Long John Silver and Bobby Driscoll as Jim Hawkins (who later voiced Peter Pan in Disney's animated classic).  
  
• Peter Pan (1953) This animated classic produced by Walt Disney was in my opinion the best adaptation of the classic Peter Pan story. The film was a huge success, among a string of great Disney films released in the 1950s. While controversial for it's display of native Americans, the film provided quintessential pirate elements.  
• A Pirate Looks at Forty (1974) song by Jimmy Buffet. While I know there are many melodies and songs about pirates this is one of my all time favorites. It basically recounts the life of a man who looks back at his life of piracy and ponders his future. Although I'm not a huge Jimmy Buffet fan, this is hands down my favorite of his songs. Jack Johnson also has a great cover of this song with Dave Matthews. 
• Hook (1991) Yet another pirate film from Disney studios, this was a live action adaptation of the Peter Pan story. It starred Robin Williams as Peter Pan, Julia Roberts as Tinkerbell, and Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook. I honestly wasn't too impressed with the film, however it is still worth mentioning here as it was nominated for 5 Oscars. 
• Spongebob Squarepants (1999-present) This was one of my favorite cartoons during my high school years, that pertains to fish living under the sea. While the main characters (Spongebob, Patrick, and Squidward) are not affiliated with piracy, the comedic show is loaded with pirate references, such as Patchy the Pirate. 
• Pirates of the Caribbean Series (2003-2017) Disney has reinvigorated the pirate genre with it's major blockbuster franchise in recent days. It is a complete original production, pertaining to the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow (played brilliantly by Johnny Depp) on board his Black Pearl. I loved the first film, however have not cared much for the following 4 sequels. It's my understanding that the franchise is not finished and further films are being considered for production. 
• Black Sails (2014-2017) I have yet to see this Starz TV series however I have heard that it is top quality drama. The TV show blends elements of fiction with historical pirates during the Golden Age of Piracy. There are 4 seasons with 38 shows and definitely a must-watch for anyone who enjoys the genre of pirates (historical and mythological).