The 10 Bloodiest Pirates In History
We tell you the most curious facts about the bloodthirsty pirates in history.
Many pirates have existed throughout history, but not all have been equally bloodthirsty.
They were bandits, thieves, ruthless, violent and well-known.
These men and women became part of history, although the reasons were not always good.
Their importance was so great that even Disney used them as characters for their movies.
Blackbeard became the most feared pirate in the Caribbean, and his legend is part of popular folklore.
#1 Zhèng Shi
Zhèng Shi was a well-known Chinese pirate who, in the 19th century, commanded one of the largest fleets in history, with 2,000 ships and 70,000 sailors.
All sailors had to comply with stringent rules, and disobeying her orders was considered a crime punishable by death.
He engaged in piracy both at sea and on the rivers, and during his career, he razed dozens of villages to the ground.
There are two versions of how his life ended:
One says he struck a deal with the Chinese government and ran an opium smuggling company and Asia’s most significant gambling house and brothel.
The other version claims that Zhèng Shi married a provincial governor.
#2 Edward Teach
Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, was a pirate who acted in the West Indies and the North American east coast in the early 18th century.
His best-known attack is the one he carried out in May 1718 in Charleston (South Carolina) with his ship “Queen Anne’s Revenge” and other ships of his fleet.
Although little is known about his beginnings, everything suggests that Blackbeard started as a privateer and became a pirate.
During his career, he earned the nickname “The Great Devil” and became the terror of the seas.
In a duel between Lieutenant Maynard and Blackbeard, the latter died due to five bullets.
Maynard then ordered the pirate’s head cut off and displayed it for several weeks on his ship.
#3 Stede Bonnet
Stede Bonnet, also known as “The Gentleman Pirate”, was a pirate of the early 18th century.
He sailed the seas of the U.S. Thirteen Colonies with his schooner, “The Revenge”, and his crew.
On one occasion, in an attempt to get medicine urgently, he attacked a random English warship.
A fight to the death in which Stede Bonnet lost almost half of his crew.
Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet attacked the “Concorde”, a French ship, and finally, the crew surrendered to the pirates.
Finally, “The Gentleman Pirate” was captured and hanged for piracy in 1718.
#4 Francis Drake
Born in 1541, this Englishman was considered an honourable pirate in the United Kingdom (in fact, he was named knight by Queen Elizabeth I) and a despicable pirate in Spain.
Drake was the second person to sail the world.
In addition to being an explorer and politician, he was a merchant who participated in one of the United Kingdom’s favourite enterprises: the African slave trade.
#5 William Kidd
It is assumed that he may have acted under a pirate’s patent issued by William III of England, but in any case, he was accused and tried for piracy.
He was arrested in 1699 and accused of having committed acts of piracy.
He was found guilty and sent to the gallows, but it is seen that the captain was not a very lucky man, for the rope broke the first time, so he was hanged a second time.
#6 Edward England
His real name is Edward Seegar, and he began his pirate career when the ship he had enlisted on was invaded.
After gaining the trust of the attackers, he learned the trade until he became independent and was in command of his fleet.
He is the inventor of the Jolly Roger, the black flag with the image of a skull and crossbones, a symbol often associated with piracy.
#7 Mary Read
She lived her whole life dressed as a man, as her mother had to pass her off as her recently deceased son.
Then, still in disguise, she joined the ship’s crew and the army.
Then she enlisted again on a ship that pirates invaded under Jack Rackham and his wife Anne Bonny, with whom she maintained a friendship, although some believe it may have been a certain romance.
#8 Edward Low
He was born in 1690 and was active in the Azores, the Caribbean coasts and New England during the last years of the Golden Age of Piracy (1650–1730).
With his fleet of 3 or 4 ships, Captain Low raided about 100 vessels and was known for his tendency to torture his prisoners.
#9 Howell Davis
He was introduced to piracy when Edward Low raided the ship where he was working.
Eleven months later, he was captured but had already attacked 15 ships.
#10 Black Caesar
According to legend, this man was an African warrior captured by a slave ship.
On its way to Florida, the ship went through a hurricane from which only a few people were saved, including Caesar, because they escaped in a boat.
They stayed in the Florida Keys for years, cheating other sailors and amassing a fortune until they got a good fleet.
Then the captain joined Blackbeard and was finally captured, tried for piracy and hanged.
Sources:
https://gatocurioso.es
https://www.univision.com
https://www.clarin.com
Thanks for reading!
Rocio Becerra