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Pirate’s pistols

Deadly Firearms of the Pirate Golden Age (Video)

During the Golden Age of piracy , firearms played a crucial role in pirate warfare, offering versatility in ship and land combat. While swords like the cutlass and cannons are often associated with...
The Pope, the Pirates, and the Dead Bishop’s Stolen Bounty (Video)

The Pope, the Pirates, and the Dead Bishop’s Stolen Bounty (Video)

In the early 14th century, a remarkable tale unfolded involving Thébaud de Castillon , a bishop whose wealth and dealings would eventually draw the attention of a pope and a band of pirates. Thébaud...
A sea fight with the Barbary corsairs.

Barbary Corsairs, the Infamous Seaborne Plunderers

In ancient times, life on the open seas and the coasts was far from peaceful as it is today. For all the open waters were ripe for plunder - by pirates thirsty for loot. One of these pirate groups of...
7 Crazy Unbelievable Attacks Made By Pirates (Video)

7 Crazy & Unbelievable Attacks Made By Pirates (Video)

Pirates were often unofficially sponsored by governments, leading to various terms like "corsair," "buccaneer," and "privateer." However, these terms are not synonymous with "pirate," which refers to...
In situ artifacts from Algiers shipwreck, on top of wooden hull elements in the stern of the Barbary Corsair wreck.

Wreck-Hunters Uncover A ‘Great Maritime Horror’ in the Mediterranean

Wreck-hunters have struck gold, or rather, a pirate ship, deep in the Mediterranean waters between Spain and Morocco! The remains of a 17th-century Barbary corsair have been uncovered, and it's...
Captain Keitt: illustration of a pirate captain on deck. 	Source: 	Public Domain

A Glimpse into the Life as a Pirate Captain (Video)

The transition to Pirate Captain often stemmed from a background in privateering or ownership of a ship. Wealthy backers would commission vessels, appointing experienced leaders like Henry Jennings...
Caesar captured by pirates, turns around and gives them imperious commands. Source: Public Domain

The Day Julius Caesar Was Kidnapped By Pirates In 75 BC (Video)

The Day Julius Caesar Was Kidnapped By Pirates In 75 BC (Video) In 75 BC, Julius Caesar , renowned for his future military and political prowess, found himself in an unexpected predicament when he...
Image of an ancient pope.

John XXIII: How A Pirate Became A Pope (Video)

In the tumultuous era of the Western Schism , an unexpected figure emerged from the shadows to claim the highest seat in the Catholic Church. Baldassare Cossa, whose reputation was marred by tales of...
Female Captain Pirate, representing Grace O’Malley, screams to attack.

Grace O’Malley: The Most Fearless Female Pirate You've Yet to Discover (Video)

Grace O'Malley , known as the Pirate Queen of Ireland, led a life filled with daring exploits in the mid-1500s. Born into a relatively privileged family in County Mayo, she developed a passion for...
William Dampier portrait, holding his book Source:  Public Domain

The Pirate Who Became the First Natural Scientist - and Loved Coconuts (Video)

William Dampier, a pirate with a penchant for coconuts, led a life that epitomized the duality of adventure and exploration. Born in 1651, his early years were marked by a desire for knowledge,...
Pirate Henry Avery looking into the ocean at a pirate ship. Source: Dieter Holstein/Adobe Stock

Legacy of the Fancy: Henry Every's Iconic Flagship Powerhouse (Video)

The Fancy, Henry Every's formidable 46-gun flagship, stood as a symbol of pirate prowess during the era. Leading a formidable armada, it struck fear into the hearts of adversaries. Every, an English...
Ann Bonny and Mary Read convicted of Piracy November 28th, 1720, in a court of Vice Admiralty held at St. Jago de Vega in ye island of Jamaica. Source: Public Domain

The Exploits of Eight Notorious Pirates (Video)

The exploits of eight infamous pirates from the Golden Age of Piracy have captivated generations. William Kidd , a Scottish privateer turned pirate, met his end on the gallows amid speculation about...
Letter of marque given to Captain Antoine Bollo via the shipowner Dominique Malina from Genoa, owner of the Furet, a 15-tonne privateer, 27 February 1809. (Right) Drake viewing treasure taken from a Spanish ship, print courtesy New York Public Library. Source: Public Domain; New York Public Library/CC BY 3.0

The Enigmatic Letter of Marque: Legal Piracy Revealed (Video)

Privateering , often glamorized in tales of the high seas, was far more complex than popular narratives suggest. At its heart lay the elusive "Letter of Marque," a document laden with opportunity and...
AI image of a king pirate. Source: Fotokvadrat / Abode Stock.

How Henry Every Stole $200M, Got Away and Became a Superstar (Video)

On April Fool's Day in 1696, amidst the turmoil of the England-France conflict, Governor Nicholas Trott of the Island of Providence faced a grave predicament. Abandoned by the navy and plagued by...
A colorized engraving from 1724 of Bartholomew Roberts (aka Black Bart Roberts), the notorious Welsh pirate. Source: Benjamin Cole/CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

The Difference between Pirates and Privateers (Video)

In the realm of maritime warfare , understanding the disparity between a Pirate and a Privateer was crucial. While both engaged in seizing ships at sea, their legal standing set them apart...
An Arab Slave ship in the Red Sea.	Source: Public Domain

Pirates of the Indian Ocean: The Red Sea Men (Video)

​ The saga of the Red Sea Men, pirates who ventured far beyond the Caribbean , unfolds as a tale of maritime adventure driven by the pursuit of riches and shifting geopolitics. Europe's thirst for...
Image representing pirate in suit with gun and saber sitting on barrel. Source: Fotokvadrat/Adobe Stock

What the Media Gets Right About Pirates (Video)

Within the realm of pirate lore depicted in media, there exists a delicate balance between fiction and historical accuracy. Notably, Howard Pyle's evocative paintings stand as vivid portrayals of the...
An illustration of William Captain Kidd relaxing on the deck. Source: Public Domain

Bizarre Pirate Traditions Most People Don't Know About (Video)

Pirate culture , often portrayed as a romanticized tale of swashbuckling adventure, actually harbored numerous peculiar traditions. These customs, largely overlooked in popular depictions, reveal a...
Artist's impression of Teuta, Queen of the Illyrian Ardiaei tribe, leads a pirate expedition against Rome. According to Illyrian laws, piracy was a legitimate trade, which led to war against the Roman Republic, who did not approve. Source: © The Creative Assembly / SEGA from Total War.

Piracy in the Ancient Mediterranean and the Notorious Cilicians

Piracy (in its maritime context) is thought to have existed ever since the seas were used by merchants as trade routes. The Mediterranean Sea was no exception, and piracy has been notorious in this...
An engraving from 1724 of Bartholomew Roberts (aka Black Bart Roberts), the notorious Welsh pirate (1682-1722). Source: Benjamin Cole/CC BY-SA 4.0

Bartholomew Roberts- The Pirate That Hated Literally Everyone (Video)

In the tumultuous era of 1722, the notorious pirate Bartholomew Roberts carved a path of chaos and vengeance across the high seas. His ruthless demeanor, revealed in the wake of Captain Howell Davis'...
Pirate crew members diligently swab the deck, maintaining the condition of their ship while sailing across the ocean. Source: Davivd/Adobe Stock

The Five Worst Jobs on a Pirate Ship... (Video)

Life on a pirate ship was fraught with peril, particularly for those assigned to the five most dreaded roles: topmen, forced men, swabbers, liars, and shipboard musicians. Topmen, the nimble climbers...
Records on the shelves of one of the Archives' storage areas, known as the Scaffali in Ferro, which contains 13 kilometers of shelving over two floors. Source: Vatican Apostolic Archives

The Extraordinary Tale of a Pope, a Pirate, and a Dead Bishop’s Treasure

Documents published from the Vatican archives in 2014 revealed an incredible tale of pirate attacks and corruption involving a 14th century bishop, whose lifelong accumulation of treasure was...
Portrait of medieval bearded pirate holding sword and gun.  Source: Oulaphone/Adobe Stock

The Horrifying Torture Methods Used By Pirates… (Video)

In the grim era of the 1600s, humanity bore witness to a dark chapter marked by massacres, persecution, and cruelty. The so-called Golden Age of Piracy unfolded amid this brutality, with pirates...
Port Royal underwater archaeological site.  Source: Wonderous World

Port Royal Unveiled: Sunken Secrets of a Pirate Paradise

Seventeenth century life in Port Royal, Jamaica, commonly referred to as “the wickedest city on Earth,” conjures up images of marauding pirates, treasure hunters, naval conquests, looting and the...

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