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The Original Caribbean Pirates
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Published: November 16, 2006
Caribbean pirates—whose seafaring skills were lauded during times of war—became persecuted criminals once peace was established in the region during the 1700s.
Hired by governments to pillage enemy ships and steal their supplies, privateer pirates became largely unemployed with the onset of the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.
This treaty ended the War of Spanish Succession (also known as Queen Anne's War), which lasted from 1702 to 1713. During this time, French, English and Spanish troops fought for control of the Caribbean colonies, utilizing Caribbean pirates—who often were wartime soldiers—to wreak merciless havoc on opposing forces.
As piracy was no longer necessary in times of peace, these government-employed privateers turned to plundering the same countries who once commanded them. Resentment ran high; famed privateer-turned-pirate Edward Teach—also known as Blackbeard—named his ship the Queen Anne's Revenge in response to the effect the war's end had on privateers.
Once revered as heroes, pirates became outlaws. Since the newly-colonized area lacked a strong centralized government, many privateers took Teach's route and became the pirates who are recognized and romanticized in today's popular fiction.
The Golden Age of Piracy, which lasted roughly from 1690 to 1730, is an era known for unleashing the greatest outbreak of seafaring piracy in history on the coasts of the Caribbean colonies. Shipping lanes opened between Africa, Europe and the Caribbean in what was known as triangular trade. As importing to and exporting from the colonies became a booming business, the ships traversing between these routes became prime targets for pirates, particularly in areas rich with unemployed mariners.
Compounding the animosity toward these governments, seamen who worked as traders were housed in unsavory conditions. Employers drove down wages to maximize their profits to the point where employed personnel suffered a higher mortality rate than the slaves they were transporting from Africa. According to historian Marcus Rediker, many sailors willingly turned to piracy to escape these poor conditions.
For example, Bartholomew Roberts, who later became known as the pirate Black Bart, began his seafaring career in the Caribbean as a crew member aboard the slave ship Princess. Under siege by pirates, half of Princess' crew—including Roberts—became pirates themselves. Under the tutelage of pirate Howell Davis, Black Bart became apt at navigation. Black Bart took over Davis' ship after the renowned captain died.
William Fly is another pirate who once worked on a slave ship. En route from Jamaica to West Africa, Fly led a mutiny aboard the slave ship Elizabeth. Elected captain, he had the crew sign articles of allegiance, which was commonplace in storing order to the world of piracy. Sailing under the traditional skull and crossbones flag called a Jolly Roger, Fly's crew captured five ships in two months before being captured.
According to some historians, Fly's execution in 1726 marked the end of the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean. A true pirate's death, Fly scolded the hangman for doing a poor job before placing the crudely-made noose around his own neck. His last words were a reproach for captains to treat their men well and pay them fairly. As the noose dropped Fly's body, the Golden Age of Piracy was stifled along with his last breath.
Sources:
Pirates of the Caribbean. Sept. 2006. 12 Nov. 2006.
The History Channel. 2006. 12 Nov. 2006.
Golden Age of Piracy. Wikipedia. 2006. 14 Nov. 2006.
Hired by governments to pillage enemy ships and steal their supplies, privateer pirates became largely unemployed with the onset of the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.
This treaty ended the War of Spanish Succession (also known as Queen Anne's War), which lasted from 1702 to 1713. During this time, French, English and Spanish troops fought for control of the Caribbean colonies, utilizing Caribbean pirates—who often were wartime soldiers—to wreak merciless havoc on opposing forces.
As piracy was no longer necessary in times of peace, these government-employed privateers turned to plundering the same countries who once commanded them. Resentment ran high; famed privateer-turned-pirate Edward Teach—also known as Blackbeard—named his ship the Queen Anne's Revenge in response to the effect the war's end had on privateers.
Once revered as heroes, pirates became outlaws. Since the newly-colonized area lacked a strong centralized government, many privateers took Teach's route and became the pirates who are recognized and romanticized in today's popular fiction.
The Golden Age of Piracy, which lasted roughly from 1690 to 1730, is an era known for unleashing the greatest outbreak of seafaring piracy in history on the coasts of the Caribbean colonies. Shipping lanes opened between Africa, Europe and the Caribbean in what was known as triangular trade. As importing to and exporting from the colonies became a booming business, the ships traversing between these routes became prime targets for pirates, particularly in areas rich with unemployed mariners.
Compounding the animosity toward these governments, seamen who worked as traders were housed in unsavory conditions. Employers drove down wages to maximize their profits to the point where employed personnel suffered a higher mortality rate than the slaves they were transporting from Africa. According to historian Marcus Rediker, many sailors willingly turned to piracy to escape these poor conditions.
For example, Bartholomew Roberts, who later became known as the pirate Black Bart, began his seafaring career in the Caribbean as a crew member aboard the slave ship Princess. Under siege by pirates, half of Princess' crew—including Roberts—became pirates themselves. Under the tutelage of pirate Howell Davis, Black Bart became apt at navigation. Black Bart took over Davis' ship after the renowned captain died.
William Fly is another pirate who once worked on a slave ship. En route from Jamaica to West Africa, Fly led a mutiny aboard the slave ship Elizabeth. Elected captain, he had the crew sign articles of allegiance, which was commonplace in storing order to the world of piracy. Sailing under the traditional skull and crossbones flag called a Jolly Roger, Fly's crew captured five ships in two months before being captured.
According to some historians, Fly's execution in 1726 marked the end of the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean. A true pirate's death, Fly scolded the hangman for doing a poor job before placing the crudely-made noose around his own neck. His last words were a reproach for captains to treat their men well and pay them fairly. As the noose dropped Fly's body, the Golden Age of Piracy was stifled along with his last breath.
Sources:
Pirates of the Caribbean. Sept. 2006. 12 Nov. 2006.
The History Channel. 2006. 12 Nov. 2006.
Golden Age of Piracy. Wikipedia. 2006. 14 Nov. 2006.
