Pirate's Blog Post

The main book this history blog post is going to be about is “Enemies of All, the Rise and Fall of the Golden Age of Piracy”, written by Richard Blakemore. Richard Blakemore is a good writer and adds to my knowledge base including information like; the golden age of pirates 1670-1720 is sometimes 1710-1720 or even 1650-1750, it is not a specific period of time but always includes 1710-1720. Pirates were a moderate piece of history at one point and continue to be relevant even today.

Pirates like Edward Teach ruled the seas; they were mainly important between 1670-1720. The Golden Age of Pirates was specifically between 1710-1720 but also includes other periods between 1650-1750. Pirates were around in the 15^th century AD, but they became more relevant and powerful during the Spanish gold armadas. Pirates like Edward Teach were eventually killed; but they grabbed large amounts of booty and also created their own Pirate kingdom in the Caribbean. Pirates feasted on the Spanish armada, were led by Edward Teach and also mainly existed between 1710-1720. Pirates were particularly important in the early 17^th century; even controlling entire islands, however their reign ended in the 1730’s.

Pirates started out as English Privateers and captured Spanish ships. Pirates came into existence to capture the Spanish gold fleets returning home to Spain. Pirates were based in the Caribbean, particularly concentrated on the island of Tonga/ the Hispaniola hideaway.[1] Pirates were often former marine merchants, naval sailors, or fishermen.[2] Pirates started with the British privateers that were paid to capture and sink the Spanishes’ gold armadas. The New World was originally discovered by accident; the European explorers were trying to find an easier way to get silk to Europe. The Spanish Gold Armadas were filled with New World gold, mainly coming from South America. The Spanish armada’ was a prime target for British Privateers. British Privateers were paid to capture or sink Spanish ships. They also were paid to attack Spanish Forts; they even were paid specifically for throwing a grenade into a Spanish fort.[3] Edward Teach came into power after the Spanish Armada was extremely strong.

The most well known and leading pirate was named Edward Teach. Edward Teach was a pirate that commanded a large main ship; one that could compete with any European heavy ship. Edward Teach lead a navy of over 500 men and over 5,000 people in his colony. He was based in his Hispaniola hideaway. Edward Teach was hanged in Britain after he was caught. Edward Teach was the leading pirate throughout history; other notables include Blackbeard.

Pirates had one main base; but they also had a few other hideouts. Pirates were concentrated on the island of Tonga and also in makeshift bases throughout the Caribbean.[4] The island of Hispaniola was considered the main “hideaway” that pirates stayed at. One of the pirates residing in Hispaniola in 1580 was called Drake and he sold his booty to the Spanish queen; it was worth 180-190 million dollars of today’s money.[5] This is a massive fortune which could fund thousands of soldiers for years. Hispaniola was the 15^th and 16^th century pirate base. The pirate base in the 17^th and 18^th century was called Tonga.

Renaissance Era pirates were a moderate contributor to European wars, wealth and loss. 16^th century pirates were in the middle of a gold boom; they also brought some of that wealth to European governments. Earlier aged pirates typically stayed away in Hispaniola or makeshift bases. Later in the 17^th and 18^th century they stayed in Tonga, the largest pirate base and a center of a pirate kingdom. Renaissance Era pirates took from European governments and also sold goods/exchanged with European governments.  

This article is not finished Pirate Alley was not read before this article was written, I will come back once I have read Pirate Alley and finished Enemies of All and add to this article.

Chicago Bibliography

Woodard, Colin. The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2008.

McKnight, Terence E., and Michael Hirsh. Pirate Alley: Commanding Task Force 151 Off Somalia. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2012.

Richard Blakemore, Enemies of All: The Rise and Fall of the Golden Age of Piracy (New York: Pegasus Books, 2024).

[1] Colin Woodard, The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2008). 145.

[2] Richard Blakemore, Enemies of All: The Rise and Fall of the Golden Age of Piracy (New York: Pegasus Books, 2024). 67.

[3] Ibid 67.

[4] Ibid 12.

[5] Ibid 15.