Why We Love Pirates

1. Pirates: Diverse Rebels Seeking Freedom & Fortune

Essentially, pirates were people who rejected society and created their own little world on their ships.

Rejecting fixed status. In the 17th and 18th centuries, social status was largely determined by birth, offering limited upward mobility for most. Sailors, often from poor or middle-class backgrounds, faced harsh conditions, low pay, and strict hierarchies on merchant and naval ships. Piracy offered a radical alternative, requiring only sailing skill and bravery, with opportunities for rapid wealth accumulation and escape from societal constraints.

A multicultural community. Pirate ships were remarkably diverse, attracting seamen from various European nations, Colonial America, India, and even China. Notably, a significant number were Black sailors, both freed and escaped enslaved people, who found pirate vessels to be havens away from oppressive laws and discrimination, offering a semblance of equality and fair shares of plunder regardless of origin.

More than just criminals. While legally defined as "enemies of all mankind," many pirates didn't see themselves this way. Some were former privateers (state-sponsored raiders) who continued their trade after wartime commissions expired. Others were forced into piracy after capture or sought refuge from toxic work environments, viewing their actions as legitimate employment or necessary for survival, challenging the fluid and often politically motivated legal definitions of piracy.

2. The Golden Age: A Specific Era Fueled by Conflict & Opportunity

Pirates may have existed since the day people figured out how to make a boat float, but this time period was different because it was the first time history saw a pattern of large, organized societies made up of hefty pirate fleets.

Peak activity period. The Golden Age of Piracy, roughly spanning 1650 to 1730, marked a distinct era characterized by organized pirate fleets operating primarily in the British Atlantic colonies, particularly the Caribbean and North America. This period saw piracy and its suppression reach their peak intensity.

Three distinct rounds. Historians divide the Golden Age into three phases:

• 1650-1680: Buccaneers (English, French, Dutch Protestants) hunting game and attacking Spanish ships.
• 1690s: Indian Ocean piracy, establishing havens like Madagascar.
• 1716-1726: Post-War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714) surge, with the highest number of pirates causing a major trade crisis.

Political instability & opportunity. The constant conflict between European powers vying for control of colonies created unstable conditions ripe for piracy. Pirates exploited busy trade routes and contested territories, establishing havens like Port Royal, Jamaica (until the 1692 earthquake), and later Nassau, Bahamas, where they could operate with relative impunity amidst the geopolitical chaos.

3. Captain Kidd: The Hunt That Launched a Legend & Suppression

I dare say Captain William Kidd is responsible for pirates’ eternal fame in popular culture.

Privateer turned scapegoat. William Kidd, a Scottish sailor and successful privateer for the British East India Company, became infamous after allegedly robbing a powerful Armenian ship (mistakenly believed to be French) in 1698. This act threatened Britain's crucial trade relationship with the Indian Mughals, who demanded action.

The first international manhunt. To appease the Mughals and assert control, the British declared Kidd a pirate and launched an unprecedented, widely publicized manhunt across the Atlantic. News of the chase, fueled by the burgeoning printing industry, made Kidd an international sensation even before his capture.

Trial, execution, and myth. Kidd was eventually captured in Boston (betrayed by his former friend and financier, Lord Bellomont) and sent to London for trial. Despite his claims of innocence and lost letters of marque, he was found guilty and publicly executed in 1701. His dramatic trial and defiant death, coupled with persistent rumors of vast buried treasure (largely unfounded but popularized by Bellomont's initial claims), cemented his legendary status and ignited widespread fascination with pirates that continues today.

4. Britain's War on Pirates: Asserting Power & Control

If Britain was attacked for any reason, or even just harassed, the deliberately vague wording of this definition became very convenient.

Defining the enemy. English law defined pirates as "hostis humanis generis" (enemies of all mankind), a deliberately broad term allowing the Crown to prosecute anyone committing robbery or murder at sea, regardless of location. This legal ambiguity was a tool used to assert British authority over international waters and rivals.

The Admiralty's reach. The High Court of Admiralty, initially for defense, expanded its power significantly, establishing courts in the colonies to swiftly capture and try pirates. This was part of a larger effort to control colonial trade and behavior, often overriding local laws and customs.

Failed suppression efforts. Laws like the Navigation Acts (restricting colonial trade to British ships) and the Act for the Effectual Suppression of Piracy (offering pardons for turning in accomplices) were largely ineffective. Colonists often ignored trade restrictions and pirates were reluctant to betray each other. The British resorted to increasingly strict measures, including mass executions, to demonstrate their power and deter piracy.

5. Colonial Comrades: Why Americans Often Loved Their Pirates

Letters from the Caribbean show that many people begged officials to let jailed pirates go because they were valuable members of their communities.

Economic lifeline. British trade restrictions, like the Navigation Acts, crippled colonial economies by limiting access to goods from other European powers. Pirates became essential black-market suppliers, bringing in valuable items like French wine, Indian silks, and spices that colonists couldn't legally obtain, enriching merchants and communities.

Mutual benefit. Colonies like Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and the Carolinas became known as unofficial pirate havens. Governors and residents often turned a blind eye or actively colluded with pirates, offering safe harbor, supplies, and markets for their plunder in exchange for goods and cash, much to the frustration of British authorities.

Straining ties with the Crown. This cozy relationship with pirates allowed colonists to develop independent economic networks and defy British control, contributing to the growing tension between the colonies and the motherland. Interfering with pirate trade was seen by some colonists as an infringement on their ability to support themselves.

6. Life Under the Black Flag: Codes, Benefits, and Brutality

Fair captains, solid medical treatment, a healthy diet, health insurance, and equal pay? Who would not want to be a pirate?

Self-governance & equality. Unlike rigid merchant or naval ships, pirate vessels often operated under democratic principles. Captains were elected based on merit and could be voted out. Pirate codes (Articles) ensured fair distribution of plunder ("equal pay for equal prey"), compensation for injuries, and established rules for behavior, offering a level of fairness and representation unheard of elsewhere at sea.

Improved living conditions. Pirate ships generally had better living conditions than legitimate vessels. Less overcrowding meant less disease. Raiding allowed for a more varied and healthier diet (including fresh food and citrus to prevent scurvy) and better medical supplies. Compensation for injuries was generous, providing a safety net for disabled sailors.

Discipline and relationships. While romanticized, pirate life had strict rules enforced by the crew. Codes governed everything from gambling and fighting (often settled ashore in duels) to the treatment of women. Homosexuality was not uncommon, and some pirates formed legally recognized bonds (matelotage), possibly for financial security or companionship in a male-dominated world.

7. Public Executions: State Spectacle Meets Popular Fascination

Public executions were not just punishments, though; they were ceremonies intended to return the injured party (in this case, the king) to its dignity.

Demonstrating state power. Public executions, particularly of pirates at London's Execution Dock or colonial sites like Boston and Jamaica, were elaborate spectacles designed to assert the Crown's authority and deter crime. The ritual, often performed at low tide for pirates, symbolized the state's reach over the seas and its power over its subjects.

A form of entertainment. Thousands flocked to witness these events, which became theatrical performances. The condemned were paraded, forced to give "last dying speeches" (often moralized or embellished by religious figures like the Ordinary of Newgate or Cotton Mather), and subjected to agonizing deaths by hanging, sometimes followed by gibbeting as a prolonged warning.

Fueling fascination. Despite the state's intent to horrify and deter, these spectacles often had the opposite effect. Pirates' defiance, dramatic confessions (real or fabricated), and the sheer spectacle fueled public curiosity and sympathy. The events were reported in detail by the press, turning condemned pirates into celebrities and their deaths into memorable, often sensationalized, narratives.

8. The Printing Press: Spreading Pirate Fame & Shaping Narratives

Newspapers and pamphlets were great at spreading news and glorified rumors, but there was one language that transcended these more than any other: the ballad.

Literary sensation. The early modern printing industry played a crucial role in immortalizing pirates. Captain Charles Johnson's "A General History of the Pyrates" (1724), a collection of pirate biographies (including Kidd, Blackbeard, Bonny, and Read), became an instant bestseller, drawing on trial transcripts, reports, and likely, imagination.

News and propaganda. Newspapers and cheap pamphlets disseminated news of pirate attacks, manhunts (like Kidd's), trials, and executions across the Atlantic. While often used by authorities to portray pirates as brutal villains (sometimes with gruesome, embellished details like forced cannibalism), these publications also satisfied public hunger for exciting, illicit stories.

Ballads and folklore. Beyond formal publications, popular ballads told tales of pirate exploits, often portraying them as sympathetic rebels or tragic figures. These songs, easily remembered and spread, contributed significantly to the romanticization of pirates, blending fact and fiction and ensuring their stories reached a wide audience.

9. Challenging Norms: Pirates as Symbols of Rebellion

Pirates were seen as agents of social change through their rejection of their country and popular norms.

Defiance of politeness. As "polite society" emerged, emphasizing refined manners, moral conduct, and social conformity, pirates stood in stark contrast. Their open swearing, drunkenness, and disregard for authority were seen as scandalous, yet also fascinating to a populace constrained by rigid social rules.

Robin Hood figures. Despite official condemnation, many people, particularly those from working classes or in the colonies facing economic hardship, saw pirates as rebels fighting a corrupt system. By stealing from wealthy merchants and bringing valuable goods into communities, pirates were sometimes viewed as modern-day Robin Hoods, challenging the established order and offering a different path to prosperity.

Subverting gender and sexuality. Figures like Anne Bonny and Mary Read, who defied traditional female roles by dressing as men and fighting fiercely, became symbols of female agency and rebellion. The documented instances of matelotage and other non-normative relationships on pirate ships also challenged societal norms around sexuality, adding another layer to their anti-establishment image.

10. Beyond History: Pirates as Enduring Cultural Icons

No historical “villain” or “hero” has had such a lasting impact on culture as real-life pirates.

From history to legend. Building on early publications like Johnson's "General History," later authors like Edgar Allen Poe ("The Gold Bug") and, most significantly, Robert Louis Stevenson ("Treasure Island") transformed historical pirates into enduring cultural archetypes. Stevenson's novel, in particular, created many of the iconic pirate tropes we recognize today: peg legs, eye patches, parrots, buried treasure maps, and walking the plank.

Mainstream entertainment. This literary legacy fueled adaptations across various media. "Treasure Island" and J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan" (featuring Captain Hook) became popular stage plays and films. Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride and subsequent film franchise further cemented these images, blending historical figures with fantastical elements and introducing new generations to pirate lore.

Modern interpretations. The pirate image continues to evolve in popular culture, from video games like "Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag" (attempting historical accuracy) to music genres like pirate metal and widespread events like International Talk Like A Pirate Day. These modern portrayations often emphasize themes of freedom, rebellion, and adventure, reflecting the enduring appeal of the pirate myth.

11. The Legacy Lives On: From Fiction to Modern Piracy

Piracy continues to flourish today.

The end of the Golden Age. By the late 1720s, increased naval patrols, mass executions, and the re-employment of skilled sailors in new wars (like the War of Jenkins' Ear in 1739) effectively ended the era of large, organized pirate fleets in the Atlantic. The infamous captains were dead, and the havens were suppressed.

Enduring allure. Despite the historical decline, the romanticized image of the Golden Age pirate persisted through literature and popular culture. The tales of adventure, wealth, and rebellion resonated with audiences, ensuring that figures like Kidd, Blackbeard, and Bonny remained cultural touchstones long after their historical reality faded.

Modern manifestations. Piracy, driven by similar factors of economic hardship, political instability, and opportunity, continues in various forms today, notably off the coast of West Africa. While vastly different from the Golden Age, these modern pirates, too, are often products of challenging circumstances, reminding us that the complex motivations behind maritime raiding are not confined to history books or fictional tales.

Last updated: June 1, 2025