Do you think a pirate is a vicious one-eyed robber with a beard? And here you are wrong. You don't have to be a man to be a pirate.
Of course, it is difficult to imagine a representative of the fair sex, whose little fingers squeeze a boarding ax instead of a fan or a ladle, but, nevertheless, the history of piracy has preserved many names of charming women who robbed on the seas no worse than men.
10.Saida Al Hurrah
Saida Al-Hurrah was born in about 1485 to a prominent Muslim family in the Kingdom of Granada. Forced to flee after being captured by Christian Spain, Saida's parents settled in Chaoen, Morocco.
After the death of her husband, Saida became queen of Tetouan, thanks to which she later married the King of Morocco, Ahmed al-Wattasi. And although Saida was incredibly wealthy, her anger at the Christians who forced her to leave her home sometime prompted her to take up piracy.
The hijacking of Christian ships helped fulfill her dream of returning home for at least one day. Ultimately, the Queen of the Mediterranean, in the eyes of Christians, became the main intermediary for the Portuguese and Spanish governments when they tried to free the captives held by the pirates. In 1542, a woman was dethroned by her stepson. Nothing is known about her further fate.
9. Pirate Queen Teuta of Illyria
This amazing woman took the risk of taking over Rome, while many of the men could not even think about it. After the death of her consort, King Ardie, Teuta inherited the kingdom of Ardiein in 231 BC. Trying to cope with the aggression of neighboring states, she supported the pirate population of her kingdom.
With her support, the Illyrians captured the cities of Phoenis and Dyrrachium. Expanding their territories, its pirates attacked the merchant ships of Greece and Rome. The result was a war between Rome and Illyria in 229 BC, in which the pirate queen was defeated.
8. Anne Bonnie
Ann Bonnie (or Annie) was an Irish pirate born between 1697-1700. After his mother died, Anne's father made a small fortune through trade. However, Bonnie was not an angelic child - after a stabbing with a servant and marriage to a petty pirate, James Bonnie, her father abandoned her. The girl moved to New Providence in the Bahamas, where she met Jack Rackham, the captain of the pirate ship Revenge, and became his mistress.
This was followed by a divorce from James and a wedding to Jack, and ... piracy ... Anne helped to form a new team and capture a large number of ships, many of which were carrying tea. It all ended with the Governor of Jamaica commissioning Captain Jonathan Barnett to deal with Bonnie and Rackham. Since most of their crew were drunk at the time, their ship was hijacked. Rackham was executed, and Bonnie disappeared - perhaps her father paid the ransom.
7. Jean de Clisson
A girl who lived in Brittany in the 1300s married Olivier III de Clisson, a wealthy nobleman who was supposed to defend the peninsula against English challengers. However, he went over to the side of the British. Captured in 1343, Olivier was sent to Paris and executed by order of King Philip VI. In anger, Jean vowed revenge on the king.
She sold her land to wealthy nobles and bought 3 warships. The ships were painted black, the sails red. The woman killed the crew of the captured ships, leaving only a few sailors alive to tell the King that "The Lioness of Brittany will strike again." But even after Philip's death, she continued to attack French ships and did so until she left for England - the only place where people loved the French about as much as she did.
Chin Shi is a Chinese sea robber who is known as one of the luckiest female pirates in history. This short, fragile girl, leading the battle, held a fan in her hand instead of a saber. She was a contemporary of Napoleon and Admiral Nelson, but they never heard of her in Europe. But in the Far East and in the vastness of the South China seas, everyone knew her name - both the poor and the rich. She went down in history under the name of "Ms. Qing", the uncrowned queen of Chinese pirates of the late 18th - early 19th centuries. She commanded a fleet of 2,000 ships and had over 70,000 sailors under her command.
5. Anne Diou-Le-Veut
The perpetrator, exiled from France to Tortuga sometime between 1665 and 1675, married the pirate Pierre Langt. In 1683, her husband was killed by another pirate - Lorenzo de Graaf - during a fight in a bar. After the incident, the girl challenged Lorenzo and took out a weapon. The pirate refused to fight the woman, but, impressed by Anne's dark side, proposed to her. Ann, apparently forgetting that she had just wanted to kill this man, accepted him. Together they began sailing like pirates, hijacking ships and even raiding Jamaica in 1693. A subsequent raid on Tortuga resulted in the capture of Anne and her two daughters. They were reunited with Lorenzo a few years later. Their further fate is unknown.
4. Grace O "Malley
An unusually courageous, but at the same time insensitive and cruel woman came from the old Irish family O "Meli, known to many corsairs and pirates. Grace's father was the chief of the seafaring Clan O" Mail, left untouched by the British.
Oh "Malley took over his role in collecting taxes from fishermen on their territory. But the method of" collecting taxes "was not very common - they demanded cash or cargo from ships for safe passage. Refusal was tantamount to death. Grace also attacked fortresses Irish and Scottish nobles Some say she even abducted children of Anglo-Irish descent.
3. Lady Elizabeth Killigrew
Elizabeth, born in about 1525, became Lady Killigrew when she married Sir John Killigrew of Arvenac, Cornwall. In the 1540s, when Pendennis Castle was built on her husband's land by King Henry VIII, Killigrew gained control of shipping in the area. They began to use this position to hunt down the cargoes of ships entering the area under their control, fortifying Arwenac Castle. After the death of her husband, Elizabeth assumed full control of the pirates. When she learned that the Spanish ship Mafri of San Sebastian had taken refuge in Falmouth Harbor, the woman organized an attack on the ship, capturing him and her cargo. After she was caught, Killigrew was pardoned and forgiven by Queen Elizabeth.
2. Christina Anna Skitt
The daughter of Baron Jacob Skitt from Duderhof (Sweden) with her fiancé Gustaf Drake became partners in "business" - her brother, obviously not happy with great wealth, led a double life as a pirate, robbing ships in the Baltic Sea. After killing one of the conspirators who tried to leave, Christina proved she was not a passive partner. In 1663, they attacked a Dutch merchant ship, killing the crew and stealing the cargo. This attack led to the capture of Gustaf, and Christina was forced to flee.
1. Jacotte Delachae
The death of his father and mother, as well as the damage to his brother's brain, received at birth, forced the red-haired beauty Jacot to turn to piracy in the Caribbean - it was necessary to somehow take care of her brother. In the 1660s, the girl faked her own death to avoid a government hunt. After several years of peaceful life, she returned to piracy and is widely believed to have teamed up with Anne Diu-Le-Vuet.
A little more than 100 years have passed since women first seriously declared their equality with men: the desire to do men's work, wear pants, smoke and get married, when they themselves want it. Until the middle of the 18th century, there was no talk of equality. Housekeeper, maid, secretary, saleswoman and governess - this is a small list of professions in which women could be involved.
The exception, perhaps, was the ladies of the Wild West, and even then only because the living conditions could not stand the ceremony. The rest of the fairer sex led the life that was imposed on them by men. But not all of them willingly put up with the fate prepared for them.
The girl became a pirate
In the history of navigation and navigation, there are legends that women, dressed in men's dress, went to sea and even became captains of pirate ships.
The legend about Alvilde - a girl from Scandinavia, who opposed the will of her family, who prophesied her a profitable marriage. She went to sea, where she became a pirate. Alvilda, who lived more than a thousand years ago, is considered the first girl who ventured on a sea voyage. She endured all the hardships of the journey together with the men, for which she was elevated to the rank of ship captain.
Famous female pirates
Several centuries later, the Frenchwoman repeated the feat of the Scandinavian and went to sea as the commander of a squadron of three ships. The reason for such a decisive step was the execution by the French king of her husband, who was a supporter of one of the pretenders to the throne. Disappointed and heartbroken, the woman, instead of mourning her husband and moving on, went with her two children to England.
Frenchwoman Jeanne de Belleville
There, having got on an appointment with the monarch, she asked him for permission to stand at the head of a squadron of corsair ships that fought the French. Since the action took place during the Hundred Years War, the English king did not refuse the request and indeed appointed the woman as the captain of the squadron. Joan has fulfilled her obligation to the king. She not only avenged her husband's death with interest, but also became a real threat to any ship that tried to sail into the English Channel under the French flag.
Pirate women nicknames
Three centuries ago, at the end of the 17th century, another woman deserved the fame of a bloodthirsty pirate - Mary Reed, better known as Bloody Mary... At the age of 15, this girl fled as a sailor to a warship. From there she got into an infantry regiment, and only after becoming a dragoon was she forced to reveal her gender, falling in love and marrying her comrade. The marriage, which did not last long, ended with the death of a spouse in one of the skirmishes.
Mary, however, did not despair, but remembered her love for the sea and set off on a journey on a privateer ship. Soon Mary's ship was in the hands of pirates, led by another woman named Anne Bonnie, just as young and brave. The pirates, oddly enough, found a common language and began to swim together. Despite the fact that they were female, their cruelty knew no bounds. Even the most notorious villains freeze at the mention of names Mary Reid and Anne Bonnie... But fate, so cruel to many pirates, did not escape these women. Mary died in childbirth, and nothing is known about Ann. Most likely, she shared the fate of her crew, hanged for piracy.
Mary Reed and Anne Bonnie It should be noted that, despite the above, the likelihood of including a woman in the pirate ship was low. Moreover, the disclosure of her real gender. The well-known prejudices about the presence of a woman on a ship were common among sailors, regardless of the legality of their activities.
Nowadays, the situation has changed dramatically and the crews of many ships in the world also include women. They serve not only in the surface, but also in the submarine fleet, performing their duties in no way worse than men.
It is believed that piracy is the privilege of tough men. There are many tales of the weathered lords of the seas, ships with a black flag flying over them, and treasures hidden on uninhabited islands. But it turns out there were female pirates too! With their audacity, they often surpassed the famous male corsairs and participated in the most incredible pirate adventures.
Scandinavian princess
One of the first pirates is considered Alvilda, plundered in the waters of Scandinavia during the early Middle Ages. Her name is often found in popular books on the history of piracy. According to legend, this medieval princess, daughter of a Gothic king (or a king from the island of Gotland), decided to become a "sea Amazon" in order to avoid the imposed marriage with Alf, the son of a powerful Danish king.
Embarking on a pirate voyage with a crew of young women dressed in men's dress, she became the number one "star" among sea robbers. Since Alvilda's dashing raids posed a serious threat to merchant shipping and the inhabitants of the coastal regions of Denmark, Prince Alf himself set off in pursuit of her unaware that the object of his pursuit was the longed-for Alvilda. Having killed most of the sea robbers, he entered into a duel with their leader and forced him to surrender. How surprised the Danish prince was when the pirate leader took off his helmet and appeared before him in the guise of a young beauty, whom he dreamed of marrying! Alvilda appreciated the persistence of the heir to the Danish crown and his ability to swing a sword. The wedding was played right there, aboard a pirate ship. The prince swore to the princess to love her to the grave, and she solemnly promised him never to go to sea without him again. Is the story told true? Researchers have discovered that for the first time the legend of Alvilda was told to readers by the monk Saxon Grammaticus (1140 - c. 1208) in his famous work "Acts of the Danes". He got it either from the ancient Scandinavian sagas or from the myths of the Amazons.
Breton noblewoman Jeanne de Belleville
Refuting the well-known thesis that women have no place on a ship, pirates were a real thunderstorm of the seas. Jeanne de Belleville was born in Brittany in about 1315. During the Hundred Years War (1337-1453), she became a widow and decided to take revenge on the French king Philip VI, who executed her husband. Together with her two sons, the pirate went to England and soon won an audience with King Edward. Perhaps thanks to her beauty, the woman managed to get three high-speed ships from the monarch for corsair operations against France. However, it is possible that she had the gift of persuasion. Jeanne commanded one ship herself, others - her sons. The small squadron, dubbed the "Retribution Fleet in the English Channel," became a real scourge of God in French coastal waters. For several years the squadron plundered French merchant ships, often even attacked warships. Jeanne took part in battles, excellently wielded both a saber and a boarding ax. As a rule, she ordered the command of the captured ship to be completely destroyed. Not surprisingly, Philip VI soon gave the order to "catch the witch alive or dead."
And once the French managed to surround the pirate ships. Seeing that the forces were unequal, Jeanne showed real treachery - with several sailors, she launched a longboat and, together with her sons and a dozen oarsmen, left the battlefield, leaving her comrades-in-arms. However, fate severely repaid her for the betrayal. For ten days, the fugitives wandered the sea - after all, they did not have navigation devices. Several people died of thirst (among them - the youngest son of Jeanne). On the eleventh day, the surviving pirates reached the coast of France. There they were sheltered by a friend of the executed de Belleville. After that, Jeanne de Belleville, who is considered the first female pirate, left her bloody craft, remarried and settled down ...
The double life of the governor's wife
About two hundred years later, a new female pirate appeared in the English Channel - lady Mary Killigrew... This lady was truly a two-faced Janus. In society she was known as the wife of the governor of the port city of Flamet, and it never occurred to anyone that this respected lady secretly commanded pirate ships that attacked merchant ships. Lady Killigrew remained elusive for a long time, since the people whom the pirates captured were not left alive, thereby getting rid of the witnesses of their bloody "exploits".
Everything was revealed when a heavily laden Spanish ship entered the strait. The pirates attacked him. The Spanish captain managed to escape - wounded in the chest, he pretended to be dead on deck, and when the sea robbers began to celebrate the victory, without even sending the dead bodies overboard, he swam to the shore. Once safe, the captain immediately went to the governor to inform him about a daring pirate attack. Among other things, he informed that the filibusters were commanded by a young and very beautiful woman. Imagine his surprise when the governor decided to introduce his wife to the unfortunate captain. It turned out that this is the bloodthirsty lady of the pirates! But the governor ruled over two fortresses, whose task was to ensure the smooth sailing of ships in coastal waters. The captain did not betray his surprise, and certainly did not say that he recognized the sea robber. After receiving an appointment with the governor Flamet, he immediately went to London, where, having obtained an audience with the king, he informed him of the incident. By order of the king, an investigation began, which brought unexpected discoveries. It turned out that hot pirate blood flowed in Lady Killigrew's veins. She was the daughter of the famous pirate Philip Wolversten of Sophocles, and as a girl she robbed with her father. Thanks to a successful marriage, Mary acquired a position in society. Her husband's money allowed her to create a pirate squad that operated in the English Channel and neighboring waters. Governor Killigrew was convicted and executed as an accomplice of the pirates. His wife was also sentenced to death, but later the king commuted the sentence to life imprisonment. Curiously, after about ten years, merchant ships, whose route ran near the coast of Cornwall or across the English Channel, again began to be plundered, and this time from the flotilla from four thirty-gun ships, led by Lady Killigrew. Just another - lady Elizabeth Killigrew, wife, and later widow of Sir John (son of Lady Mary) and, accordingly, daughter-in-law of Lady Killigrew Sr. However, this flotilla did not last long - it was defeated, and Lady Elizabeth was killed in a naval battle.
Under a man's dress ...
By the age of sixteen with an Irish woman Anna Bonnie, born in 1690 in the Irish town of Cork, showed a penchant for all sorts of adventures. Her father, lawyer William Cormack, tried to keep his daughter strict, but Anna, barely waiting for her to be eighteen years old, secretly married a simple sailor James Bonnie. This Mr. Cormac could not bear and drove the naughty daughter out of the house. The newlyweds, not at all upset, went to the Bahamas, to the pirate capital of New Providence. There Anna met a sea robber nicknamed Calico Jack and immediately forgot James. Soon a team gathered around Calico Jack and Anna. Now they needed a suitable ship. Anna, dressed in men's clothes and posing as a sailor seeking employment, visited several ports. She tried to understand how it would be easiest for her accomplices to sneak aboard one or another vessel. Soon after, taking the crew by surprise, the pirates made their way aboard the ship that Anna liked at night, set sail and sailed out into the open sea right at the muzzles of the fort covering the harbor entrance. The ship was named "Dragon" and a black flag was raised over it. By the way, while on the ship, Anna continued to impersonate a man. Unsuspecting accomplices called her Andreas.
This went on for several months, until a new sailor appeared on the ship - MacReed. Calico Jack, the only one who knew that his wife was hiding under the name of Andreas, was jealous of Anna for Mac. However, there was no trace of his jealousy when it turned out that Mac ... was also a woman. And her name is Mary ReidMary told Anna and Jack that she was born in London, and at the age of 15, disguised as a boy, she joined a warship as a cabin boy. However, she soon got bored with naval life, and she switched to military service in one of the French infantry regiments in Flanders. She took part in several battles. In the French army, she married a cavalry officer, but the newlyweds decided to keep Mary's secret, meeting only in secret. And soon Mary's husband died, and she, having deserted, returned to the sea ... But all the secret becomes clear. And the secret of Anna and Mary also once ceased to be a secret. However, since both women fought better than most men, they were allowed to stay on the Dragon.
On November 2, 1720, the Dragon was attacked by an English royal frigate. Anna and Mary fought desperately. Before they were captured, they managed to kill three attackers and injure seven more. But the rest of the team offered almost no resistance, relying on the mercy of royal justice. Upon arrival in Jamaica, a trial was held and all pirates were sentenced to death by hanging. Everyone - except for Anna and Mary.
Both women uttered the standard phrase for the then legal proceedings: “Mr. Judge, my womb is asking for me.” In other words, they asked for pardon because of pregnancy. The fact that the two pirates turned out to be women was completely unexpected for the court. Even more surprising was the fact that doctors confirmed the pregnancy of both. Anna and Mary received a reprieve, and the further fate of Anna Bonnie is shrouded in darkness. It is known that her child was born in prison, but what happened after the birth - no one knows. Perhaps she managed to escape or paid off, or maybe the sentence was carried out ... Mary Reed was less fortunate: soon after giving birth, she died of fever.
Lady Grain's Hot Blooded
Pirate woman Grain (or Grace) O'Malley Born in 1544, the name Grace was given to her by the British, with whom the queen of the pirates either quarreled or put up with her all her long life. At birth, she was named Grain, and then she was given the nickname Granual, which means Bald Grain. She “went bald” at the age of thirteen when she asked to be with the men at sea. She was told that a woman on the ship was a bad omen. Then she took the scissors and cut short her dark curls: "That's it, now I'm a man!" The father laughed and took his daughter on a voyage. She came from an old Irish family, many of which were famous as corsairs. From a young age, Grain showed character: she was unusually courageous, but at the same time cruel. When she was eighteen years old, she and a group of selected thugs began to plunder villages belonging to feudal lords, hostile to her family. Later, Grain married the corsair O'Fleherty, who came from another Irish family. Widowed early, she joined her destiny with the world famous corsairs Lord Burke, nicknamed Iron Richard. Lady Burkee kept her husband and the crew of his ship under her thumb. After one unsuccessful sortie, she told her husband, “Go ashore,” which meant the end of their family relationship.
The Queen of England, trying to attract Grain to royal service, twice invited her to the palace, but the proud woman preferred not to obey anyone. Then she was imprisoned for "violation of the piracy law" for a year and a half. And they released them after promising not to rob again. However, Lady Grain continued to pirate until her death.
Ms. Qing
Zheng Shi (Mistress Jing) (1785-1844) - Chinese sea robber, who gained fame as one of the most successful female pirates in history. This short, fragile woman, leading the battle, held a fan in her hand instead of a saber. She was a contemporary of Napoleon and Admiral Nelson, but no one in Europe had heard of her. But in the Far East, in the vastness of the South China seas, her name was known to the very last poor man and the very first rich man. In history she went down under the name "Ms. Jing", the uncrowned queen of Chinese pirates of the late 18th - early 19th centuries. She commanded a fleet of 2,000 ships and had over 70,000 sailors under her command.
It is believed that the key to Zheng Shi's success was the iron discipline that reigned on her ships. She introduced strict regulations that put an end to the traditional pirate freemen: it was forbidden to rob allied pirates of fishing villages and rape captive women - it was punishable by death; for unauthorized absence from the ship, the pirate's left ear was cut off (according to some versions, the ears were pierced with a hot iron rod) in the presence of the whole team, which was then presented to the entire team for intimidation. In case of a relapse, the death penalty; it was forbidden to appropriate any things (small, large) that were obtained by theft, robbery. The pirate received only two parts from the proceeds (20%), the rest of the production (80%) became the common property, which, like any other extracted value, went to the warehouse. If someone tried to appropriate something from the general fund, then he was threatened with the highest measure of execution - death. The story of Madame Zheng has attracted the attention of writers more than once. She is the heroine of Jorge Luis Borges' story "Ching's Widow, a Pirate" (1935). According to Borges's story, a film was made that loses all connection with the real events "The Legend of Revenge" (2003). According to the preliminary script for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Zhang Bao, Madame Zheng's stepson-husband, became the prototype for one of the characters in this film. Several romantic places in Hong Kong are also associated with the name Zhang Bao, where they even show a cave where he allegedly hid his treasures. It is said that one of the local attractions, the Tongzhong Fort on Lantau Island, was used by a pirate as a staging post for the opium trade. After retiring from pirate affairs, Madame Zheng settled in Guangzhou, where she maintained a brothel and a gambling den until her death at the age of 60 ...
The Elusive Madame Wong (1920-?)
200 years after the death of the first Chinese "queen of pirates" in the same waters where her flotillas were robbed, a quite worthy successor of her cause appeared, rightfully winning the same title. A former Cantonese nightclub dancer named Shang, who became famous as China's most seductive diva, she married an equally famous person. His name was Wong Kungkim, he was the largest pirate chieftain in Southeast Asia, who began to rob merchant ships in 1940. His wife, Madame Wong , as her friends and foes called her, she was a faithful friend and intelligent assistant to the pirate in all his operations. But in 1946, Wong Kungkit died. The story of his death is mysterious, it is believed that the pirate's competitors are to blame. When, in the end, two of Wong Kungkit's closest assistants came to the widow, so that she, purely formally (since everything had already been decided by these two), would approve the candidate they named for the post of head of the corporation. “Unfortunately, there are two of you,” Madame replied, without looking up from the toilet, “and the firm needs one head ...” After these words, Madame turned abruptly, and the men saw that she was holding a revolver in each hand. This is how Madame Wong's "coronation" took place, because after this incident there were no hunters to talk with her about power in the corporation. Since then, her power over pirates has been undeniable. Her first independent operation was an attack on the Dutch steamer Van Hoyz, which was boarded at night at anchorage. In addition to seizing the cargo, everyone on board was robbed. The production of Madame Wong amounted to more than 400 thousand pounds. She herself rarely took part in the raids and in such cases was always masked. The police of the coastal countries, knowing that a woman named Madame Wong was in charge of the pirates, could not publish her portrait, which made it impossible to capture her. It was announced that a prize of 10 thousand pounds was assigned for her photograph, and whoever catches or kills Madame Wong can name the amount of the award, and the authorities of Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines guarantee that he will be paid such an amount. the Singapore Police received a package with photographs that said they were related to Madame Wong. These were photographs of two Chinese men cut into pieces. The caption read: “They wanted to take a picture of Madame Wong.” According to police, Madame Wong had already visited Tokyo, Singapore, Macau and Manila at that time, where she collected information on the voyages of merchant ships, and met with potential buyers of stolen goods. And besides, she indulged in her only passion - casino games. And since no one knew her by sight, the visits were completely unpunished. When the Vice President of the Philippines hosted a reception at his palace in June 1962, among the distinguished guests was Madame Senkaku, presented as a Japanese banker. She did not leave the gambling table all evening, playing huge sums in cold blood. The Vice President complimented her: "Only Madame Wong could play like that." Madame laughed: "Do I look like her?" And a week later, the vice president received a letter in which there was gratitude for the pleasant evening. Signed: "Madame Wong." According to the Japanese police, by the end of the 60s of the last century, the fleet of the queen of filibusters consisted of about 150 speedboats, a third of which were armed with rapid-fire cannons. The crews served up to 8 thousand sailors and attack aircraft. However, already in the 70s, information about the actions of this robber fleet ceased to come to the police of the countries of Southeast Asia. Piracy did not stop there, but Madame Wong had no relation to its manifestations. According to unverified reports, she dismissed the crews of the boats, sold them and disappeared.
In 1986, the film "Secrets of Madame Wong" was shot in the USSR.
Fifteen people per dead man's chest! Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum! "- let's talk about pirates? Let's not remember Blind Pew or Billy Bons, Jack Sparrow, as well as Henry Morgan and Bartholomew Roberts with their Code, too, let's leave alone. Today we will talk about famous pirates. A woman pirate - how could this even be if one of the main maritime signs reads: “a woman on a ship to trouble?” Or, in this case, to trouble for someone who falls into the hands of the pirates? And how did beautiful ladies become brave pirates?
Female revenge
One of the first pirates to become famous was the Avenger Jeanne - Jeanne de Belleville. Breton noblewoman, mother of two sons and an exemplary wife. This is how she was before her husband was executed by order of Philip VI. The widow swore revenge and kept her oath! She led the Vengeance Fleet, which consisted of 3 ships, completely subordinate to her. The flotilla under the command of Jeanne plundered the merchant ships of France and courageously attacked even the military.
All the booty went to the English crown, and the crew of the captured ship was exterminated. Jeanne was the first to board and attack, for which she received the nickname Bloodthirsty lioness from the French. The French King announced a bounty and a hunt for the Avenger Jeanne and her small fleet. Luck was not on the side of the brave pirate and she was surrounded, but she managed to escape. The price of freedom was dear - some of the sailors and the youngest of Jeanne's sons died. She managed to escape and find refuge with her husband's friends, and soon find a new love - Gaultier de Bentley, whom she married.
I wonder what she told her grandchildren and what songs she sang?
Second after god
Ms. Jing (Ching) - you have already seen how one of the pirate lords in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean. Her real name is Zheng Shi. One of the most successful pirates and fleet commanders, comparable only to Admiral Nelson himself! The famous Chinese robber, the queen of pirates, who, commanding the battle, clutched in her hand ... a fan. Its fleet is comparable to the fleet of an entire state - about 2 thousand ships and tens of thousands of sailors obeyed her unquestioningly. How could a woman hold in her hands power over so many men? She instituted the most severe discipline and imposed strict laws in her fleet. Violation of most of the regulations was punishable by a very cruel death penalty! If the punishment for the first offense could have been more lenient, for unauthorized absence from the ship they only cut off the left ear, but for repeated violation of discipline, execution followed!
Madame started as ... a woman of easy virtue, but after becoming the wife of China's most famous pirate Zheng Yi, she changed her occupation. The married couple became a pair of lucky pirates. The death of Zheng Yi transferred Madame Jing from supporting roles to the main one. Although she had to fight with other captains for power over the flotilla. She offered to all those who disagree with her leadership to get out, leaving their ships in the pirate fleet. To understand what power she received, it is enough to know that the flotilla at that time consisted of 6 squadrons! Madame Jing became a thunderstorm of the Chinese seas, his fleet against her was sent by Emperor Jia-ching, but was unable to defeat the pirate fleet. Only after some time did Madame come to an agreement with the authorities, when she felt the weakening of her fleet and her power ... By agreement with the emperor, her husband received a place in the government, and she herself retired and became the keeper of a brothel.
But who knows if she has actually ceased to be the head of the pirates?
Anna - "The Will of God"
Perhaps the woman on the ship promises trouble, but not Anna Dieu-Le-Vaux, because she brought only good luck to her crew, for which she received the nickname "The Will of God". Stern and merciless, she is also known by the names Marianne or Mary Ann. Like many criminals of her time, she was exiled to Tortuga. Here she found herself a husband named Pierre Lengs and, of course, it was a pirate! Like any pirate, he constantly got into a fight and was killed in a duel by another famous pirate, Laurence de Graf. Anna, in anger, herself challenged Lawrence to a duel to avenge her husband's death and ... married again! Lawrence was so delighted with her courage…. Many admired her, because she attracted attention by not hiding her gender, as other pirates did. Lawrence and Marianne have become a real pirate couple. But they were destined for a long separation - Anna and her daughters were captured during the capture of Tortuga by the British. For three long years they were apart. Reconnecting, the pirate family either became colonists in America, or engaged in privateering, which is also likely. Lawrence managed to receive the rank of senior lieutenant for participating in the capture of Jamaica a year before Anna was captured.
It is possible that the daughters of Anne Dieu-Le-Vaux were not far from their mother, one of them defeated the man in a duel!
An apple from an apple tree….
Desperate pirates who know no pity: Alvilda - the queen of pirates, Ingela Gatenhilm, Olaf's daughter, the famous Anne Bonnie, Mary Reed, who gave the name to the famous cocktail, Lady Mary Killiger - a pirate and a lady, cruel Grace O "Malley ... How many names, how many behind them stories and secrets.
At the mention of sea robbers, images of bearded men in a cocked hat with a bottle of rum in one hand and a saber in the other pop up in the head. However, the fame of the dashing seafarers and the thirst for easy money also excited the minds of the weak half of humanity. They were not afraid of dysentery or scurvy, or anything on the ship smelled so hard that their eyes were watering. Among the most courageous pirates of all times and peoples, we are our 10 women who preferred this dangerous craft to a peaceful life.
Jeanne de Clisson
XIV century After the husband of Jeanne de Clisson, a nobleman Olivier III, was accused of high treason and executed, she decided to avenge him. She gave her five children to be raised by her family, and she herself hired a team of pirates and bought three ships, on which, by her order, scarlet sails were installed. For 13 years, she kept the crews of all ships sailing across the English Channel at bay. All the aristocrats who met on her way had one fate - to be beheaded with an ax. The rest of the team members were sent to feed the fish. Deciding to end piracy, Jeanne de Clisson moved to England. She returned to France just before her death, to be with her children.Grace O'Malley
16th century In the ranks of the pirates, Grace O'Malley, known as Granual, entered into marriage. After marrying O'Flaherty, Domhnall the Warrior, Grace led her husband's fleet. When he was killed, Grace continued her pirate activities on the Island of Clare. In time, she captured the entire Mayo coast. In 1588, Grace O'Malley participated in the defeat of the Spanish Invincible Armada. 10 years later, the lands of Granual were ravaged by Irish rebels for helping the British, and Granual returned to the Isle of Clare. According to one version, she died in battle during the boarding of an enemy ship, according to the other, she died by her own death in Rockfleet.Lady Elizabeth Killigrew
XVI century Deciding to become a pirate, respected subjects of the court of Queen Elizabeth I, Elizabeth Killigrew and her husband John Killigrew formed a pirate gang from the local residents in Cornwall. Together with them, they attacked ships passing along the south coast of England. Elizabeth led the raids, not from the deck of the ship, but from land. She hid the loot in the castle garden. When the Killigrew family business was discovered, most of the men were executed. Elizabeth was pardoned.Saida Al-Hurrah
XVI century
After the capture of Granada by Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, the Banu Rashida family, together with their daughter Saida, was forced to look for a new refuge. At the age of 16, the girl was given in marriage, and after the death of her husband, she became the ruler of Tetuan. Saida's second husband was the king of Morocco. Wanting retribution for fleeing Granada, she shared the Mediterranean with Barbarossa and became a pirate. Saida ruled Tetuan for over 30 years, until her son-in-law deposed her from the throne. According to historical records, Saida Al-Hurra died in poverty. Jacotte Delaye
XVII century When Jacotte's father was killed, the native of Haiti did not think of anything better than to become a pirate in order to feed herself and her younger brother suffering from dementia. Trying to escape the persecution of the authorities, she faked her own death and lived for several years under a male name. After returning to the pirate system, the girl received the nickname Red-haired, who returned from the other world. Together with a band of pirates in 1656, she captured a small island in the Caribbean. A few years later, the pirate died in a shootout defending this small piece of land surrounded by the sea.Anne Dieu-le-Ve
XVII century Presumably, she was deported as a criminal to Tortuga. In 1684, she married there and gave birth to a child, but after 6 years of a happy marriage, her husband was killed in a fight. A year later, Anne Dieu-le-Vee married again and had a second child. However, soon the second husband of Anne Dieu-le-Ve died. Ironically, her third husband was the killer of her second husband: Anne Die-le-Ve challenged him to a duel to avenge the death of her lover, but the pirate, admired by his courage, refused to shoot, offering instead his hand and heart. After the wedding, she began to surf the sea with her husband Laurence de Graaf, and along with other members of the team, participated in attacks and was engaged in robbery. According to some versions, having gone ashore, the couple settled in Louisiana or Mississippi.Baroness Christina Anna Skitt
XVII century Another pirate gang was organized by the family of barons. Baroness Christina, together with her husband Baron Gustav Drake and brother Baron Gustav Skitt, robbed ships of the Baltic Sea in the 17th century. After one of these attacks on Dutch merchants, the Dutch authorities decided to finally end the pirates. Gustav Skitt was caught and killed, Christina and her husband returned to Sweden, where they were pardoned because of their titles.Rachel Wall
XVIII century Rachel wrote her name in history as the first American pirate. Together with husband George Wall, they rallied the pirates and requisitioned the ship. The pirates waited for the storm, during which they pretended that the ship was in distress. When a ship passed by, Rachel came out on deck and called for help. The sailors who responded to the call were killed, all valuables were taken, and the ship was sunk. Rachel got caught stealing on land. At the trial, she demanded to be tried as a pirate, and not an ordinary thief. She was found guilty and hanged in 1789.Anne Bonnie
XVIII century
In the early 18th century, Anne Bonnie, her pirate lover Jack Rackham, and Mary Reed were the most formidable pirates in the Caribbean. In 1720, the three were captured by the British. All were sentenced to death. Jack was executed immediately, Mary died in prison of a fever, Bonnie's execution was postponed, given the fact that she was pregnant. However, it is not known for certain whether the verdict was put into effect. According to some reports, Bonnie's wealthy father helped her get out of prison and escape. Sadie Goat
19th century In the 19th century, Sadie Farrell was the harbor queen of New York. Deciding to engage in criminal activity, Sadie looked for victims on the streets, banged them with her own head and took her wallet. For this technique of robberies, Sadie received the nickname Goat. Over time, from land, she moved to the waters of the Hudson, where, together with a gang of mercenaries, she attacked the ships of wealthy seafarers.Notable female pirates
It is difficult to imagine female fingers clutching a boarding ax instead of a fan or a ladle, but the history of piracy has preserved many names of charming women who, no worse than men, robbed the seas under the black banner of the Jolly Roger.
Alvilda - Queen of the Pirates
One of the most famous female pirates is Alvilda, who plundered the waters of Scandinavia during the early Middle Ages. Her name is often found in popular books on the history of piracy. According to legend, this beautiful princess Alvilda, who lived around 800, the daughter of a Gothic king (or a king from the island of Gotland), decided to become a "sea Amazon" in order to avoid the imposed marriage with Alf, the son of a powerful Danish king.
The princess took with her all her maids, bought a ship and took up sea robbery. It was a real ship with Amazons, because there were no men on board at all, and only women went to board other people's ships. She has become the number one "star" among the sea robbers. For a long period, pirates successfully plundered off the coast of Denmark, capturing merchant ships.
Since Alvilda's dashing raids posed a serious threat to merchant shipping and the inhabitants of the coastal regions of Denmark, Prince Alf himself set off in pursuit of her, not realizing that the longed-for Alvilda was the object of his pursuit. Deciding to destroy the pirates, he found Alvilda's ship and attacked it. The Danes outnumbered the pirates and easily captured the ship. After killing most of the sea robbers, Alf entered into a duel with their leader and forced him to surrender.
How surprised the Danish prince was when the pirate leader took off his helmet and appeared before him in the guise of a young beauty, whom he dreamed of marrying. Alvilda appreciated the persistence of the heir to the Danish crown and his ability to swing a sword. The wedding was played right there, aboard a pirate ship. The prince swore to the princess to love her to the grave, and she solemnly promised him never to go out to sea again without him.
Is the story told true?
Researchers have discovered that for the first time the legend of Alvilda was told to readers by the monk Saxon Grammaticus (1140 - c. 1208) in his famous work "Acts of the Danes". He got it either from the ancient Scandinavian sagas or from the myths of the Amazons.
Alvilda's successor was the French Countess Jeanne de Belleville-Cassin
The following story is more like the truth, it is confirmed by historical chronicles. We are talking about a charming aristocrat from Brittany, perhaps she was one of the first women to take up the pirate craft. Jeanne de Belleville, who was famous for her beauty and intelligence, was driven to become a pirate by a thirst for revenge.
During the Hundred Years War, her husband, the noble lord Maurice de Bellevole, was slandered, accusing him of treason and in 1430. executed, Jeanne was then 29 years old. When the body of her husband was returned to Jeanne de Belleville, she and her sons (the youngest was seven, and the eldest was 14) vowed to take revenge on the treacherous French king.
Having sold all the estates, Jeanne acquired three brigantines, completed the crew, put the detachments of her vassals into ships and went to the English Channel and Pas-de-Calais. Jeanne, having received a letter of marque from the English king - permission to attack the ships of France and its allies, named her ships "the Fleet of Retribution" and began her war at sea.
For four years, the countess's squadron cruised in the straits, mercilessly sinking and burning all the ships of the French flag. In addition to sea robbery, her flying troops landed and attacked the castles and estates of those whom the Countess considered guilty of the death of her husband. Jeanne transported all her booty to England. In France she was nicknamed the Clisson Lioness, and Philip VI ordered: “Catch the witch alive or dead!
Several times her ships managed to escape from the French fleet, but such luck could not last forever. One day, the Clisson Lioness flotilla was surrounded. When Jeanne had already lost two ships, she and her sons left the flagship and fled with several sailors in a small boat.
It is known that Jeanne was distinguished by fearlessness, perhaps she was persuaded to flee by her comrades in arms who remained on the encircled ship, and their main argument was that Jeanne, captured or dead, would bring great pleasure to the French king, but this she did not want.
Leaving the ship in a hurry, the fugitives did not take with them any water or provisions, six days later, Jeanne's youngest son died, then several sailors died. The survivors were carried by the current to the French coast in the Brittany region. Jeanne de Belleville was lucky, she managed to find shelter in the possession of Jean de Montfort, a friend of her executed husband.
The death of her son, the death of her fleet and friends forced the thirst for revenge to subside, soon the female corsair took the courtship of the nobleman Gaultier de Bentley and married him. Time passed and she again began to appear in public, the fate of her eldest son was also successful - he became constable, the highest dignitary of France.
A hundred years after Jeanne, a flotilla of another aristocrat, the mother of the British Lord John Killigru, appeared in the area of \u200b\u200bher pirate operations, who led the pirates until her death in 1550. Her exploits were continued by Lady Elizabeth Killigow, the wife of her son.
The leader of the pirates had a wide network of informants ashore who supplied her with information about the nature of the cargo on the ships and their weapons. So she would have pirated, but one day, when her thugs attacked the Spanish galleon, his captain managed to hide in a secret room on the ship and reveal her secret. The startled Spaniard saw through a hole in the panel that a charming woman was in command of the pirates, destroying his crew.
At dusk, he managed to leave the ship unnoticed and swim to the shore. In the morning he hurried to the Governor of Falmouth, and in his house he saw a lovely young woman, whom, of course, he recognized. The prudent Spaniard did not reveal himself in any way, having greeted the governor, he quickly took his leave and went straight to London. There, his message caused a real shock to the king, who ordered an immediate investigation.
During the investigation, it turned out that Elizabeth Killigrew was the daughter of the famous pirate Philip Wolverston. From her father, she not only learned to master weapons perfectly, but also went through a real school of robbery. Her husband, the governor of Falmouth, was aware of his wife's hobbies and not so much did not oppose it, but, on the contrary, supported her activities. His wife's hobby brought in excellent income.
When the smell of fried, the Killigrews decided to flee with the looted goods on one of the pirate ships, but a couple was betrayed by some "well-wisher" and they were captured. Lord Killigrew was sentenced to death and his wife to life in prison.
Mary Blood, a friend of the famous filibuster Edward Teach, nicknamed "Blackbeard", is a beautiful, very tall (over 1 m 90 cm) Irish woman. When she was heading to America, the ship she sailed on was captured by Edward Teach. He was so impressed by the beauty and growth of the girl that he immediately decided to marry her. Mary had no choice but to agree, because the pirates killed all the other passengers.
As a wedding present, Mary received a pirate ship along with his crew. She quickly got used to among the sea robbers and began to take part in attacks on ships herself. Mary was madly in love with jewelry and especially diamonds, and she was nicknamed the Diamond Mary. The pirate craft helped to regularly add to her jewelry collection. However, the passion for soulless stones won out over love.
In 1729, Mary's pirates captured a Spanish ship. When the prisoners were lined up on the deck, she met the eyes of one of the tall Spaniards and disappeared. Mary fell madly in love with the handsome prisoner and soon fled with him to Peru. Teach made a lot of efforts to find and punish the traitor, but he never managed to find the couple who eluded him.
True or myth?
And at the end of this topic
I bring to your attention an article by the historian Andrei Volkov about women pirates "Truth or Fiction."
“It should be noted that a number of researchers are very wary of the descriptions of the“ feats ”of women under the black flag. Some believe that women have never been outstanding pirates and went down in the history of sea robbery only because of the "blatant" fact of their invasion of a purely male occupation, others talk about numerous exaggerations and distortions of facts in their biographies.
There are even pirates who are considered fictional ... For example, about the English pirate Maria Lindsay, as well as about her lover the pirate Eric Cobham, no mentions have been found in the documents of the early 18th century, when, according to various publications, they committed their atrocities. And this couple is described very vividly. Maria Lindsay looks like a real pathological sadist: she chopped off the prisoners' hands and then shoved them overboard ... She also loved to use living people as targets for shooting exercises, and once poisoned the entire crew of the captured ship.
Together with their lover, they successfully completed their pirate "career", and with the money they stole, they bought a huge estate in France. And here, mind you, a very curious ending to this whole story: unable to bear the betrayal of her lover, exhausted from remorse for the crimes committed, Maria committed suicide by taking poison, and for fidelity she also threw herself off a cliff ... Well, a ready-made script for the box office film.
However, there is no point in doubting the reality of women pirates, they really were. And at least the story of the legendary Madame Wong, whose pirates rampaged in the eastern seas in the twentieth century, speaks of the very possibility of a woman's active participation in the pirate craft. She organized a whole pirate empire, according to various estimates, numbering from three to eight thousand people. Its fleet, according to the Japanese police, in the early 60s consisted of 150 ships and boats.
Despite all attempts to catch Madame, neither Interpol nor the police of several countries managed to do this. According to some sources, Madame Wong blew herself up in a cave where her treasures were hidden, according to others - having faked her death, she simply retired.
Times change and we change with them
There is a belief that a woman on a ship is unfortunately. No matter how it is! In this collection, you will find several beautiful creatures who took on board ships with treasures and brought misfortune only to their enemies. Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! 
Saida Al-Hurrah was born around 1485 to a prominent Muslim family in the Kingdom of Granada. Forced to flee after being captured by Christian Spain, Saida's parents settled in Chaoen, Morocco. After the death of her husband, Saida became queen of Tetouan, thanks to which she subsequently married the King of Morocco, Ahmed al-Wattasi. And although Saida was incredibly wealthy, her anger at the Christians who once forced her to leave home prompted her to take up piracy. The hijacking of Christian ships helped fulfill her dream of returning home for at least one day. Ultimately, the Queen of the Mediterranean, in the eyes of Christians, became the main intermediary for the Portuguese and Spanish governments when they tried to free the captives held by the pirates. In 1542, the woman was dethroned by her stepson. Nothing is known about her further fate. 
Pirate Queen Teuta of Illyria... This amazing woman took the risk of invading Rome, while many of the men could not even think about it. After the death of her consort, King Ardie, Teuta inherited the kingdom of Ardiein in 231 BC. e. Trying to cope with the aggression of neighboring states, she supported the pirate population of her kingdom. With her support, the Illyrians captured the cities of Phoenis and Dyrrachium. Expanding their territories, its pirates attacked the merchant ships of Greece and Rome. The result was the war between Rome and Illyria in 229 BC. BC, in which the queen of the pirates was defeated. 
Anne Bonnie (or Annie) was an Irish pirate born between 1697-1700. After his mother died, Anne's father made a small fortune through trade. However, Bonnie was not an angelic child - after a stabbing with a servant and marriage to a petty pirate, James Bonnie, her father abandoned her. The girl moved to New Providence in the Bahamas, where she met Jack Rackham, the captain of the pirate ship Revenge, and became his mistress. This was followed by a divorce from James and a wedding with Jack, and ... piracy. Anne helped form a new crew and capture a large number of ships, many of which were carrying tea. It all ended with the Governor of Jamaica commissioning Captain Jonathan Barnett to deal with Bonnie and Rackham. Since most of their crew were drunk at the time, their ship was hijacked. Rackham was executed, and Bonnie disappeared - possibly her father paid the ransom. 
Jean de Clisson... A girl who lived in Brittany in the 1300s, she married Olivier III de Clisson, a wealthy nobleman who was supposed to defend the peninsula against English challengers. However, he went over to the side of the British. Captured in 1343, Olivier was sent to Paris and executed by order of King Philip VI. In anger, Jean vowed revenge on the king. She sold her land to wealthy nobles and bought 3 warships. The ships were painted black, the sails red. The woman killed the crew of the captured ships, leaving only a few sailors alive to tell the King that "The Lioness of Brittany will strike again." But even after Philip's death, she continued to attack French ships and did so until she left for England - the only place where people loved the French about as much as she did. 
Chin Shi Is a Chinese sea robber who has gained fame as one of the most successful female pirates in history. This short, fragile girl, leading the battle, held a fan in her hand instead of a saber. She was a contemporary of Napoleon and Admiral Nelson, but they never heard of her in Europe. But in the Far East and in the vastness of the South China seas, everyone knew her name - both the poor and the rich. She went down in history under the name of "Mistress Qing", the uncrowned queen of Chinese pirates from the end of the 18th to the early centuries. XIX centuries. She commanded a fleet of 2,000 ships and had over 70,000 sailors under her command. 
Anne Diou-Le-Veut... The offender, exiled from France to Tortuga sometime between 1665 and 1675, married the pirate Pierre Langt. In 1683, her husband was killed by another pirate - Lorenzo de Graaf - during a fight in a bar. After the incident, the girl challenged Lorenzo and took out a weapon. The pirate refused to fight the woman, but, impressed by Anne's dark side, proposed to her. Ann, apparently forgetting that she had just wanted to kill this man, accepted him. Together they began sailing like pirates, hijacking ships and even raiding Jamaica in 1693. A subsequent raid on Tortuga resulted in the capture of Anne and her two daughters. They were reunited with Lorenzo a few years later. Their further fate is unknown. 
Grace O "Malley... An unusually courageous, but at the same time insensitive and cruel woman came from the old Irish family of O "Meli, known to many corsairs and pirates. Grace's father was the chief of the seafaring Clan O" Mail, left untouched by the British. Oh "Malley took over his role in levying taxes from fishermen on their territory. But the method of" collecting taxes "was not very common - they demanded cash or cargo from ships for safe passage. Refusal was tantamount to death. Grace also attacked fortresses Irish and Scottish nobles Some say that she even abducted children of Anglo-Irish descent. 
Lady Elizabeth Killigrew... Elizabeth, born about 1525, became Lady Killigrew when she married Sir John Killigrew of Arvenac, Cornwall. In the 1540s, when Pendennis Castle was built on her husband's land by King Henry VIII, Killigrew gained control of shipping in the area. They began to use this position to hunt down the cargoes of ships entering the area under their control, fortifying Arwenac Castle. After the death of her husband, Elizabeth assumed full control of the pirates. When she learned that the Spanish ship Mafri of San Sebastian had taken refuge in Falmouth Harbor, the woman organized an attack on the ship, capturing him and her cargo. After she was caught, Killigrew was pardoned and forgiven by Queen Elizabeth. 
Christina Anna Skitt... The daughter of Baron Jacob Skitt from Duderhof (Sweden) with her fiancé Gustaf Drake became partners in "business" - her brother, obviously not happy with great wealth, led a double life as a pirate, robbing ships in the Baltic Sea. After killing one of the conspirators who tried to leave, Christina proved she was not a passive partner. In 1663 they attacked a Dutch merchant ship, killing the crew and stealing cargo. This attack led to the capture of Gustaf, and Christina was forced to flee. 
Jacotte Delachae. The death of his father and mother, as well as the brain damage of his brother, received at birth, forced the red-haired beauty Jacotte to turn to piracy in the Caribbean - it was necessary to take care of her brother somehow. In the 1660s, the girl faked her own death to avoid a government hunt. After several years of peaceful life, she returned to piracy and is widely believed to have teamed up with Anne Diu-Le-Vuet. 
Pictures (C) on the Internet. If they are highly artistic and colored, then they have nothing to do with the described pirate. I apologize to them and to you, I'm sure they looked more impressive in real life ... My grandmother smokes a pipe in her Khrushchev's little room,
My grandmother smokes a pipe and sees the waves of the seas through the smoke.
All pirates in the world are afraid of her and rightfully proud of her
For the fact that the grandmother robs and burns their frigates,
But he spares the elderly and children!
Sukachev Garik and the Untouchables
Most people associate the word "pirate" with the image of a bearded sea robber with one leg and a boarded-up eye. However, among the successful famous pirates, there were not only men, but also women. About some of them this post.
Scandinavian princess pirate Alvilda
One of the first pirates is considered Alvilda, who plundered in the waters of Scandinavia during the early Middle Ages. According to legend, this medieval princess, daughter of a Gothic king (or a king from the island of Gotland), decided to become a "sea Amazon" in order to avoid the imposed marriage with Alf, the son of a powerful Danish king.
Going on a pirate voyage with a team of young women dressed in men's dress, she became the number one "star" among sea robbers. Since Alvilda's dashing raids posed a serious threat to merchant shipping and the inhabitants of the coastal regions of Denmark, Prince Alf himself set off in pursuit of her, not realizing that the longed-for Alvilda was the object of his pursuit.
Having killed most of the sea robbers, he entered into a duel with their leader and forced him to surrender. How surprised the Danish prince was when the pirate leader took off his helmet and appeared before him in the guise of a young beauty, whom he dreamed of marrying! Alvilda appreciated the persistence of the heir to the Danish crown and his ability to swing a sword. The wedding was played right there, aboard a pirate ship. The prince swore to the princess to love her to the grave, and she solemnly promised him never to go out to sea again without him.
Everyone died ... Hallelujah! Is the story told true? Researchers have found that the first story about Alvilda was told to readers by the monk Saxon Grammaticus (1140 - c. 1208) in his famous work "Acts of the Danes". Most likely, he learned about her from the ancient Scandinavian sagas.
Jeanne de Belleville
The Breton noblewoman Jeanne de Belleville, who was married to the knight de Clisson, became a pirate not out of a love of adventure and wealth, but out of a desire for revenge.
In the period 1337-1453, with several interruptions, there was a war between England and France, which went down in history as the Hundred Years War. The husband of Jeanne de Belleville was accused of treason.
King Philip II of France ordered his arrest, and without any evidence or trial on 02.08.1343 he was handed over to the executioner. The widow Jeanne de Belleville-Clison, known for her beauty, charm and hospitality, vowed brutal revenge. She sold her property and bought three fast ships. According to another version, she went to England, achieved an audience with King Edward and, thanks to her beauty ... received 3 high-speed ships from the monarch for corsair operations against France.
She commanded one ship herself, others - her two sons. The small fleet, dubbed the "Retribution Fleet in the English Channel," became the "scourge of God" in French coastal waters. Pirates mercilessly sent French ships to the bottom, devastating coastal areas. They say that everyone who was to cross the English Channel on a French ship first wrote a will.
For several years, the squadron plundered French merchant ships, often even attacked warships. Jeanne participated in battles, excellently wielded both a saber and a boarding ax. As a rule, she ordered the command of the captured ship to be completely destroyed. Not surprisingly, Philip VI soon gave the order to "catch the witch alive or dead."
And once the French managed to surround the pirate ships. Seeing that the forces were unequal, Jeanne showed real treachery - with several sailors, she launched a longboat and, together with her sons and a dozen rowers, left the battlefield, leaving her comrades-in-arms.
However, fate severely repaid her for her betrayal. For 10 days, the fugitives wandered around the sea - after all, they did not have navigation devices. Several people died of thirst (among them - the youngest son of Jeanne). On the 11th day, the surviving pirates reached the coast of France. There they were sheltered by a friend of the executed de Belleville.
After that, Jeanne de Belleville, who is considered the first female pirate, left her bloody craft, remarried. Popular rumor said: she began to embroider with beads, got a lot of cats and settled down. That's what the life-giving cross does what a successful marriage means ...
Lady Kiligru
About two hundred years after Jeanne de Belleville, a new female pirate appeared in the English Channel: Lady Kiligrou. This lady has led a double life: in society, she is the respected wife of Governor Lord John Keeligru in the port city of Falmet, and at the same time secretly commands pirate ships that attack merchant ships mainly in Falmet Bay. Lady Kiligru's tactics have long been successful, as she never left a living witness.
One day a heavily laden Spanish ship entered the bay. Before the captain and crew could recover, the pirates attacked and captured him. The captain managed to take cover and was surprised to find that the pirates were commanded by a young and very beautiful woman who could compete with men in cruelty. The Spanish captain reached the coast and quickly headed for the city of Falmet to report the attack to the royal governor. To his new surprise, he saw the pirate sitting next to the governor, Lord Kiligra. Lord Kiligru was in charge of two fortresses, the task of which was to ensure the smooth sailing of ships in the bay. The captain remained silent about what had happened and immediately left for London. By order of the king, an investigation began, which brought unexpected results.
It turned out that Lady Kiligru carried violent pirate blood, as she was the daughter of the famous pirate Philip Wolversten from Sofolk, and as a girl she participated in pirate attacks. Thanks to her marriage to the Lord, she acquired a position in society, and at the same time with him created a large pirate company, which operated not only in the English Channel, but also in neighboring waters. During the trial, many mysterious cases of the disappearance of merchant ships were revealed, which until now were attributed to "supernatural forces."
Lord Kiligru was sentenced to death and executed. His wife also received a death sentence, but later the king commuted him to life imprisonment.
Mary Ann Blyde
Irish Mary was exceptionally tall for her time - 190 cm and unearthly beauty. She became a pirate quite by accident, but devoted herself entirely to this dangerous activity. Once she was on a ship to America and was captured by the most famous sea pirate in history - Edward Tichchu, nicknamed Blackbeard. Thanks to her good upbringing, Mary Ann Blyde remained with the kidnapper. Soon she proved herself to be an excellent student of Ticcia and received her ship. Jewelry and precious stones were her passion. She and Tichch are said to have amassed $ 70 million worth of treasures, and together they buried them somewhere on the shores of North Carolina. The treasures have not yet been discovered. 
All pirates, both men and women, who did not die in battle, end their lives ingloriously: they are usually condemned to death or life imprisonment. Mary Ann had, however, a different fate. In 1729, during an attack on a Spanish ship, she fell in love with a young man who was traveling on this ship. The young man agreed to marry her, but on condition that she abandoned her occupation. Together they escape to Peru, and there their traces are lost ...
Anne Bonnie
Anne Cormack (her maiden name) was born in a small Irish town in 1698. This red-haired beauty with a violent temper became an icon of the Golden Age of Piracy (1650-1730s) after secretly tying her fate with a simple sailor named James Bonnie. Anne's father, a respected person, upon learning about his daughter's marriage, disowned her, after which she and her newly-made husband were forced to leave for the Bahamas, which at that time were called the Pirate Republic, a place where idlers and mischievous people lived. Bonnie's happy family life did not last long.
After her divorce from her husband, Anne met the pirate Jack Rackham, who became her lover. Together with him, she on the ship "Revenge" went to the open sea to rob merchant ships. At 10.1720, members of Rackham's crew, including Ann and her bosom friend Mary Reed, were taken prisoner by the British. Bonnie blamed everything on her lover. On the last date in prison, she told him the following: "It's a pity to see you here, but if you had fought like a man, you would not have been hanged like a dog."
Rackham was executed. Bonnie's pregnancy allowed her to obtain an adjournment of the execution of her death sentence. However, the fact that it was ever set in motion is not mentioned anywhere in the historical records. Rumor has it that Anne's influential father paid a huge sum of money to have his unlucky daughter released.
Mary Reid
Mary Reed was born in London in 1685. Since childhood, she was forced to portray a boy by the will of fate. Her mother, the widow of a sea captain, dressed the illegitimate girl in the clothes of her early deceased son in order to defraud her rich mother-in-law, who did not know about the death of her grandson. Pretending to be a man in the Renaissance was easy, since all men's fashion was very similar to women's (long wigs, large hats, fluffy outfits, boots), that Mary managed to do it.
At the age of 15, Mary was enlisted in the ranks of the British army under the name Mark Read. During the service, she fell in love with a Flemish soldier. Their happiness was short-lived. He died unexpectedly, and Mary, again dressed in a man's dress, went on a ship to the West Indies. On the way, the ship was captured by pirates. Reed decided to stay with them.
In 1720, Mary joined the crew of the Jack Rackham ship Revenge. At first, only Bonnie and her lover knew that she was a woman, who often flirted with “Mark”, making Anne wildly jealous. A couple of months later, the whole team knew about Reed's secret. 
After the ship "Revenge" was captured by the pirate hunter, Captain Jonathan Barnett, Mary, like Ann, managed to defer the death sentence due to pregnancy. But fate still overtook her. She died in a prison cell on April 28, 1721 from childbirth fever. What happened to her child is unknown. Some suspect he died during childbirth.
Sadie nicknamed the Goat
Sadie Farrell, a 19th-century American sea robber, got her rare nickname because of her strange way of committing crimes. On the streets of New York, Sadie had built a reputation as a ruthless robber who attacked her victims with violent headbutts. Sadie is said to have been kicked out of Manhattan after she had a row with a criminal acquaintance, Gallus Mag, which resulted in the loss of part of her ear. 
In the spring of 1869, Sadie joined the Charles Street gang and became its leader after hijacking a moored sloop on a bet. Farrell and her new crew, under the black flag, sailed the Hudson and Harlem rivers with the Jolly Roger, looting the farm estates and mansions of the rich along the banks along the way, and sometimes kidnapping people for ransom.
By the end of the summer, such a fishery became too risky, as farmers began to defend their holdings, firing at the approaching sloop without warning. Sadie Farrell was forced to return to Manhattan and make up with Gallus Mag. She returned her a piece of ear, which she kept for posterity in a jar with a special solution. Sadie, since then known as the "Queen of the Port," placed him in a locket, which she did not part with for the rest of her life.
Illyrian queen Teuta
After the husband of Teuta, the Illyrian king Agron, died in 231 BC. BC, she took the reins into her own hands, as her stepson Pinnes was still too young. In the first 4 years of his reign over the Ardiei tribe, which lived on the territory of the modern Balkan Peninsula, Teuta encouraged piracy as a means of fighting against the powerful neighbors of Illyria. Adriatic sea robbers not only plundered Roman merchant ships, but also helped the queen to recapture a number of settlements, including Dyrrachium, and Phenicia. Over time, they expanded their influence into the Ionian Sea, terrorizing the trade routes of Greece and Italy. 
In 229 BC. e. The Romans sent ambassadors to Teuta, who expressed dissatisfaction with the scale of the Adriatic pirates and urged her to influence her subjects. The queen scoffed at their requests, claiming that piracy, according to Illyrian views, was a legitimate craft. How the Roman ambassadors reacted to this is unknown, but, apparently, not very politely, because after meeting with Teuta, one of them was killed, and the other was sent to prison. This was the reason for the outbreak of the war between Rome and Illyria, which lasted two years. Teuta was forced to admit defeat and make peace on extremely unfavorable terms. Ardiei pledged to pay a burdensome tribute to Rome annually.
Teuta continued to oppose Roman rule, for which she lost her throne. There is no information about her further fate in history.
Jacotte Delaye
Jacotte Delaye was born in the 17th century. in the family of a Frenchman and a Haitian woman. Her mother died in childbirth. After Jacotte's father was killed, she was left alone with her younger brother, who suffered from mental retardation. This forced the red-haired girl to take up the pirate trade.
In the 1660s, Jacotte had to fake his own death in order to escape the pursuit of government forces. She lived under a male name for several years. When everything calmed down, Jacotte returned to her previous activities, taking the nickname "Red-haired, returned from the other world."
Breton lioness
Jeanne de Clisson was the wife of a wealthy nobleman, Olivier III de Clisson. They lived happily, raising five children, but when the war broke out between England and France, her husband was accused of high treason and executed by beheading. Jeanne vowed to take revenge on King Philip VI of France.
The widow de Clisson sold all of her land in order to buy three warships, which she christened the Black Fleet. Their crew consisted of merciless and cruel corsairs. In the period 1343-56, they attacked the ships of the French king sailing across the English Channel, killed crew members and decapitated with an ax all aristocrats who had the misfortune of being on board.
Jeanne de Clisson hunted by sea robbery for 13 years, after which she settled in England and married Sir Walter Bentley, lieutenant of the army of the English king Edward III. She later returned to France, where she died in 1359.
Anne Dieu-le-Voeux
Frenchwoman Anne Dieu-le-Vieux, whose surname translates as "God wants it", had a stubborn and strong character. She arrived on the island of Tortuga in the Caribbean in the late 1660s or AD. 1670s. Here she became a mother and a widow twice. Ironically, Ann's third spouse was the man who killed her second husband. Dieu-le-Voe challenged Laurence de Graaff to a duel to avenge the death of her late lover. The Dutch pirate was so mesmerized by Ann's courage that he refused to shoot and offered her his hand and heart. 07/26/1693 they got married, in marriage they had two children.
After her marriage, Dieu-le-Vieux set out on the high seas with her newly-made husband. Most of his crew members believed that the presence of a woman on the ship boded bad luck. The lovers themselves laughed at this superstition. How the story of their love ended, no one knows for sure.
According to one version, Anne Dieu-le-Vueu became the captain of de Graaff's ship after he was killed in the explosion of a cannonball. Some historians suggest that the couple fled to Mississippi in 1698, where they may have continued to engage in piracy.
Saida Al-Hurrah
A contemporary and ally of the Turkish corsair Barbarossa, Saida Al-Hurra became the last queen of Tetouan (Morocco); power she inherited after the death of her husband in 1515. Her real name is unknown. “Saida Al-Khurra” in Russian can be roughly translated as “noble lady, free and independent; a woman overlord who does not recognize any power over herself. "
Saida Al-Hurra ruled Tetuan from 1515-42, controlling the western Mediterranean with his pirate fleet, while Barbarossa terrorized the eastern. Al-Hurrah decided to engage in piracy in order to take revenge on the "Christian enemies" who in 1492 (after the conquest of Castilian Granada by the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I) forced her family to flee the city.
At the height of her power, Al-Hurrah married the king of Morocco, but refused to give him the reins of government of Tetuan. In 1542, Saidu was overthrown by her stepson. She lost all power and property; nothing is known about her further fate. She is believed to have died in poverty.
Grace O'Mail
Grace was also called "the queen of pirates" and "the witch from Rockfleet." It is impossible to write about this woman briefly))) everything in her life was so interesting and confusing. Dumas smokes nervously. She was so famous that Queen Elizabeth I of England herself met her.
Grace was born c. 1530 in Ireland, in the family of the chief of the O'Malley clan Owen Dubdara (Umall-Uakhtar). According to legend, she “went bald” by cutting off her hair in response to her father's remark that a woman on the ship is a bad omen, and after her father's death she defeated her brother Indulf in a knife battle, becoming a leader.
After marrying O'Flaherty's Tanist, Domhnall the Warlike, Granual became the head of her husband's flotilla. In the marriage, 3 children were born - Owen, Murrow and Margaret.
In 1560 Domhnall was killed, and Granual with 2 hundred volunteers went to the Isle of Clare. Here she (continuing her pirate activity) fell in love with the aristocrat Hugh de Lacy, who, however, was killed by the hostile MacMagon clan. Granual, in response to this murder, took their fortress and killed the entire clan.
A year later, she announced a divorce and did not return the lock; however, she managed to give birth to a son, Tibbot, in this marriage. According to legend, on the second day after giving birth, her ship was attacked by Algerian pirates, and Granual encouraged her people to fight, declaring that giving birth was worse than fighting. Considering that men won't have to give birth anyway, it's a dubious motivation. Apparently female logic was the most logical then ...
Gradually capturing the entire coast of Mayo, except for Rockfleet Castle, Granual married (according to Irish tradition, in the format of a "trial marriage" for a year) to Iron Richard of the Berke clan.
There were also defeats in Grania's life; one day the British took her prisoner and placed her in Dublin Castle. Somehow the pirate managed to escape, and on the way back she tried to spend the night in Howth. They didn't let her in; The next morning, she kidnapped the burgomaster's son, who had gone out to hunt, and released him free of charge, but with the condition that the doors of the city were to be open for everyone looking for an overnight stay, and there should be room for them at every table.
Queen Elizabeth twice hosted her and wanted to involve her in her service. For the first time at the entrance, the hidden dagger was taken from Grace, and Elizabeth was very worried about the fact of its presence. Then Grace refused to bow before the queen because she "did not recognize her as the Queen of Ireland."
When Grace kissed the snuff box, one of the noble ladies handed her a handkerchief. Using it for its intended purpose, that is, blowing her nose, she threw the handkerchief into the nearest fireplace. Responding to Elizabeth's amazed look, Grace stated that they once had a used scarf thrown away in Ireland.
This meeting was captured in an engraving, the only lifetime depiction of a pirate; even the color of her hair is unknown, which was traditionally considered black, according to her father's nickname, but in one of the poems called red. Why she was called bald, history is silent.
The Pirate Queen died in the same year as the Queen of England - in 1603.
Zheng Shi
Zheng Shi has earned the fame of the most merciless sea robber in history. Before meeting the famous Chinese pirate Zheng Yi, she made a living as a prostitute. In 1801, the lovers got married. The fleet And was enormous; it consisted of 300 ships and about 30 thousand corsairs. 
On November 16, 1807, Zheng Yi died. His fleet passed into the hands of his wife, Zheng Shi ("Zheng's widow"). Zhang Bao, the son of a fisherman, whom Yi kidnapped and adopted, helped her all to manage. They turned out to be a great team. By 1810, the fleet consisted of 1,800 ships and 80,000 crew members. Zheng Shi's courts were subject to tough laws. Whoever violated them paid for it with his own head. In 1810 Zheng Shi's fleet and authority weakened, and she was forced to conclude a truce with the emperor and go over to the side of the authorities.
Zheng Shi became the most successful and wealthy sea robber of all time. She died at the age of 69.
Madame Shan Wong
200 years after the death of the first Chinese "queen of pirates" in the same waters where her flotillas were robbed, a quite worthy successor of her cause appeared, rightfully winning the same title. A former Cantonese nightclub dancer named Shang, who became famous as China's most seductive diva, she married an equally famous person. His name was Wong Kungkim, he was the largest pirate chieftain in Southeast Asia, who began to rob merchant ships in 1940.
His wife, Madame Wong, as her friends and foes called her, was the pirate's faithful friend and intelligent assistant in all his operations. But in 1946, Wong Kungkit died. The story of his death is mysterious, it is believed that the pirate's competitors are to blame. When, in the end, Wong Kungkit's two closest assistants came to the widow, so that she, purely formally (since everything had already been decided by these two), would approve the candidate they named for the post of head of the corporation. “Unfortunately, there are two of you,” Madame replied, without looking up from the toilet, “and the firm needs one head ...” After these words, Madame turned sharply, and the men saw that she was holding a revolver in each hand. This is how Madame Wong's "coronation" took place, because after this incident there were no hunters to talk with her about power in the corporation.
Since then, her power over pirates has been undeniable. Her first independent operation was an attack on the Dutch steamer Van Hoyz, which was boarded at night at anchorage. In addition to seizing the cargo, everyone on board was robbed. The production of Madame Wong amounted to more than 400 thousand pounds. She herself rarely took part in the raids and in such cases was always masked.
The coastal police, knowing that a woman named Madame Wong was in charge of the pirates, could not publish her portrait, which made her capture impossible. It was announced that a prize of 10 thousand pounds was assigned for her photograph, and whoever captures or kills Madame Wong can name the amount of the award, and the authorities of Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines guarantee him the payment of such an amount.
And one day, the chief of the Singapore police received a package with photographs, which said that they were related to Madame Wong. These were photographs of 2 Chinese people being cut into pieces. The caption read: "They wanted to photograph Madame Wong."
That's almost all ...
The theme of beautiful women among pirates is celebrated in cinematography ... and every year it will only gain popularity.
What boy did not play pirates as a child? It seems so romantic - to capture other people's ships in distant seas, experiencing dizzying adventures. However, not only men, but also women were engaged in the pirate craft. There is historical evidence for this. At the same time, the most successful ladies-pirates achieved the unofficial status of "queens".
Such women turned out to be no less brave, cunning, and sometimes cruel than the most famous corsairs of that time. The sea beckoned to give the opportunity to quickly get rich, to see different countries, and there was no shortage of worthy lovers. But the authorities did not particularly look at the floor of the captured pirates, doing their justice. The most famous ladies who have chosen such a dangerous but also romantic craft will be discussed.
Alvilda (V century). This woman in the history of piracy is one of the first known representatives of the weaker sex. Alvilda has been carrying out robbery in Scandinavian waters since the early Middle Ages. This woman's name appears in all popular piracy stories. Legends say that this woman was actually a princess, her father was a king from the island of Gotland. When the monarch decided to marry his daughter to Alpha, the son of the powerful king of Denmark, Alvilda decided to run away from home and become a pirate. On her predatory voyage, the Amazon recruited a team of young women just like herself. The robbers changed into men's clothes, and Alvilda herself became the main robber in the local waters. Soon the raids of a brave female pirate began to seriously threaten the merchant ships and the inhabitants of the coastal territories of the Danish kingdom, then Prince Alf himself was sent to fight the robbers. He had no idea that he would pursue his failed bride. After the prince killed almost all the pirates, he entered into a duel with their leader. The man was able to defeat the pirate and forced him to surrender. Alf was very surprised when, under the helmet, he found the young face of Alvilda, whom he wanted to marry. The girl appreciated the prince's bravery and his fighting skills, having agreed to marry him. The wedding was played on board a pirate ship. The young took vows to each other. The prince promised to love his chosen one forever, and Alvilda herself gave a vow to ever go to sea without a spouse. The veracity of this story can be questioned. Researchers found that for the first time the legend of Alvilda was told to his readers by the monk Saxon Grammaticus, who lived in the XII century. The mention of a female pirate is found in his "Deed of the Danes". The image of Alvilda was born either thanks to the myths of the Amazons, or to the ancient Scandinavian sagas.
Jeanne de Belleville (1300-1359). If the image of Alvilda is semi-legendary, then the avenger Jeanne de Belleville became the first corsair really known from the point of view of history. Around 1335, Jeanne remarried a Brittany nobleman, Olivier Clesson. It was a turbulent time - the Hundred Years War was going on, and the country was torn apart by internal conflicts. Jeanne's husband was an accomplice in the conspiracy and was executed by order of King Philip VI. His loving wife decided to avenge her husband, vowing to do everything possible for this. Jeanne took her two sons, the eldest was only fourteen years old, and went to England. There she secured an audience with King Edward III. The monarch provided the avenger with a small fleet of three ships, he received the name "Fleet of Retribution in the English Channel." For several years this small flotilla plundered merchant ships, even attacking French warships. All the booty received was sent to England, and the surrendered sailors were simply destroyed. A brave woman personally went on ships at sea in search of prey, Jeanne was among the first to rush to board and lead the storms of coastal French castles. Eyewitnesses said that the female pirate had excellent command of both a boarding ax and a saber. Jeanne de Belleville's fame spread throughout France, where she was nicknamed the bloodthirsty lioness. The parliament even passed a special decree on the expulsion of such a rebellious subject from the country and on the confiscation of all her property. The country's fleet was ordered to finally clear the English Channel of British pirates. Soon, Jeanne's flotilla was surrounded. She herself abandoned the pirates and set off in a small rowing boat with her sons towards England. For six days the sailors tried to reach the island, but the current constantly carried them out to sea. It turned out that the escape was made in such a hurry that the pirates forgot to take water and food with them. Six days later, de Belleville's youngest son died, and then several sailors. A few days later, the unfortunates were carried to the shores of Brittany. Fortunately for Jeanne, she got to the associates of her deceased husband. Over time, the brave woman even married again, the nobleman Gaultier de Bentley became her chosen one.
Lady Killigru (? -1571). This female pirate became a thunderstorm of the same English Channel about two hundred years after the story of Jeanne de Belleville. Lady Mary Killigru has managed to lead a double life. In secular society, the lady was known and respected as the respected wife of the governor, Lord John Killiger, who lived in the port city of Falmet. On the other hand, she secretly commanded pirates who plundered merchant ships in Falmet Bay. And such a tactic for a long time allowed the lady to act with impunity and secrecy. She just never left a living witness behind her. One day a Spanish ship entered the bay, heavily laden with goods. The captain and the crew did not have time to recover, as they were captured by pirates. The leader of the Spaniards managed to hide and was surprised to see that the corsairs were being commanded by a young, beautiful, but very cruel woman. The captain managed to escape from the captured ship and reach the coast. In the city of Falmet, he went to the governor to inform him of the pirate attack. Imagine the captain's surprise when he saw that very beautiful woman sitting next to the governor! But Lord Killigru controlled two fortresses, which were supposed to ensure the calm sailing of merchant ships in the bay. Then the captain decided to remain silent and left for London. There he told a strange story to the king, who began his own investigation. Suddenly, it turned out that Lady Killigru had piracy in her blood - her father was the famous pirate Philip Wolvesten from Sofolk. The very same woman from an early age began to take part in the robberies of her father. Marrying a lord helped her achieve a position in society, as well as form her own pirate team. This is how Lady Killigru began robbing ships in the English Channel and coastal waters. The investigation found out exactly how some ships disappeared, which were previously considered to have disappeared due to mystical forces. Lord Killigru was convicted and executed for indulging his wife's interests. Yes, and the lady herself received a death sentence, which was later commuted by Queen Elizabeth I to not life imprisonment. Interestingly, ten years later, pirates under the command of Lady Killigru reappeared in the English Channel. This time the daughter-in-law of the executed lord was acting.
Grain (Granual) O "Malley (1533-1603). This pirate woman was, on the one hand, very brave, and on the other, cruel and insensitive towards her enemies. Grain was originally from an old Irish family, in which there were many pirates, corsairs, or simply sailors. On the ships of the family fluttered a flag with a white seahorse and the inscription "Strong on land and at sea." According to legends, Grain O'Malley was born in the same year (1533) with the English queen Elizabeth I. They write that the Irish woman even met her crowned contemporaries a couple of times, although in life the women fought with each other. From an early age, Grain showed a warlike character. When her father refused to take her to sea for the first time, the girl cut off her luxurious hair - a symbol of female beauty. This is how her nickname "Bald Graine" appeared. On sea voyages, the girl also studied languages, she knew Latin perfectly. Soon the brave girl rallied herself to the most elite pirates and corsairs and began to plunder the lands of people hostile to her clan. Grain decided to get rich this way. Over time, she either defeated her half-brother in battle and became the chieftain of the clan, or simply married the corsair O'Flaherty, leading his fleet. I must say that even being a pirate, Grain managed to give birth to three children. After the death of her husband in battle, the widow managed to save her warlike fleet, besides, her relatives ceded the island of Clare to her for a pirate base. Yes, and the woman did not remain inconsolable. At first, Graine was comforted in the arms of a young aristocrat, Hugh de Lacey, fifteen years her junior. After him, the new husband of the brave woman was Lord Burke, nicknamed Iron Richard. The fact is that on the coast of Mayo, only his castle was not captured by her. This marriage lasted only a year. The pirate divorced in a very original way - she simply locked herself in the castle and shouted from the horse to Richard Burke that he was leaving him. Grain showed her rebellious character even in her meeting with Queen Elizabeth. At first she refused to bow to her, not recognizing the Queen of Ireland. Yes, and the rebel's dagger somehow managed to carry with her. As a result of that meeting, it was possible, if not to attract Grain to the royal service, then to conclude at least the semblance of a peace agreement. Over time, the pirate began its activities again, trying not to harm England. Grain O'Malley died in 1603, the same year as the Queen.
Anne Bonnie (1700-1782). And this native of Ireland managed to go down in the history of piracy. At the age of five, thanks to her father, lawyer William Cormack, she came to North America. This took place in 1705. And already at the age of 18, Ann was known as a beauty with a stormy and unpredictable temperament. She was considered an enviable bride and her father began to look after wealthy suitors. But the girl met the sailor James Bonnie and fell in love with him. The father interfered with the relationship, which is why the young people got married and left for the island of New Providence. But love soon passed and Anne began to live with the captain of the pirate ship, John Rackham. He, in order not to part with his passion, dressed her in men's clothes and took her to his service as a sailor. Anne became a pirate of the sloop Dragon, which cruised between the Bahamas and Antilles. In moments of boarding merchant ships, Anne amazed even the best pirates with her courage. She was merciless to her enemies, rushing first into the thick of battle. And after the end of the battle, Anne personally dealt with the prisoners, doing it extremely cruelly. Even battle-hardened pirates were frightened by the sadism of a young sailor who, with or without him, grabbed a knife and a pistol. They did not even know that their companion was a woman. After some time, Anne became pregnant, and the captain dropped her ashore, leaving her in the care of his friend. Having given birth, the woman left her small child to the guardian and returned to the pirates. There she and the captain decided to tell the pirates the truth. And although the team remembered what a woman on a ship meant, especially a pirate one, the riot did not take place. After all, everyone remembered how bloodthirsty and cruel Anne was. And her behavior and advice often saved pirates. And in one of the attacks "Dragon" captured an English ship. Anne liked the young sailor Mac, who decided to sleep with him. But he also turned out to be a woman, an Englishwoman Mary Reed. She also became a pirate, no less famous than her friend. In 1720, Anne Bonnie, along with her accomplices, was caught. The execution of the woman was constantly postponed due to her pregnancy. They say that the father was able to ransom his unlucky daughter and return home. The storm of the seas once died in 1782, at a venerable age, giving birth to nine more children in a second quiet marriage.
Jaco Delachai (17th century). This lady led the activities of a French privatizer in the 17th century. And she was born in exotic Haiti, however, the girl's father was not a native, but French. In the history of piracy, Jaco Delahai remained a woman of extraordinary beauty. It is believed that she chose the path of a pirate after the death of her father. In fact, this was the only person close to her. The mother died during childbirth, and the older brother was mentally disabled, remaining in the care of his sister. Jaco Delachai had to board the ship of his sailor father and become a robber. This happened in the 1660s. Over time, to hide from pursuers, the pirate faked her own death. At one time, Jaco changed her name and lived in a male guise. When she returned, she earned the nickname "Red from the Dead" thanks to her beautiful fiery red hair.
Anna Dieu-Le-Vaux (Mary Ann, Marianne) (1650-?). This French pirate woman was born in the middle of the 17th century. It is believed that she was taken from Europe to the colonial lands as a criminal. A woman appeared on Tortuga in 1665-1675, when the governor Bertrand Dogeron de La Bure ruled there. On this island, a famous pirate haven, Mary Ann married the corsair Pierre Lengs. In 1683, he died in a duel at the hands of the famous pirate Laurence de Graff. Then Marianne also challenged him to a duel. According to some information, the reason was not the death of a spouse, but personal insults. But the fight did not take place, Lawrence said that he was not going to fight the woman. But admiring her courage, he invited Marianne to become his wife. In fact, de Graff was already officially married, so Marianne became his concubine and mistress. You can really call Anna a pirate, since she followed her husband and fought alongside him everywhere. Ann Bonnie behaved in a similar way. However, unlike her, Dieu-Le-Vaux did not hide her gender, which is why she attracted attention to herself, causing universal respect and even admiration. It is believed that the pirate Marianne was brave, stern and merciless. She even got the nickname "Anna - God's will." And although it is believed that the woman on the ship brings misfortune, this did not concern Marianne. The pirates seemed to be in luck with her. In 1693, her husband took part in the capture of Jamaica, for which he received the title of Chevalier and the rank of senior lieutenant. But a year later, the British attacked Tortuga - Anna, along with her two daughters, was captured and spent three years as a hostage. The family was reunited only in 1698. The fate of the pirates is then lost, it is said that they even became colonists in the Mississippi. But there is one interesting story dating back to 1704. There is evidence that it was then that Anna, along with her husband Lawrence, attacked a Spanish ship. The man was killed by a cannonball, then Marianne took command of the pirates. Unfortunately, there were fewer robbers, they lost the battle. All pirates were sent to hard labor, but the name of their leader was too famous. The news of Anna's arrest through the French naval secretary reached Louis XIV himself, who asked the Spanish king to intervene. As a result, the pirate woman was released. And one of her daughters lived in Haiti and became famous for defeating a man in a duel.
Ingela Hammar (1692-1729). This woman served as a privateer for the Swedish king Charles XII during his Northern War at the beginning of the 18th century. In 1711, a 19-year-old girl married the pirate Lars Gatenhilm, who officially received permission from the king to rob enemy merchant ships. But the privateer robbed everything that came his way. And her future husband Ingela knew her from childhood, their union had long been approved by her parents. This marriage was happy, five children were born in it. There is every reason to believe that Ingela was not just a beloved wife who was waiting for her husband on the shore, but also a faithful companion in his activities. Perhaps it was Ingela who was the brain of all Lars' cunning operations, was behind all his activities. Most of the operations were planned at the base in Gothenburg and were controlled from there. And in 1715 the family has already earned a huge fortune. In 1718, Lars died, and his privateering was inherited by Ingel. During the war, she further expanded her husband's privateer empire. It is no coincidence that the Swede was even nicknamed the queen of navigation. But after the conclusion of a peace agreement with Denmark in 1720 and Russia in 1721, there was no one to fight with. The former pirate remarried in 1722 and died in 1729. Ingela Hammar was buried next to her first husband.
Maria Lindsey (1700-1745). This Englishwoman was born in 1700 and her pirate activity is also associated with the name of her husband. Eric Cobham robbed ships in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and his base was located on the island of Newfoundland. The couple became famous for their cruelty on the verge of sadism. The pirates preferred to sink the captured ships, and all crew members were either killed or used as targets for shooting exercises. Such a career of corsairs lasted from 1720 to 1740. After that, the couple decided to start a new life in France. In Europe, the Cobham couple became respected in society, Eric even managed to get the post of a judge. But for Maria, such a sedate life was not to her liking, and she simply went crazy. Either the woman committed suicide, or her husband killed her. And before his death, Eric Cobham told about all his sins to the priest, asking him to tell everyone the story of his life. The book came out shameful and incriminating, and the descendants even tried to buy and destroy the entire circulation. But the copy remained in the national archives of Paris.
Rachel Wall (1760-1789). The death penalty has long been abolished in many American states. The last person to be hanged in Massachusetts was Rachel Wall. Perhaps the first American-born woman to become a pirate. And she was born into a family of devout believers in provincial Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Rachel didn't like life on a country farm, which is why she chose to move to the city. Once a girl was attacked in the port, and a certain George Wall saved her. The guy and the girl fell in love and got married, although Rachel's parents were against it. The young people moved to Boston, where George became a sailor on a fishing schooner, and his wife became a servant. The family constantly did not have enough money, so George Wall suggested to his friends that they become pirates. At first, the crew, along with Rachel, operated on Shoals Island, off the coast of New Hampshire. The girl on the deck of the schooner portrayed the victim of a shipwreck. When lifeboats with rescuers arrived there, pirates killed and robbed them. In 1781-1782, the Walls, together with their accomplices, seized twelve boats and thus earned 6 thousand dollars and a bunch of valuables. 24 people were killed. But in the end, George Wall, like most of his team, died in a violent storm. Rachel had to return to Boston and resume work there as a servant. But the robber did not forget her past, from time to time robbing boats at the docks. And when trying to rob a young lady Margaret Bender, the bandit was caught. On September 10, 1789, Rachel Wall was convicted of robbery, but asked to be tried as a pirate. The authorities agreed, although the woman did not kill anyone. On October 8, Rachel was hanged at only 29 years old.
Charlotte Badger (1778 -1816). There were female pirates in the history of Australia. Charlotte Badger, who was born in Worcestershire, England, is considered the very first. She also made history by becoming one of the first two white female settlers in New Zealand. An Englishwoman was born in a poor family, in order to feed herself, she began to engage in petty theft. In 1796, the girl was caught trying to steal a silk scarf and several coins. For this she was sentenced to seven years in hard labor in New South Wales, Australia. There she began working in a women's factory and even gave birth to a daughter. Together with the child in 1806, Charlotte boarded the Venera ship, planning to find work in the colonies. The captain of the ship, Samuel Chase, turned out to be a cruel man and liked to beat women with a whip just for fun. Badger, along with his girlfriend, also exiled, Katrin Hagerty, did not want to endure the sadist's bullying and persuaded the passengers to start a riot. Having seized the ship, the women, along with their lovers, headed to New Zealand, choosing the difficult fate of the pioneers. There is information that the rebels from "Venus", together with two women and their lovers, engaged in piracy. However, this venture quickly failed, because the rebels did not understand anything about seafaring. There is a story that the ship was captured by the Maori natives. They burned the ship by eating or killing the crew. Catherine Hagerty died of a fever, but the fate of Charlotte Badger, a loser pirate, remained unknown. It is believed that she managed to hide on the island and then join the crew of an American whaling ship.
