French Pirate Olivier Levasseur Left Behind a Curious Cryptogram – Does it Lead to his Long-Lost Treasure?.While a few freelance pirates held out for a few decades, by the beginning of the 18th century the “Brethren of the Coast” and Tortuga’s pirates were gone for good. With the end of privateering came the end of Tortuga Island. In its heyday, the Brethren of the Coast served under Sir Henry Morgan during his raids along the Spanish Main. The Spanish tried to retaliate several times, but never managed to take Tortuga. The Brethren were mainly privateers who took commissions from England and France to hunt the Spanish. The pirates banded together into a loose coalition called the “Brethren of the Coast” which had its own code of conduct. Interestingly, Tortuga wasn’t as lawless as one might imagine. Much like Port Royal, Tortuga became popular with pirates from England and France as well as Holland and Portugal. One of the buccaneer leaders, Jean le Vasseur, had been a military leader in another life and built a 24-gun castle called Fort de Rocher that protected the island’s main harbor. They began operating out of Tortuga Island and built themselves a fortified stronghold to protect themselves from potential Spanish retaliation. The buccaneers soon discovered hunting the Spanish was much more lucrative than hunting animals. In around 1630 the buccaneers were forced to flee Hispaniola after Spanish settlers came along and settled their island. These hunters were known as buccaneers (another word for pirates) thanks to their unique method of curing meat, boucaner. The stronghold had originally been settled by a group of French hunters who had been living on the nearby island of Hispaniola ( Haiti today). During the 16th century, it was used as a stronghold by a dangerous group of adventurers, thieves, and escaped slaves who targeted the Spanish treasure ships that passed through the Caribbean. Tortuga was another favorite of pirates looking to target the Spanish. 2.Tortuga Island - Home of the Brethren of the Coast The authorities began hanging pirates at “Gallows Point” and high-profile pirates like “Calico” Jack Rackham would ultimately meet their maker there. The freelancers began raiding ships indiscriminately and the port’s colonial authorities quickly decided enough was enough.īy 1720 Port Royal was cleaning up its image. This spelled the beginning of the end for Port Royal as a safe-haven. Ching Shih – From Prostitute to Infamous Female PirateĮventually, the age of privateering ended, and a new breed of lawless freelance pirates was born.The place was full of gambling, prostitution, and drink, a place where sailors could happily waste a fortune in one debauched night. Contemporary sources make the port sound like Las Vegas on steroids. By the 1660s the once small port’s streets were lined with packed taverns and brothels looking to separate young crewmen from their hard-earned booty. The deal also worked out well for the Jamaicans - the pirates brought a lot of booty into the port. A famous example would be Sir Henry Morgan, a British captain who operated out of Port Royal and made a name for himself raiding Spanish strongholds in Portobello, Cartagena, and Panama. These were ships commissioned by the French and British Crown to target and disrupt Spanish ships in the Caribbean and Atlantic. In particular, it was popular with British and French privateers. The pirates happily agreed and the port rapidly grew.Īn illustration of pre-1692 Port Royal. Protect us from the Spanish, and we’ll turn a blind eye to what you get up to. ![]() The small port’s association with piracy began in the mid-1600s when Jamaica’s governors struck a mutually beneficial agreement with various pirates. It had everything they could ever want - thieves, prostitutes and pirates, all looking for work. 1.Port Royal - A Hub for Privateersĭuring the 17th and 18th centuries, Port Royal (Jamaica) was the place to be if one were a pirate looking to make a name for themselves. In this article, we'll explore eight famous pirate ports and strongholds and discover their fascinating stories of adventure and danger on the high seas. These pirate ports and strongholds, scattered around the world, were hotspots of piracy and criminal activity that shaped the course of history. But pirates needed a base of operations, a place to rest, repair their ships, and plan their next raid. From the Caribbean to the South China Sea, pirates have prowled the high seas, attacking ships, and plundering their cargo. Pirates have captured our imagination for centuries with their tales of adventure, daring raids, and hidden treasure.
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