Histoy of Blackbeard the Pirate

Throughout history pirates have terrorized the world’s seas. There are few men that have been feared as much as pirates were. Names such as pirate, buccaneer, and privateer were given to these men and women that terrorized the seas. Black Sam Bellamy, Bartholomew Roberts, Jean Lafitte, Stede Bonnet, and Ann Bonny are some of the most feared names know to man. These were the names of pirates that dominated the seas during the 1600’s and 1700’s, a time known as the “Golden Age of Piracy.” However, one of the greatest pirates of all time was the great Edward Teach, alias Blackbeard. He terrorized the seas for most of his gruesome life during this era. The “Golden Age of Piracy” marked a time when sea travel was unsafe for everyone, with Blackbeard being one of the lead factors.

The history of piracy dates back more than 3000 years. “It appears that the word pirate (peirato) was first used in about 140 BC by the Roman historian Polybius. The Greek historian Plutarch, writing in about 100 A.D., gave the oldest clear definition of piracy. He described pirates as those who attack without legal authority not only ships, but also maritime cities (http://www.piratesinfo.com/history/history.php).” The most common meaning of the word pirate recognizes them as an outlaw and a thief. Anyone who was caught and tried with the act of piracy would be sentenced to death.

Most people are familiar with the words pirate, privateer, and buccaneer. These words are all names given to groups of pirates. They were all essentially the same thing, with slight differences. In one case, however, you could be considered a legal pirate. These men were called privateers. “A privateer was a pirate who by commission or letter of marque from the government was authorized to seize or destroy a merchant vessel of another nation (http://www.piratesinfo.com/fact/famous.html).” Many kings hired privateers to help weaken their enemies. Privateers would sail the seas and loot and pillage ships in the name of their country. They tended to stay as far from the coast as possible to avoid any navy that might be about. Privateers with a letter of marque were considered legal by international law and they were not supposed to be charged with the act of piracy. However, more often that not, if the enemy managed to seize a privateer, they would oft...

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...rd’s corpse, there were no fewer than 25 wounds, 5 being from pistol shots. Blackbeard truly was a giant of a man, and it took a whole army of men to finally bring him down. Maynard beheaded the corpse of Blackbeard and hung the head from his ships bowsprit as he sailed home victorious. “The mutilated body of the pirate was thrown overboard in Ocracoke where he fell. Legend has it that the headless corpse saw around the sloop several times in defiance before it sank form sight” (Botting, Douglas – The Pirates).

Blackbeard’s death virtually marked the end of the “Golden Age of Piracy.” The “Golden Age of Piracy” only lasted about 30 years, but they may have been the most feared 30 years our world has experienced. No man was safe at sea with the dreaded pirates about. After Blackbeard’s death, no other pirate would be as great as he. Blackbeard may not have been the most successful or richest pirate of all time, but he is one of the most popular and recognized pirates of all time. Many tales are told of his battles at sea and of his pirate way of life. Blackbeard has, and will continue to go down in history, as one of the greatest pirates of all time.