The Scourge of the Seas
The Year is 1720. You are an English Merchant sailing from Kingston to Havana in hopes of selling the several Shipments of Sugar you have acquired there. Your Vessel, a small, two-masted Schooner with roughly Ten Cannons, Five on each Side, can get you to the Spanish Colony quickly, but if any Pyrates were to appear then your Chances of reaching Havana would be slim. Your worst Fears are soon realized as a large three-masted Friagte waving a black Flag is spotted off the Starboard Bow. In a Matter of Seconds, a Hail of Cannonfire blasts into the Vessel's side, setting a Magazine Barrel below ablaze and bringing down one of the Masts. As the Schooner begins to slowly sink, a Number of Pyrates come aboard you Ship, taking your hard-earned Sugar from below Deck and sending it to their Vessel. Once the Sugar is transferred, you hear one of the Pyrates say, "Send 'em to Hell." Another one, tanned by the Caribbean Sun and wearing baggy, tan Linen Pants, a red Cloth Sash around his Waist, and a loose white Shirt, points a Pistol in your Face, and with a loud Bang, the World goes black.
Welcome to the West Indies, Mate, and beware; Here there be Pyrates....
Welcome to the Caribbean
Ahoy, Mate! I see you've stumbled into our humble Waters here. Looking for Something else? No? Intrigued, now, are ye? Well, if you're intendin' to stay and take a Gander, then let me be the first to say welcome to the Golden Age of Piracy. Aye, the Golden Age, an Era starting in the West Indies, or Caribbean, as you Lubbers call it, during the mid-17th Century and carryin' on till the early 18th Century. Here you can learn quite a Bit about this fine Era, including a general Summary of the Period, some Pirate Personalities you may or may nor be familiar with, the wide Array of Sea-faring Vessels these Scoundrels sailed, what Weapons and Items they used in Combat, and much more. So by all Means, pull up a Chair, grab a Tankard of Rum, relax, and let this ol' Dog tell you about the greatest Era in History (if I do say so meself).
What You Will Encounter on Your Voyage
We all have our Beliefs and Ideas of what Pirates were like during the Golden Age, but what was it really like? The Seas were a dangerous Place for anyone, regardless of whether or not you were a Pirate yourself. What even caused this sudden Surge in Piracy? How long did the Golden Age last? Who did these Pirates prey on and why? You will learn all this and a little more over at the Port of History.
Every Trade has its Masters, and Piracy is no Exception. Many infamous Pirates sailed the Seas throughout the Golden Age, though only a Fraction are remembered even to this Day. What exactly caused a Pirate to becomes famous (or infamous) and remembered throughout time? Well, some Pirates were known for their immense Prizes and numerous Plunders, such as Bartholomew Roberts (Left), credited as One of if not the most successful Pirate of all Time, while Others are famous for their fearsome Personalities, such as Edward Thatch, or Blackbeard. Meet some of the most feared Faces of Piracy over at the Port of Infamous Pyrates.
The Golden Age took place during the Age of Sail, a time when the primary Mode of long-distance naval Travel was sail Vessels. Many different Types of naval Vessels were created during this Time, and just about All of these Classes were used by Pirates, from the two-masted and speedy Schooner to the slow but heavily-armed Man O' War. Head on over to the Port of Vessels (redundant) to learn more.
Merchants are one Thing; the Royal Navy is Another. Many Pirates, as well as their Crews and Ships, were outfitted with all the Weapons and Items necessary to safely plunder Merchant Ships, sink Enemy Ones, and dispatch Boarders. From personal Cutlasses and Flintlocks to the Ship's Broadside Cannons and Mortars, PIrates used any Items available to acquire their Fortunes and be rid of their Enemies. Check out the Port of Gear to find out more.