An Era of Opportunity and Peril
- The Buccaneering Period 1650-1680, where Anglo-French Sailors attacked Spanish Towns in the Caribbean and Pacific
- The Pirate Round 1690s, where Pirates from the Americas attacked Ships in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea
- Post-Spanish Succession 1716-1726, where unemployed Privateers turned to Piracy after the War of the same Name
Each Third saw its own share of infamous Faces, Causes, and Problems. It wasn't until the End of the Post-Succession Period when Piracy began to take a Tumble, the Profession becoming too dangerous and not profitable enough to continue. While Piracy persists Poday in other Forms in other Parts of the World, this Era of Piracy has become a huge Part of popular Culture, becoming the Inspiration for Movies, Novels, and Video Games alike, all investigating the Mystery and Allure of these Rogues and even romanticizing them a Bit. Anyways, let's now take a Step back in Time and a look at who and what these Outlaws truly were.
The Buccaneering Period
Although Europe had known of the New World and the economic and poitcal Potential of Colonies, many Nations hadn't put much Focus into the Venture due to Conflicts at Home. However, after the European Wars of Religion had passed, the former Belligerents once again turned their Attention West to the Americas. Once more Colonies
had been esablished and Trade started up, numerous Ships carrying Gold and
Goods began to travel throughout the West Indies and Atlantic, becoming
prime Targets for Anyone wishing to rob them.
French Buccaneers had existed since before the 1650s, living in northern His-
paniola since 1625. These Buccaneers mostly operated as Hunters, tracking
and preying upon local Wildlife. It wasn't until local Spanish became fed up
with the Buccaneer's Existence and the Animals they hunted, the Hunters
moved from Hisponiola to Tortuga and began attacking Spanish Vessels in
response.
Buccaneering soon became a more profitable Endeavour once England claimed Jamaica from the Spanish; the newly-appointed English Governors of Jamaica gave Letters of Marque to the Tortuga Buccaneers, allowing the Pirates to have a Place of Refuge and a Port to sell their stolen Loot. This ended up letting Jamaica and the newfound Town of Port Royal to grow in Size and Prosperity. Around 1660, the French Governor of Tortuga gave Privateering Contracts to the Buccaneers as well as new English Pirates, an occupation a lot more profitable and secure than Buccaneering, bringing the Buccaneering Period to a close.
The Pirate Round
The Friendliness the French and English saw during the Buccaneering Period was not because of a mutual Dislike for the Spanish, it was mostly due to the Stuart Period occurring in England at the Time, and the Beginning of the 1690s saw the End of the Period. Many English Pirates also grew tired of the West Indies and saw little to no
Reasons to stay. Growing Animosity between French and English Colonies
coupled with an Earthquake that destroyed Port Royal in 1692 made the
West Indies seem like a rather unfavorable place to Plunder and make their
Fortunes. Letters of Marque and Privateering Contracts were also rescinded
by the Colonies and would only be dispensed in Times of War. The Spanish
Fleets that the Buccaneers preyed upon were becoming less common and
profitable. All in all, the Caribbean was no longer the Place to be, causing
Piracy to shift from the West Indies to the Indian Ocean.
Many English Colonies at the time were starved dry of funds due to Naviga-
tion Acts enacted by Parliament, and Pirates seemed to be the best bet for
these Cash-starved Merchants and Governors. While some Pirates attacked
Spanish Vessels on the Pacific Coast (a Place untouched by the Buccaneers' attacks), the Indian Ocean was more profitable due to multiple Factors. Firstly, India had a higher economic Output when compared to Europe's and most of this was due to the large Amounts of luxury Goods like Silk and Calico present in the Country. The Lack of any Navy to defend trade Vessels (most owned by the numerous East India Companies that existed at the time) carrying these Goods made them easy and profitable Targets for Pirates. These Attacks continued for some Time, occurring even into the third and final Phase of the Golden Age.
Post-Spanish Succession Period
Prior to the Beginning of the last Third of the Golden Age, England, France, Spain, and numerous other European Nations took part in the War of Spanish Succession, a grand Conflict that spanned from Mainland Europe all the Way to the American Colonies in the New World. Many of these Countries (England mostly) hired
Privateers to combat opposing naval Forces and attack
Enemy Colonies throughout the Americas. Once the War
ended in 1713-1714, Multitudes of these Privateers were
left without Work, abandoned by their former Employers.
During this Time, cross-Atlantic Shipping Trade started
to boom, making the Prospect and Lull of Piracy ever
greater for the unemployed Sailors.
Many famous Pirates that are still known Today rose to
Fame and Power during these latter Years of the Golden
Age. Pirates like the dreaded Edward Thatch (aka Black-
beard), "Calico Jack" Rackham, Stede Bonnet, and Mary
Read and Anne Bonny took to the Caribbean to find their Fortunes. Many of these Pirates ended up working together, and eventually a Pirate Republic was founded in the City of Nassau in Bermuda. The large Amount of Pirates also angered many Merchants and Kings alike, resulting in a Call for the Heads of these mischievous Rogues. Woodes Rogers, the first English Governor of Bermuda, was a reknowned Pirate Hunter and is credited with the Liberation of Nassau from its former Pirate Governors. Benjamin Hornigold was a Pirate-turned-Pirate-Hunter who attacked the very People he once called Friends and Allies. Another Method that the King of England used to reduce Piracy was allowing Pirates to take a Pardon where they were cleared of all Charges of Piracy should they quit the Profession. Soon enough, the Danger of Piracy outwieghed the Prizes of it, causing Piracy in the West Indies to soon become a petty Annoyance when the Post-Spanish Succession Period and Golden Age as a Whole ended around 1726.
The Golden Age of Piracy was a Decades-long Era (almost lasting a Centruy) characterized by three major Bursts of increased Pirate Activity from the West Indies to the Indian Ocean. These three Periods are as follows: