Pirates and Privateers
The History of Maritime
Piracy
Cindy Vallar, Editor
& Reviewer
P.O. Box 425,
Keller, TX 76244-0425
Welcome aboard Pirates and
Privateers, a site devoted to the history
of maritime piracy, privateering, and the sea
before the Age of Steam.
Within these pages you will find articles
dealing with the history and culture of these
topics from ancient times to modern day. Click
one of the links above or below to explore the
treasures within this website.
Each month, I send out a newsletter
about the latest article and reviews posted
here. I also include information that doesn't
appear at Pirates and Privateers, but is
still of interest to adherents of piracy and
maritime history. By subscribing to the
newsletter, you'll never miss out on the latest
happenings here at Pirates and Privateers.
As
always, if you have a question about pirates,
please write
and ask. If there is a particular pirate
or subject, you'd like me to write about, let
me know.
One cautionary note for those
seeking genealogical information: Historical
records about pirates are rare. Much of what
is known comes from government records,
newspaper accounts, and the few contemporary
accounts written during a particular period.
This information rarely contains details
pertinent to what you need to know to identify
an ancestor. The simple fact is that the vast
majority of pirates' names remain unknown. I cannot answer
genealogical questions. Instead, I recommend
contacting genealogical depositories and
websites, historical societies, and
national archives --
places where the librarians and curators are
better trained to assist in this type of
query.
A special note to teachers
and students: If
you need help with a project or
report, please contact
me. Should you use any of my
articles or reviews, please let me
know and remember to include the
proper citation. The majority of
material contained with this
website is copyrighted.
Fair winds and
following seas,
Cindy
(site last updated 22 December 2023)
Pirate Quote of the
Month
The numerous
battles I have fought over the
past several years give me the
impression that the pirates
always manage to sit on the
heights waiting for us.
Usually they hold on till
evening, when our soldiers
become tired. They then dash
out. Or else, when we start to
withdraw, they will catch us
out of step to launch their
counter attack. It seems that
they always manage to send
forth their units when they
are fresh and spirited. They
adorn their helmets with
coloured strings and animal
horns of metallic colours and
ghostly shapes to frighten our
soldiers. Many of them carry
mirrors. Their spears and
swords are polished to a shine
and look dazzling under the
sun. Our soldiers, therefore,
are awed by them during the
hours of delay before contact.
– Qi Jiguang of Korea, 1555
Dec. - Feb. Articles |
Dec.
- Feb. Reviews |
Samurai,
Scholar, Poet, Prince, & Pirate
Toleration extends only so far. Those
who refuse to kowtow must be dwelt
with. With the death of Zheng Zhilong,
the Qing had had enough. Now was the
time to strike the fatal blow that
would bring Koxinga into their fold.
Destiny had other plans.
His childhood name suggested bright
prospect for the Zheng house. His
given name identified him as a model
for the world. His behavior as a youth
belied both those possibilities, yet
he became a visionary and a
compassionate, perceptive, and
competent leader.
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Pirates,
Raiders & Invaders
of the Gulf Coast
by Ryan Starrett & Josh Foreman
History
Pirates
of the Slave Trade
by Angela C. Sutton
History:
Piracy
Dead
Man's Chest
edited by
Russell K. Skowronek & Charles R. Ewen
Archaeology
Betrayal
by Julian Stockwin
Nautical
Fiction
Caribbee
by Julian Stockwin
Nautical
Fiction
The Private Misadventures
of Nell Nobody
by Jennifer
Newbold
Nautical
Fiction
The Two
Battles of
Copehagen
1801 and 1807
by Gareth
Glover
History:
Navy
A True
Account
by Katherine
Howe
Historical
Fiction:
Pirates &
Privateers
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Pirate & Maritime News
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Events & Activities
|
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The Van
de Velders
Greenwich, Art and the Sea
Through 14 January 2024
Queen's House
Greenwich, United Kingdom
Boarded!
30 December 2023
Maritime Museum of San Diego
San Diego, California
Pirates
of the Caribbean:
Dead Man's Chest in Concert
18 & 19 January 2024
Schmerhorn Symphony Center
Nashville, Tennessee
Children's
Gasparilla Pirate Fest
20 January 2024
Tampa, Florida
Gasparilla
Pirate Fest
27 January 2024
Tampa, Florida
Old
City Pirate Fest
2-4 February 2024
St. Augustine, Florida
Pirates
on the Prairie XI
3 February 2024
Uptown Theater
Grand Prairie, Texas
Annual
Conference on Sail Training and Tall Ships
5-7 February 2024
MITAGS-Maritime Conference Center
Linthicum Heights, Maryland
Fort
Pierce Seafood & Pirate Festival
10 & 11 February 2024
Fort Pierce, Florida
2024
Western Naval History Association
16-18 February 2024
USS Midway Museum
San Diego, California
Gasparilla
Outbound Voyage
2 March 2024
Tampa, Florida
Gulf Coast Renaissance
Faire & Pirate Fest
2-3 March 2024
Santa Rosa Fairgrounds
Milton, Florida
Pirate
Fest LV
23-24 March 2024
Craig Ranch Park
Las Vegas, Nevada
Sail 250th New York
4 July 2026
New York City, New York
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The Rebel & the Spy
These
five people played roles in the War of 1812.
James Madison (far left) was president at
the time and, in my current
work-in-progress, he has a special
assignment for Lucas Burnett, one of the
protagonists in the novel. Jean Laffite
(beside Madison) operates a smuggling
operation, based on barrier islands
southwest of New Orleans. One of his
captains, is Dominique You, whose sister
Alexine has been raised in this nefarious
world of smugglers, pirates, privateers, and
cutthroats. Dolley Madison is the country's
presidentress (first lady) and plays a vital
role in preserving some of our national
treasures during the British invasion of
Washington City. General Andrew Jackson
(second from right) has no intention of
allowing the British to gain entry to the
United States through its back door (the
Mississippi). Governor William C. C.
Claiborne (far right) is Lucas's cousin and
a constant thorn in Laffite's side. They
come together within the pages of The
Rebel & the Spy, a historical
novel where it's not always easy to decide
who is the rebel and who is the spy.
The links below are to a gallery of places
depicted in my novel and a resource list for
those seeking information on the people
pictured above, pirates, ships in the age of
sail, the Battle of New Orleans, the
invasion and burning of Washington, the
bombardment of Fort McHenry, and much more.
(Please note that these pages are updated
from time to time, so check back to see
what's been added.) I hope you enjoy.
Pirates & Privateers
Newsletter
Each month I alert
readers to the posting of the
latest piracy article and book
reviews, new additions made to the
website, and interesting maritime
tidbits. If you would like to
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& Privateers Newsletter,
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Note to subscribers:
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welcome to resubscribe if that
occurs.
Copyright ©2023 Cindy
Vallar
Click to contact me
Background image compliments
of Anke's Graphics |