PIRATES - Daring Adventurers of the Seas

       When we say a "Pirate" we imagine a bad guy with a hooked hand, wooden leg and patch over one eye. Whereas when we get deeper into the piracy history we face a different story.

        The history of the piracy is almost old as the history of marine. The oldest evidence of the pirates' existence is an inscription on a clay tablet from the time of Pharo Echnaton (1350 BC). This document describes a pirates' ship attacking in North Africa. There is also an epigraphic evidence from the 340's, from Athens.

The piracy was a common thing during the Ancient Greek and the Ancient Roman age. The ships from those times used to sail near the coast, which made them the easy targets to the pirates.

The Greek's pirate base was in the Lipari Islands for over 2500 years and Rome 's was Istria. Greek pirates, Illyrian, had their attack on Roman's ships in the Adriatic Sea. Therefore, Rome attacked Illyrians twice after that. Since 10 th century BC, Dorian Greek pirates had been based in Crete. This lasted for over 800 years.

In the 2 nd century BC, the eastern Mediterranean was under the supervision of the Rhodeans. There were several attempts to stop piracy. Soon, Crete was not a comfortable place for the pirates anymore.

                The Jolly Roger flag popularly attributed to 18th century 

Some Lycians were pirates, too. Lycia was in the Antalya Providence, which is today's Turkey. Lycian pirates plundered many ships. Unfortunately, for them, Ramses The Third destroyed their havens in 1194, but after some time the pirates recovered and became active again. The ending of these pirates' activities came with a few Romans' attacks. They finally destroyed the pirates in 67 BC.

After the fall of Romans, the pirates became active once again, with even bigger ambitions.Lycian pirates had not been stopped, till the patrols of the British warships suppressed piracy in the 18th a 19th century.

Cilician pirates were famous, too. Cilicia was also on the territory of today's Turkey, on the southern shore of Asia Minor. The great geographic position, near Egyptian and Palestinian sea lines, made Cilicia an ideal place for the pirates' haven. It became the home of numerous pirates. Cilicia was the biggest pirate haven of the ancient times. On the top of their strength, these pirates almost destroyed Rome Empire. After that, Pompey the Great almost ruined them in 67 BC. Cilician pirates are best known for capturing Julius Caesar in 78 BC and keeping him on Pharmacua till the ransom was paid. However, Caesar had his revenge. His people killed all pirates responsible for his kidnapping.

Since the ancient times, there were particular periods in which piracy was constant threat throughout many seas and oceans. However, it was in the early 18 th century, when the pirates were the most overwhelming and influential in history of the world. It was a time, in which almost all important sea-trade routes were constantly impacted by enormous number of notorious sea-robbers. That period is idealistically called Golden Age of Piracy.

The Golden Age of Piracy began in mid 1680s, just as the last buccaneers disappeared from the Caribbean. It was a result of many circumstances like the ends of many wars and lack of decent naval employment. Many sailors and privateers found themselves without jobs. Therefore, they naturally choose piracy as the trade, knowing it was the best opportunity for them. What encouraged them most is a lack of the strong government in the Caribbean islands and in other American colonies which allowed pirates to sail free and pillage ships without any potential punishment.

The Golden Age pirates plundered ships in the Caribbean mostly, but Atlantic coast, West Coast of Africa, Indian Ocean and South China Sea were also constantly terrorized. It was also a time of most famous names among pirates. Legends like Blackbeard and Bartholomew Robertsplundered many ships and killed countless victims in early 1700s. They have been giving inspiration to many writers for over 300 years, and they are still well known today.

People like, Woodes Rogers, the governor of Bahamas, were the most responsible for suppressing piracy. He and his followers brought order not only to Bahamas, but to the entire Caribbean Sea. Many pirates were hanged, many of them retired and few tried to find their luck in the Atlantic Ocean. However, one thing was certain, the Golden Age of Piracy was coming to an end. Around 1730, increased military presence and international anti piracy laws, banished almost every single pirate and finally put an end to the Golden Age of Piracy.

The Golden Age of Piracy began in mid 1680s, just as the last buccaneers disappeared from the Caribbean. It was a result of many circumstances like the ends of many wars and lack of decent naval employment. Many sailors and privateers found themselves without jobs. Therefore, they naturally choose piracy as the trade, knowing it was the best opportunity for them. What encouraged them most is a lack of the strong government in the Caribbean islands and in other American colonies which allowed pirates to sail free and pillage ships without any potential punishment.

The Golden Age pirates plundered ships in the Caribbean mostly, but Atlantic coast, West Coast of Africa, Indian Ocean and South China Sea were also constantly terrorized. It was also a time of most famous names among pirates. Legends like Blackbeard and Bartholomew Robertsplundered many ships and killed countless victims in early 1700s. They have been giving inspiration to many writers for over 300 years, and they are still well known today.

People like, Woodes Rogers, the governor of Bahamas, were the most responsible for suppressing piracy. He and his followers brought order not only to Bahamas, but to the entire Caribbean Sea. Many pirates were hanged, many of them retired and few tried to find their luck in the Atlantic Ocean. However, one thing was certain, the Golden Age of Piracy was coming to an end. Around 1730, increased military presence and international anti piracy laws, banished almost every single pirate and finally put an end to the Golden Age of Piracy.