Why is the rum gone? Why is the rum always gone?
When we think of pirates, we imagine seeing men with one eye holding a curved sword and a bottle of rum. Terrorising sailors at sea, they have an era of their own etched in history known as the Golden Age of Piracy, spanning from the 16th to the 18th century. But history also quietly holds space for a group of daring women who defied all pirate norms and led an army of their own. These female pirates of the Golden Age were rebels, warriors, and survivors in a world that barely allowed them to live freely.
Women were considered bad luck aboard ships and also not fit for this ‘manly’ work of piracy, resulting in them being banned from sailing. However, when it came to their self-respect and freedom of survival, they decided to challenge these norms using their wit, allure, and a bold embrace of femininity. Some disguised themselves as men to avoid being caught, while some operated behind the scenes, using influence to shape pirate politics. They commanded their fleet, including tens of thousands of pirates, and led raids wreaking havoc wherever they went.
These hidden heroines were symbols of resistance against the patriarchal society at that time. They showed that piracy wasn’t just a show of strength as the men boasted, but more of how they used their brains to spread terror without bloodshed. Although piracy was a brutal warfare area and lawless, the legacy of female pirates is still used today in books, films, and feminist discourse to celebrate women who defied the odds.
Legendary Female Pirates and Their Adventures
These daring women defied every expectation of their time. Let’s uncover the lives of the fearless few who took to piracy not just for gold or glory, but to forge a legacy that still refuses to sink.
1. Anne Bonny and Mary Read: The Caribbean Duo
Irish by birth, Anne Bonny was rebellious since childhood. She rejected a life of domesticity and disguised herself as a man to join the pirate captain Calico Jack Rackham. She fought in battles and earned a reputation for her fiery temper and fearlessness. She was more than a warrior; she was a strategist who used her charm and wit to manipulate situations in her favour.
Mary Read was a British soldier who switched careers to piracy, joining Calico Jack’s crew and fighting alongside Anne Bonny. Disguised as a man as well, she earned respect through her combat skills. When both of them were captured, they tried to delay their execution by claiming to be pregnant. Mary died in prison in 1721, while Anne’s fate remained an unsolved mystery.
2. Grace O’ Malley: The Pirate Queen
Born in a noble family, she commanded Irish fleets and raided English ships. She even forced Queen Elizabeth I to a one-on-one negotiation. She refused to bow, spoke in Latin, and demanded the release of her captured son. Her leadership was rooted in both strategy and diplomacy, making her a respected figure in Irish maritime history.
3. Jacquotte Delahaye: The Mythic Red-Haired Rebel
She was a Haitian pirate of the 17th century whose story is mostly inked in legends. She had faked her death to escape capture by enemies and came back under the name ‘Back From the Dead Red.’ She led a fleet and established a pirate republic on the island of Tortuga. Her brilliant red hair, fierce nature, and warrior mindset made her one of the most feared pirates.
4. Ching Shih: The Empress of the South China Sea
Born in 1975 in Guangdong, China, Ching Shih came from a humble background. However, her sharp mind and ability to navigate power dynamics caught the attention of Zheng Yi, a powerful pirate commander, who married her and brought her onboard. After his death, Ching Shih took command of the Red Flag Fleet with 1,800 ships and 80,000 pirates at her command. She was feared by the Chinese, Portuguese, and British empires, who dared not confront her. She had a quiet and happy retirement, unlike other pirates who met violent ends. After negotiating with the Chinese empire, she retired peacefully and lived a full life up to 1844.
5. Jeanne de Clisson: The Lioness of Brittany
After her husband’s execution by the French, she left her noble life and turned to piracy for revenge. She sold her land and properties to buy three warships and formed the Black Fleet, named for its ominous black sails and hulls. She conducted brutal raids on the French ships and was so ruthless that she used to leave only one survivor who would spread the tales of her wrath. After so many years of striking panic in France, surprisingly, she as well retired peacefully, remarried, and lived out her days in relative peace.
Legacy and Modern Perception
Female pirates have become icons in novels, films, and video games. Anne Bonny and Mary Read appeared in series like Assassin’s Creed, while Grace O’Malley’s legend lives on in Irish ballads and historical fiction. These women are seen as early rebels to the dominance of men, with their stories challenging the idea that no task is inherently masculine. The tales of these women continue to inspire modern movements that celebrate freedom, defiance, and self-determination.
For centuries, pirate history was dominated by male figures like Blackbeard and Captain Kidd. But the rediscovery of women like Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Grace O’Malley, Ching Shih, and Jeanne de Clisson has led historians to reassess the gender dynamics of piracy. Their legacy lives on in cosplay, fan fiction, and even fashion, where pirate props are seen as symbols of freedom, rebellion, and self-expression. These women proved that courage isn’t about being strong; it’s about standing up when others say you can’t.