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Acerca de

Indian Ocean

Who are the pirates of the Indian ocean?

There were predominantly two forms of pirates in the Indian Ocean. Privately commissioned pirateers and merchants in search of a more lucrative profession. Some of the most renowned pirates of the Indian Ocean are Captain Kidd, Captain Avery, and Captain Tew. 

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Captain Kidd was commissioned by King William III of England in 1695 to stop those who commit piracy against the law of nations in f the Indian Ocean. He was given a ship called the 'Adventure Galley' - a three-mast boat, fitted with 32 light cannons. Kidd sailed for Madagascar to apprehend and seize these so-called pirates and bring them to justice. However, Kidd did not have much success in apprehending pirates, instead, he turned on the fellow Dutch, English, and Portuguese ships, stealing their goods. One of his greatest prizes was the 'Queda Merchant.' A Moorish ship, strictly laden with 400 tonnes of goods. Kidd was one of the most feared pirates of the Indian Ocean, dominating its waters and being a primary actor in the formation of St Mary's, Madagascar a "Pirate Paradise." Despite his lucrative adventures as a pirate, he was later seized by the English and hanged for piracy, robbery, and murder in 1701. 

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Captain Avery was a merchant working for the Spanish in the West Indies, where he was hired to protect the Spaniards from French smugglers operating in the area. However, Avery later stole a ship called the 'Fancy' and sailed to Madagascar along with its crew in search of 'treasures.' One of Avery's great conquests was capturing the Great Mughal's ship, Fateh Muhammad in 1695, containing one of his daughters. Avery stole over £600,000 worth of jewels and goods. Captain Avery is known as one of the Indian Ocean's most famous pirates and claims the title the 'King of Pirates.' His successful career ended with him not being arrested but instead dying penniless in his home country of England in 1696. 

 

Captain Tew was a pirate living in Bermuda. He was hired by the governor of Bermuda as a privateer in 1692 to destroy a French factory in West Africa. Tew was given a ship armed with eight guns and over 50 men. However, he turned to piracy after tracking down an Indian Dough on its way to the Ottoman Empire in 1693. Tew and his men claimed over £100,000 in gold and silver and from then on became a self-proclaimed pirate, earning the respect from his crew. Tew was a regular on the island of Madagascar where he was a primary actor of the slave trade. He was known for his cutthroat and daring personality which unfortunately led to his timely death in 1695. Tew was killed by a cannonball while attempting to capture the Fateh Muhammed, a great Mughal ship. Tew fought alongside Avery to in this battle. 

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It is clear from these three examples that piracy is extremely lucrative. Causing these men to stray from their original tasks in search of goods and treasures. Piracy was ultimately rather hard to prevent because its rewards could not go unnoticed. The loyalty once felt by these men towards their government or previous profession was not strong enough to tackle the lack of jurisdictional power in the Indian Ocean at the time. 

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Captain William Kidd  (1654-1701)

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Captain Henry Avery  (1659-1696)

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Captain Thomas Tew   (?-1695)

Diplomacy
Laws on board: 
Geography
Technology

  • The Adventure Galley - Ship gave to Captain Kidd by King William III  

  • Combined sails and oars, an unusual combination for warships at that time, that incorporated three ship-rigged masts and two banks of oars. Although rowing was slow it enabled the ship to maneuver against the wind - Fit with 32 Light cannons 

  • The Fancy - British ship was stolen by Captain Avery while he was set to protect the natives from the French  - set with 62 light cannons - considered the fastest ship in the Indian Ocean 

  • Most pirate ships in the Indian Ocean therefore did differ from each other in their own ways - predominantly due to the fact their was not one standard form of pirate 

  • Traded legally with other merchants as well - Captain Kidd would engage in trade with Indian merchants

  • When European plantations were established in the seas surrounding Madagascar in the second half of the seventeenth century - the slave trade in Madagascar exploded 

  • Dutch Cape Colony and the French were primary actors, engaging in the slave trade with pirates

  • French sought Madagascar slaves for their new colony on Bourbon (Reunion Island) - The Dutch bought slaves for use in Mauritius 

  • Rough form of democracy aboard their own vessels, electing captains, distributing wealth equitably, and even establishing a form of insurance for any crew members who were injured or otherwise incapacitated during their excursions

  • Elected quartermasters ‘second in command’ - the captain could not act without their approval  

  • Madagascar - became a pirate settlement because:

  • Near lucrative Red Sea trade routes of Mughal empire

  • The lack of any dominant naval or jurisdictional presence in the region 

  • Acceptance  by natives - Pirates established connections with the indigenous providing them with goods in return for their acceptance on the island

  • Rich in resources - bananas, coconuts, yams, rice – which was grown locally and was a common item of trade with the indigenous groups 

  • The lack of any centralized political authority in the region

  • India  - Malabar (South-Western coast)

  • Home of the Maratha pirates (the Maratha Navy) between the mid 17th to the mid 18th century.

  • The Navy began in 1654 and by 1659 consisted of around 20 warships.

  • Began in an attempt to stay in control of their trade routes following the Portuguese arrival on the Western Coast of India 

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