Throughout history, there have been people willing to rob others transporting goods on the water. Thousands of pirates were active from 1650–1720. These years are sometimes known as a 'Golden Age' of piracy. Famous pirates from this period include Blackbeard (Edward Teach), Henry Morgan, William 'Captain' Kidd, 'Calico' Jack Rackham and Bartholomew Roberts.
In the 17th century, buccaneers lived on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola and its tiny turtle-shaped neighbour, Tortuga. At first, they lived as hunters, and shot wild pigs with their long-barrelled muskets. Their name came from the special wooden huts called boucans where they smoked their meat.
Later, the governors of Caribbean islands such as Jamaica paid the buccaneers to attack Spanish treasure ships and ports. Some of the largest scale raids were led by the Welsh captain, Sir Henry Morgan. Although raids began in this way, with official backing, the buccaneers gradually became more and more out of control, eventually attacking any ship they thought carried valuable cargo, whether it belonged to an enemy country or not. The buccaneers had become true pirates.
These blagards were paint'd by meself, from Peter Pigs range of minis, I raised the banners from Warflag, choosin a pretty little number for each unit, they be painted for me hearty Postie, who's got a great looking ship for 'em to sail the seven seas in. But 'es gonna use'um for priviteers to fight the darstadly English for the War of 1812, as e says they did fight at The Battle of New Orleans in 1815, commanded by Jean Lafitte and his older brother Pierre!!! And yes.... I will keep on taking the tablets????
Ray
 |
| Jean and Pierre Lafitte |
