The Most Brutal & Ruthless Pirates in All of History
The history books may have softened the edges of these hardened criminals, but we’ll tell you the unvarnished truth about the eight most ruthluess pirates in history. Be warned- these stories are not for the faint of heart!
1. Edward Teach
Coming in at number eight is Edward Teach. You might not have heard the name Edward Teach, but we’d be willing to bet that you’re familiar with his nickname- Blackbeard.
This swashbuckling lorded over the Queen Anne’s Revenge and was known to have quite the collection of knives and swords on his craft- the better which to chop off his enemies’ heads and limbs!
2. Zheng Yi Sao
Our pick for number seven is Zheng Yi Sao, one of the fiercest females to ever sail the high seas. Zheng Yi Sao was famous for nailing the feet of her rivals to their ships and beating them to unless they pledged loyalty to her. Talk about some seriously effective recruiting tactics!
3. Stephen Decatur
What happens when a Navy man with a major grudge goes rouge? At number six, Stephen Decatur isn’t your typical pirate, but this good boy turned bad decided to carry out some spectacular sea raids all in the name of ‘Merica.
4. Francois L’Olonnais
Our number five pick proves that nobody holds a grudge like a pirate! Francois L’Olonnais despised the Spanish with every fiber of his being, and he took every opportunity to express it in gory and horrifying ways. Good old Frankie was so insanely barbaric that he once ate the still beating heart of a Spanish captain before slaughtering everyone else on board.
5. Ned Low
Ned Low took to like a fish takes to water, making this number four pick a true monster of the seven seas. Unlike most of the coarse characters on this list, Ned Low’s barbarism wasn’t just limited to his enemies. He relished setting neutral ships alight and watching the poor souls aboard squirm.
6. Roche Braziliano
Number three is another Spanish-hater. Roche Braziliano spent his entire career exacting revenge on the country which had once jailed and left him. Holding a grudge that would make Francois L’Olonnais proud, Braziliano ruthlessly hurt any Spaniard he came across with maniacal glee. His techniques were both imaginative and stomach-churning.
7. Francis Spriggs
Our pick for number two, Francis Spriggs, learned his barbarous tactics from the best; Ned Lowe. The two thirsty fellows apparently had a falling out, and Spriggs landed his own ship…and became more ferocious than his malevolent mentor ever was.
8. Charles Gibbs
The number one most thirsty pirate in history is someone who you’ve probably never heard of, but we can guarantee that you won’t forget him anytime soon! Charles Gibbs is the stuff of nightmares.
