The Pirate History Podcast

From 1625 to 1648 Europe fought a general war that wouldn't be matched until the time of Napoleon. This war built the world that would forge Henry Morgan & the Buccaneers, and set the stage for the Golden Age of Piracy to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Thirty Years War was the event that forged the world of Henry Morgan and the Buccaneers. We discuss the politics and conflicts that led to the war and the opening moves in one of Europe's most important periods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's our pirate Christmas special. We explore Christmas in the age of sail and how real pirates recorded spending their holiday. Happy Holidays! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Captain Morgan's raid on Portobelo would be possibly the most controversial of his career. His alleged barbarism there would haunt him for decades. The question remains: what exactly happened on the coast of Panama in summer 1668? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Morgan embarks on a mission of retribution that nearly ends in disaster while Francois l'Olonnais has greater success using much more brutal methods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Captain Morgan was away on his 22 month raid Jamaica got a new Governor and Lieutenant Governor - none other than Henry's uncle Edward Morgan. Morgan, Mansveldt and The Brethren of the Coast weather shifting alliances and disastrous raids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Avast ye bilge lickin' dogs! Talk Like a Pirate Day be comin' quick me hearties! It's time we talk arrr, timber shivering, plank walkin' and pirate accents. And, of course, William Shakespeare. Obviously. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Captain Henry Morgan, to the horror of his Governor and King, sails west into the Gulf of Mexico to raid the Yucatan peninsula. He sails the entire Caribbean coast of Central America raiding and pillaging all the while. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We take a break from our story to look at the tools Captain Morgan and The Brethren of the Coast used on their upcoming raids. These are the ships, firearms and victuals that were the foundation of pirate life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Buccaneers of America by Alexander Exquemelin is a firsthand account of one indentured servant that joined up with a Buccaneer crew out of Tortuga and served under Captain Henry Morgan. We look at the beginning of his story and how it matches the reality of the life of the greatest Buccaneer Captain ever to sail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Okay, so it's really only two books. We cover The English Book of Common Prayer, the English Civil War, and Oliver Cromwell. Then we talk about The English-American and Cromwell's Western Design, including Thomas Gage, Diego Lucifer, and Henry Morgan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Spanish Empire was in decline. The British & Dutch East India Companies spread throughout the world. In the West Indies the new European colonies brought slavery, luxury, and pirates. On the island of Tortuga buccaneers and puritans fight for control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The years of raising tension between England and Spain, Elizabeth and Phillip, raise to a fever pitch. Sir Francis Drake continues his personal war, this time as the Queen's Admiral. The fighting culminates in the climactic naval battle in the English Chanel between the English Navy and The Spanish Armada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Sea Beggars embark on a war against the Spanish. Their fleets reign on the North Sea as they search for a port to call home. They ally with the English and Protestant French forces against the powers of Spain and France, but dark days in Paris push Europe over the brink to open war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While John Hawkins was on his troublesome voyage in the Caribbean, Europe was sailing toward war. In the Low Countries their blossoming Republic was in a life or death struggle with their Spanish overlords. After suffering a serious defeat, a group of ragtag, desperate young pirates arise as the only hope of the Dutch people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Francis Drake continues his voyage of circumnavigation. The Golden Hind and her crew traverse the Strait of Magellan, terrorize the Pacific coast of South America and claim the first land in North America for England. And then they become the first Englishmen to travel round the globe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Francis Drake sets out on his most famous voyage to the New World. Shrouded in secrecy, this voyage will be the one that will see his name remembered forever. However, troubles on board involving a nobleman claiming to have dark powers and a near mutiny almost end the voyage before it begins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Francis Drake sailed back to the Caribbean and the Spanish Main again and again to seek his revenge. Growing bolder and more audacious with every voyage, the Spanish name him The Dragon and Spain's most wanted. He finally strikes a blow that makes Phillip of Spain take notice and for which Elizabeth grants him his knighthood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Francis Drake was the most famous and notorious mariner of his generation. In England he was a hero and respected navy officer. To the Spanish he was a loathsome pirate. Their conflict starts on the troublesome voyage of John Hawkins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first months of Queen Elizabeth's reign were some of the most dangerous she faced. She overcame those challenges with the help of a group of ambitious, talented and notorious sea captains. Together they set England on a path that would build The British Empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She was called a Pirate Queen by the Spanish for daring to challenge their monopoly on The New World. She became a monarch to rival and eclipse the most powerful and influential in Europe, including her father. Her policies led to England's status as a global naval power, established their New World colonies, and were the basis for generations of infamous men and women who would raise the black and fly under a pirate flag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Religion and politics. Stick with me, this is all hugely important to the world and worldview of the Caribbean pirates. We discuss Martin Luther, the schism in the Catholic Church that led to Protestantism, the resulting political turmoil in Europe and the effects on England. This conflict shaped the Old World and the New World and led to wars that employed some of the most notorious pirates of all time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I finally get to Christopher Columbus. Somehow I manage to tie in little known historical curiosities like the Black Death, the Mongol Empire and the rise of the Ottoman Empire. We get to the Spanish colonization of the New World, the conquest of native peoples and the beginnings of slavery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The explorers that first crossed the Atlantic to explore and conquer the New World were birthed by a European continent simmering with religious strife and political tension. Less an episode about pirates and more a snapshot of 15th century Europe and the characters that launched the Age of Exploration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our very first episode. Before we dive into things, I wanted to take a minute to discuss the podcast, what we'll be talking about, and give you a look into the kind of show this is going to be. As well as tell you a little about myself. The beginning is always a good place to start. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices