Dictators

Anne Bonny and Mary Read may have been the two most famous lady pirates, but they certainly weren't the only ones. History is full of women taking to the sea and ruthlessly taking what they want. Jean...

6 Apr 202140min

During the Golden Age of Piracy, two women terrorized the Caribbean alongside some of the most infamous pirates of the day. Dispelling the old sea superstitions of having women on board, Anne Bonny an...

30 Mar 202138min

In 1812, using his extensive network of rogues and hidden caches of supplies, Lafitte turned the tide of an entire war… then vanished a few years later. The mystery surrounding his disappearance laste...

23 Mar 202137min

From his base in New Orleans, the “gentleman pirate” Jean Lafitte changed the young United States' entire outlook on piracy. In 1812, when war with England seemed imminent, it was New Orleans’ pirate ...

16 Mar 202138min

After sending a message with the destruction of the Protestant Caesar, Blackbeard knew he needed to make a bigger name for himself. So, he decided to do the unthinkable: hold an entire city hostage. L...

9 Mar 202138min

No pirate captain has captured the imagination of the masses like the one known as Blackbeard. From obscure crew member to fearsome legend, his very name evokes an image of the devil incarnate…  Learn...

2 Mar 202137min

Captain Every led his men in a revolt that brought them to the far side of the world. Now it was time to make their fortune — and escape before England caught up with them. Learn more about your ad ch...

23 Feb 202139min

In this new season of Dictators, we're looking at a unique kind of tyrant: the pirate captain. Leading dictatorial democracies, these captains held onto freedom with an iron grip. Today, we'll investi...

16 Feb 202142min