The Pirate History Podcast

In 1685 & 1686, in the West Indies, the English were hunting pirates and arresting any Englishmen that sailed under a foreign flag. The French were arresting pirates while reigning in their privateers...

7 Feb 201859min

The Brethren of the Coast sail from Saint Domingue in one last flurry of high seas piracy. Are they the embodiment of Robin Hood? The Alamo? A metaphor for America? Maybe none of those. But their days...

31 Jan 20181h 11min

Christmas, 1683. King Louis XIV invaded The Holy Roman Empire in a bid to claim the western bank of the Rhine. At that exact moment Laurens de Graaf attacked one of the jewels of the Spanish Empire. H...

25 Jan 20181h 4min

The weeks following the raid on Veracruz were difficult for Laurens de Graaf and Michel de Grammont. Today we look at those weeks, and the initial fallout from the raid. Then we discuss the early days...

16 Jan 201843min

The Buccaneers of the West Indies didn't yet know it but their days were numbered. Their decline was caused by the fallout from their last truly great raid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...

11 Jan 20181h 2min

The summer of 1682 was a busy season for the pirates of the West Indies. Today we follow the cruises of Captain Jean Hamiln who defined that summer. We also take some time here at the end of the year ...

30 Dec 201745min

The French & Dutch defined West Indian piracy in the early 1680s. Three names in particular - Laurens de Graaf, Michel de Grammont, & Nicholas van Hoorn - were the titans of the era. Today we introduc...

24 Dec 201744min

Today we return to a very different Jamaica to catch up with Sir Henry Morgan, Jamaican politics, and get a taste of what's been happening while we've been following the pirates in the Pacific. Learn ...

17 Dec 201741min