Rome was on the move. With multiple territories already under their rule, the Empire set out in the third century to conquer lands further north and east. Their reputation preceded them, sparking fear in the hearts of their rivals, and for the most part they had gone unchallenged. But an unusual rival was about to step forward and test Rome's dominance.
King Agron was a mighty ruler in his own rights, and his kingdom stretched far and wide, from the Danube River in the north and the mountains towards the east, to the Adriatic Sea to his south. The vibrant water and enchanting landscape were home to many Illyrian tribes, including the rd I. Although the king ruled well, he knew
the political landscape was shifting. To prepare for the inevitable, he built great naval forces in the Mediterranean Sea and expanded his influence along the coast, and with this military might, he focused on his kingdom's growth, challenging a Greek kingdom of Aetolia during his campaign. Toyota, his second wife, stayed behind as regent in place of Agron's infant son from his first marriage, and the king didn't worry about his kingdom and his absence. For his queen was strong willed
and a powerful force in her own right. King Agron fought bravely alongside his men, and they were victorious. The kingdom celebrated with great feasts, lots of dancing, and plenty of drinking contests. The festivities came to a close, though, when Agron fell ill with pleurisy and died in two thirty BC. With such political upheaval, this might have been his kingdom's end, except Queen Toyota had ambitions of her own. She continued her attacks, relying heavily on one strategy, in
particular piracy. So when she captured the capital of Epirus, a politically important Greek city, Rome noticed Toyota's pirates robbed Rome's merchant ships and trade vessels, and to the Romans, no one messed with their finances. Gaius and Lucius corn Cannius, Roman diplomats and brothers met with Toyota, hoping to persuade the queen to ban piracy, well, to ban her piracy, but not theirs. Rome had no intentions to stop using pirates,
and the queen declined the diplomat's request. Piracy was a longstanding Illyrian tradition, and theirs had become some of the most feared in the Mediterranean. Her ships and crew had her respect and their free reign. Gaius and Lucius sail for home, although they would never make it. Toyota ordered their ship raided and the brothers killed. In response, Rome assembled an army of twenty thousand men and two hundred ships,
which set sail for Toyota's navy. The queen entrusted her adviser, Demitrius Aferos, to their defense, but that would prove a fatal mistake. He betrayed her, surrendering without a fight and aligning with the Romans. Unprepared for such treachery and left with little choice, Toyota agreed to the peace Treaty, forceing the once mighty Illyrians to become a client state and pay Rome tribute. A year later, Rome forced from the throne.
According to legend, Toyota threw herself off a cliff in the Bay of Kotor, placing a curse on the town. But although she'd lost her land and her throne, her defiance set the stage for centuries of rebellion, and at the hearts of those uprisings, with something any rebel could relate to piracy. I'm Aaron Manky and welcome two pirates. Pirates appeared to be the ultimate rebel. Their legendary greed for treasure and their cutthroat nature made them the nonconformist
Mavericks of the sea. And yet that's not the full picture, because pirates actually played an important part in the matters of kingdoms and governments. For a lot of pirates, it was right there from the beginning. It wasn't uncommon for sailors to sign on as privateers, choosing to harass, pillage, and plunder for their kingdom or country. Yes, pirates had far better freedoms than privateers, but some chose the unsanctioned version of their career path only after having a falling
out with the powers that be in their homeland. Now, war had long been a way of life in Europe as new nations fought for territory. In doing so, alliances were constantly forged and broken, and when Europeans began arriving in America, everyone wanted to stake their claim. Spain, France, England,
and Portugal all took a strong interest. At the time, England had less of a military presence, making their ships heading to the New World subject to more attacks, but none of that stopped them from wanting to stake a territorial claim. When Queen Anne's War broke out in seventeen o one, it saw England, Spain, and France fight for control of North America, and although the British were underpowered,
they still managed to do something extraordinary. An English fleet trapped a dozen French vessels plus most of the Spanish navy in an inlet off of Spain's northern coast. Miraculously, the British managed to destroy or capture most of their opponent's ships. In retaliation, the French hired one hundred privateers to operate out of Dunkirk. These joined other privateering vessels
from other French cities. Throughout the war. They targeted English and Dutch ships, rating about five hundred each year, and the Spanish hired their own as well. With their adversaries teaming up against them, the British responded in kind with their own privateers. British colonies in Jamaica quickly outfitted thirty ships, and men began to line up for their privateering licenses. For many of these privateers they wouldn't be stealing from their adversaries so much as taking it back for a fee.
Of course, some of them, men like Woods Rogers, had previously worked on merchant vessels, while others like Henry Jennings and Benjamin Hornegal had been sailors on a variety of different ships. Before long, England's fleet rivaled their adversaries, they set up headquarters and turned the tables, hunting down French merchants and Spanish treasure fleets as the war raged on.
The privateers earned considerable wealth from their efforts. Year after year, the money rolled in, that is, right up to the seventeen thirteen Treaty of Utrecht. The treaty meant some of the privateers had to return to their former jobs, but many of them had no intention of giving up their better pay and freedom. Besides, France and Spain hadn't exactly stuck to the treaty, going back to raids almost immediately.
The British privateers faced another problem as well. When Queen Anne died and her line of errors had been removed from the throne, the new government changed the Empire's agreement
with those privateers. Those who had served well under the Queen now found their portion of the bounties had been significantly reduced, so privateers turned to piracy instead, and the British pirates weren't alone in voicing their displeasure with their government the way back in fourteen nine to Spain expelled Jewish settlers who had lived among them for centuries, forcing them to find new homes in places like Brazil, Jamaica, and even New York. But those who settled among the
pirate communities soon took up piracy. Spanish treasure ships quickly became a primary target, not only for the riches aboard, but as revenge for how poorly their people had been treated, particularly during the Inquisition. For example, in six pirate captain Moses Cohen and Riquez came across a Spanish treasure ship off Cuba's Bay of Matanzas. The gold he captured that day would be worth over one billion dollars in modern American currency. In Riquez went on to settle in Brazil,
establishing his own pirate kingdom. Twenty years later, he worked closely with Henry Morgan, continuing to wreak havoc on the Spanish. So there you have it. Some pirates sought to change their governments, while others sought revenge. But the Irish pirates they saw something even more valuable and elusive independence. Long before England became a sovereign nation or even flexed their imperialistic ambitions, Irish pirates were roaming the sea in search
of treasure. In fact, some of Ireland's largest settlements once served as home to one fierce seafaring group of people, in particular, the Vikings. They found the area agreeable, staying and becoming intermingled with Irish communities, and over time they passed along their techniques of hunting ships and conducting raids to the locals. Piracy flourished in West Cork, eclipsing even
the pirate capital later established in Nassau. It seems that hundreds of years before the dawn of the Golden Age of piracy, Irish pirates reigned supreme, and there many raids bolstered the local economy. Pirates brought in goods from all over the world, selling it for a fraction of the cost. Towns flourished from all the money pirates would spend when they returned from sea. In the towns of Kelly, Bags, Donegal and Baltimore, and Cork pirates walked the streets freely.
Everyone from lawyers to jurymen collaborated with them, helping to plot their attacks and businesses. With lure pirates into port with the promise of feasts, dancing and women. Others were equally as welcoming, although less friendly to them. Local chieftain Michael Cormick of brad Haven saw a different opportunity. He and his band of men robbed pirates of whatever they had on them. Entire families often took on the pirate life. For example, the O'Malley clan ruled a stretch of land
near Clue Bay on Ireland's western coast. They held their power longer than most, too, beginning in the thirt hundreds and spanning nearly three centuries. Rows of their castles dotted the seashore. Thanks to piracy, the clan had acquired considerable wealth, but they also dabbled in protection, rackets and mercenary work. Their legitimate business trade with Spain and France further padded
their pockets. In fifteen thirty, chieftain Own, a descendant of a king and a member of one of the oldest seafaring families in Ireland, waited while handmaids tended to his wife, Margaret, expectantly waiting for the birth of their first child. All went well, and they named her Granny. They say she grew to be as intelligent and fierce as her parents, and although she was an only child, she did have a half brother born to her father and another woman.
Unlike other clans who favored illegitimate heirs over legitimate female heirs, Own favored Granja over his son Donald. Perhaps she became his favorite for her spirit, her intelligence, and her fiery red hair, or perhaps he favored her because she hung on his every word and took a strong interest in the family business. She became fluent in several languages, could read and write, and was even taught mathematics. All told,
she lived a privileged life. The trade business was brisk in the sixteenth century, and her father spent much of his time traveling. Grannie pleaded for him to take her with him. Own left, teasing his daughter that her hair would become tangled in the ropes. Neither he nor his wife was amused when Grannia cut off that hair and dressed as a boy. In the end, her father relented, teaching her everything he knew about commanding and running a ship.
Grannia paid close attention to navigating through the sandbars, the islands, and the rocks that made Clube Bay treacherous. Eventually, Owned took Grannie with him on a few trading ventures. But childhood doesn't last forever, and soon enough her parents began to prepare their daughter for marriage and for his daughter's future husband. Owned chose a member of the Auflty clan, landowners and allies of Theirs to the south. Both clans
thought the match was a smart one. Donald at Chogi was not only a warlord but also the elected heir for the Aflty clan, and so in fifteen forty six, young Granna became his wife. They had three children together, Owen, Margaret, and Murray. The Auflertes and the neighboring clan, the Joyces, spent much of their time warring. Donald spent much of his time away, leaving Grania to parents alone. One day, while out on a hunt in the hills, Donald was killed.
His death was no accident, though he had been ambushed. With both the Joyces and the English determined to take over the kingdom. Grannie returned home, leaving her children behind they were a flirty after all, and she was O'Malley. She didn't return empty handed, though, Many of the Auflerty mercenary warriors chose to leave with her, and as she left the Auflerty castle, Grania took one last thing, her husband's favorite motto, Fortune favors the brave. Her husband's men
had followed her for a good reason. While Grannie had been busy running a household and raising children, she had also started her own trade operation. Those mercenaries had been her employees, and she had earned their loyalty. It's unclear when, but sometime after returning to O'Malley Land's, gran also found love. Her family had enemies, though, and her new lover, Hugh, met an unpleasant end at the hands of another clan,
the McMahon's of blacks in Bay. The trouble started when Grannie's men took tribute from the McMahon's, and act her family had done many times over the years. Suffice to say, Grannie didn't take to Hugh's murder and planned her revenge. She waited until the McMahon's set out on a journey to call her island. Her men followed and attacked, killing everyone on board involved with Hugh's death to drive home
the retribution. Though, Grania and her men also captured the family castle, Douna, earning her the nickname the Dark Lady of Douna. She married again in fifteen fifty six to Richard Burke, who came from a very powerful and affluent clan. But Grannie had grown her own power and wealth, accumulating more ships and hundreds of men under her command, men who had either left or been ousted from their own clans, making them suitable pirate material. When her father died, Grannie
broke tradition. Technically, her half brother, being the only male heir, should have taken over the clan, but with her husband's and her men's support, the clan voted her into power. No other woman in Irish lore had managed to become a pirate queen, much less a clan chief. As her power and reputation grew, she kept an eye on England.
Queen Elizabeth the First had named a new Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir Henry Sidney, whose job it was to take down the Irish chiefs, especially those the Queen determined were troublesome. Meanwhile, Grannie had something else on her mind. She was pregnant, although being with child hardly prevented her from taking part in pirating. Legend has it that she even accompanied her men on a hunting journey at this time,
somewhere off the Iberian Peninsula in the Middle East. She had gone to bed when a crew of Barbary pirates attacked her ship. Hearing the fighting above deck, she grabbed a firearm and joined her men in battle. Instead of being plundered, Grani and her men turned the tables and
captured the Turkish pirate vessel. When she gave birth to her son, Tibbett, she and Richard gave him everything he needed, including the best education, and when he grew older, they sent him to live with a noble family to further his learning as well as his sword fighting skills. Grannia continued to rule her pirate kingdom, taking great pleasure from raiding English ships. Aside from the financial benefits, looting the
ships became an act of protest against Britain. England had recently sent an execution squad to Ireland, and although he had failed, Sir Henry Sydney had also tried to force a new tax system on her people. At one point, Sidney demanded to meet with the Irish lords. During the meeting, Grannia strode in announcing herself as chief and captain. Sir Sidney was stunned not only with her command and power, but that she offered him her service, her men, and
her ships. Now plenty of Irish captains had offered similar deals in the past, only to later raid the ship they had been hired to protect, But in fifteen seventy eight, Grannia took it a step further. Within weeks of the deal, she planned her attack and set sail with her men. Her target was the Earl of Desmond, who had pledged to abandon Irish customs. Unfortunately for Grannie, she was captured
and imprisoned for months. The Earl, hoping to gain favor with Queen Elizabeth, informed her spy master that he had captured the pirate. Queen Grannie was transferred to Dublin Castle, where she was kept in chains until her release in
fifteen seventy nine. Four years later, her husband, Richard died of natural causes, and a year after that, the English appointed Sir Richard Bingham as the Provincial President of Conduct Bingham set out to destroy gran He killed her oldest son, Owen, and also captured an imprisoned Tibbett, flouting his horrific and cruel treatment of her younger son. And finally Bingham took one of her best strongholds. But if he thought he
had broken her, he was sorely mistaken. Granny asked to meet directly with Queen Elizabeth, Queen to Queen, so to speak, and that meeting took place in Greenwich in fifteen ninety three. Legend says that Grannya carried a dagger and refused to bow. Whatever else may have been said or done, Grannya got everything she asked for that day, justice for Owen's death and freedom for Tibbet. In exchange, she gave up piracy
for men, however, carried on. Although the golden age of piracy has long passed and the likes of Edward Teach and Grannye O'Malley are no longer an influence or rebel against political powers, there's still a little pirates in our government that exists. In a single word, the filibuster. The definition means using delaying tactics to stall or prevent an action, generally in a legislative assembly. We're familiar with long winded political speeches and delays when it comes to voting on
certain bills, but filibuster has salad roots. In the Piratine world. The word was first used sometime around fifteen ninety one and meant flea booters or more commonly free booters. The origin of the word filibuster is probably Dutch, although it's likely there's some French and Spanish influence in there as well. Filibusters as people, had a surly reputation and were usually relegated to describing buccaneers who had a hold on American
and Caribbean countries between eighteen thirty and eighteen sixty. Venezuelan filibuster Narcisco Lopez, for example, devoted himself to not only cashing in on treasure ships, but taking his part in overthrowing governments. Lopez helped free both Cuba and Venezuela from Spanish rule. By the eighteen hundreds, filibusters became a term used to describe individuals who ignored neutrality laws and engaged in acts of war by taking control of another country's
land and people. In the US, filibustering became popular among people living in the Southern States, whose sympathy eyes with men like Lopez, occasionally even funding their attacks. Countries like Cuba, Honduras, and Mexico often found themselves the targets of such movements. Americans who engaged in filibustering caused international tensions, especially with England, where some encounters nearly led to war, and Lopez wasn't alone.
Tennessee native William Walker annexed a part of Mexico, declaring himself president. He claimed that Mexico wasn't making the best use of the land, giving him and his men the right to take the ownership. His excuse didn't go over very well with Mexico or the US, straining diplomatic relations between both sides. Walker eventually gave into the pressure from both countries and left, and although the US arrested and
tried him, he was acquitted. Having found little pushback or consequence, and with the rising popularity of the filibuster movement, he tried the tactic again, this time in Nicaragua. He and twenty five hundred of his men forcibly took over and ruled the area until British and American troops stepped in to stop him. Filibustering faded from popularity after the start of the Civil War. Some historians wonder if the South's moved to secede from the Union had been due in
part to the filibuster movement. But by the eighteen nineties, any politician who talked for an excessive amount of time while attempting to delay or obstruct senate business was said to be a filibuster. Today, after almost a century and a half of hearing that specific connotation, we associate the word with politics rather than it's pirate roots. Many of us might say the long delays and lengthy speeches that filibusters use are nothing more than sheer madness. And all
I can say to that is that's politics. Piracy and politics have been intertwined for centuries, so I hope today's adventure on the High Seas helped make that story clear. It's a chapter of the pirate story that certainly has a powerful cast of characters, from those who ruled to the ones who sought to change that. But we're not done just yet. My shipmate Alie Steed has one more tale of politics, power and deadly piracy. And if you stick around through this brief sponsor break, She'll tell you
all about it. Jean de Baville's life had been planned from the moment of her birth. Such was the life of girls born in thirteenth century France. From infancy to adolescence, Jean and her brethren spent years being groomed for marriage and motherhood. When she turned twelve, her nobleman father married
her off to Joffely de Chateaubrian at just seventeen. He'd been married once before, and for the next fourteen years, Jean played dutiful wife and mother, giving birth to Chauffelin Neuf, born when Jean turned fourteen, and Louise, born two years later. When her husband died in thirty six, Jean, like most women of the time, quickly remarried. Her new husband, guille du Ponteviller, was the son of the Duke of Brittany. Her new in laws, however, disapproved of the union, going
so far as to complain to the bishops. In February of thirty the complaint had reached the Pope Hope John the annulled the marriage, bring Gee up to marry King Philip the sixth Niece. Undaunted, Jean married husband number three, wealthy Olivier Comte de Clisson. They made for more than just a smart financial and political match. The couple complimented each other in every way. Together. They had five children, Isabelle, Mollice, Olivier, Sants,
Guion and Jean. Life wasn't all sunshine and roses, though England and France were in the middle of the hundred years more, making things worse. When the Duke of Brittany died, he had no male heir, King Edward of England Francis. King Philip the sixth badly wanted that strategic territory. Olivier went off to battle at the bequest of Brittany's new Duke saw Dublei. Though the French had the upper hand, the Duke began to believe that Olivier had turned trader.
His suspicion stemmed from Olivier's recent capture and ransoming the amount Dublions believed was too low. Upon his return, the Duke had him taken before King Philip the sixth and tried for treason. Jean tried everything within her power to free her husband, though it seems the court's mind had already been made up. The King had Olivier beheaded and ordered his head to be displayed on a spike. The
execution shocked the local nobility. While Olivier's testimony hadn't been good enough to prove his innocence, the prosecution had no proof of his guilt either, and until now nobility had never been put on display after they were executed. Next, the courts ordered Joan's banishment. She had no husband, no home, and no political clout. Instead of finding another husband or submitting to the court's demands, she vowed revenge against the
king and Dubleis. She sold her valuables, her jewelry, furniture, and fine clothing. The money she made allowed her to hire four hundred mercenaries. Then Joan went to war. First, she attacked a garrison at Chateau d'i beaux. Then she set her sights on the sea and piracy. She had her warships painted black and their sails died blood red. She named her ships the Black Fleet and her flagship My Revenge. In retaliation, France refused her any future claims
to her former lands. The pirate queen, now referred to as the Lioness of Brittany, remained unfazed. She had allied with the English King Edward the Third, who provided her with income from English owned lands in Brittany. Joe's fleet hunted down French ships, plundering them and massacring everyone on board except for a few witnesses. Those survivors were sent to deliver a message back to King Philip. She terrorized the channel for thirteen years, raiding ships and stealing supplies,
giving them to the English forces her hereditary enemies. Under protection from King Edward, English vessels left Jean's fleet well alone, though it isn't clear if all of her sons always sailed with her. She had sown hatred of France into their hearts for killing their father. King Philip the sixth died in thirteen fifty, but Jean continued her pirate ways and hunted French vessels. In thirteen fifty six, however, My
Revenge took on water and sank at sea. Jean and two of her sons survived in a small boat, and they rode towards shore for days. Sadly, Dillon died from exposure, but Jean and her surviving son, Olivier Sant, were eventually rescued and taken to Morley to recover she retired from piracy. Not long afterwards, Joan fell in love once more later that year with Walter Bentley, a military deputy for King Edward.
The couple settled down at the Castle of Imbol on Brittany's coast, and when Jan died a few years later, she died a legend. Pirates was executive produced by Aaron Manky and narrated by Aaron Manky and Alexander Steide. Writing for this season was provided by Michelle Mudo, with research by Alexander Steide and Sam Alberty. Production assistance was provided by Josh Than, Jesse Funk, Alex Williams, and Matt Frederick.
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