Ahoy, Matey

Some pirates became legends because of what they did.

Others became legends because of the stories told about them.

This week we look at both sides of pirate history — from the fiery life of Anne Bonny, one of the most feared pirates of the Golden Age, to the enduring influence of Treasure Island, the novel that shaped how the world imagines pirates today.

Between real history and myth, pirate stories continue to sail through time.

Welcome to Episode 45 of The Pirate Republic.

🏴‍☠️ This Week in Pirate History

March 8 — The Birth of Anne Bonny

Born March 8, 1697, Anne Bonny would grow up to become one of the most feared — and fascinating — pirates of the Golden Age.

Most pirate fans know the highlights: she sailed with Jack Rackham, fought alongside Mary Read, and was captured in Jamaica in 1720 after Rackham’s crew was defeated by a British privateer.

But Anne Bonny’s story contains a few lesser-known twists that make her even more remarkable.

⚔️ She Was Raised as a Boy

Anne was born in Ireland to a lawyer and his housemaid. To hide the scandal, her father reportedly dressed young Anne as a boy and introduced her to society as his clerk.

It was an early taste of the disguise that would later allow her to sail among pirates.

🏴‍☠️ She Lived in the Real Pirate Republic

Before she ever hoisted the black flag, Anne Bonny reportedly spent time in Nassau in the Bahamas — during the final years when the town functioned as the infamous Pirate Republic.

At its height around 1715–1718, Nassau was effectively governed by pirates themselves, including famous captains like Benjamin Hornigold, Charles Vane, and a young Edward Teach — better known as Blackbeard.

By the time Anne arrived, the British were moving to retake the island and restore order under Governor Woodes Rogers.

Anne may have witnessed the collapse of the Pirate Republic firsthand, a turning point that pushed many pirates back to sea — including the crew she would later join.

🔥 She Was Known for a Violent Temper

One early story from her youth in South Carolina claims Anne stabbed a servant girl with a knife during an argument. Another tale says she once beat a man who tried to assault her so badly he barely escaped alive.

Whether exaggerated or not, the stories hint that Anne was not someone easily intimidated.

🔫 The Duel That Won Her a Husband

One of the more unusual stories about Anne Bonny involves a duel fought over her honor.

While living in South Carolina, Anne reportedly attracted the attention of two suitors. One of the men began harassing her persistently, and tensions escalated until a duel was arranged between the rival men.

But Anne Bonny wasn’t about to let someone else fight her battles.

According to the story, Anne confronted the troublesome suitor herself, drawing a pistol and firing a warning shot that convinced him to abandon his pursuit immediately.

The other man — James Bonny, a small-time sailor — admired her fearless spirit and eventually married her.

The marriage didn’t last long.

Anne soon left him behind for a far more adventurous life at sea — and eventually for the pirate captain Calico Jack Rackham.

⚔️ She May Have Been the Real Fighter on Rackham’s Ship

When Rackham’s pirate sloop was surprised by a British hunter in 1720, most of the crew reportedly hid below deck drunk.

According to trial testimony, Anne Bonny and Mary Read stayed on deck fighting alone, firing pistols and swinging cutlasses while shouting at the men hiding below.

One witness claimed Anne yelled: “If there’s a man among ye, come up and fight like one!”

⚓ Her Fate Remains a Mystery

Rackham was hanged shortly after capture.

Anne Bonny and Mary Read avoided execution by claiming they were pregnant — a legal delay known as “pleading the belly.”

Mary Read died in prison.

But Anne Bonny simply vanishes from the historical record.

Some historians believe her wealthy father may have paid to secure her release, allowing her to return quietly to South Carolina where she supposedly lived a long life under a different name.

If true, one of history’s most notorious pirates may have ended her days not on the gallows — but peacefully on land.

Anne Bonny’s story reminds us that the pirate world wasn’t just filled with hardened sailors and ruthless captains.

Sometimes the fiercest fighter on deck was the one society least expected.

And for a time, she lived in the very place that inspired this newsletter — the Pirate Republic itself.

🎬 Pirates in Pop Culture

Treasure Island Is Sailing Back to TV

One of the most influential pirate stories ever written is returning to the screen.

A brand-new six-part television adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island is currently in production for Paramount+ in the UK and MGM+ in the United States.

The series features an impressive cast led by David Oyelowo as the legendary pirate Long John Silver, alongside Hayley Atwell as Bess Hawkins, Jack Huston as Aaron Graham, Tomer Capone as Billy Bones, and Tom Sweet as Jim Hawkins.

The new adaptation promises a high-stakes coming-of-age pirate adventure following Jim Hawkins as he transforms from a sheltered boy into a young pirate after discovering a legendary treasure map.

The story will once again send audiences aboard the Hispaniola, into shifting alliances between pirates and agents of empire, and ultimately toward the infamous Skeleton Island where the treasure awaits.

Production on the series began in March 2026, though an official premiere date has not yet been announced.

🏴‍☠️ Why This Matters to Pirate Fans

Few stories have shaped pirate lore more than Treasure Island.

The novel introduced some of the most recognizable pirate tropes in history:

• Treasure maps marked “X”

• The legendary Long John Silver

• Parrots on pirates’ shoulders

• Hidden island treasure

Nearly every pirate film or story since — from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean to modern games and shows — owes something to Stevenson’s 1883 classic.

If this new series succeeds, it could help bring pirate adventures back into mainstream entertainment once again.

And for those of us in the Pirate Republic, that’s a voyage worth watching.

🦜 Plunder Pick of the Week

The Book That Built Pirate Legends

Before pirate movies, video games, or streaming shows… there was Treasure Island.

Published in 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel became the blueprint for nearly every pirate story that followed. The book introduced readers to treasure maps marked with an “X,” dangerous voyages aboard ships like the Hispaniola, and one of the most iconic characters in pirate lore — Long John Silver.

In fact, many of the pirate tropes we think of today — parrots on shoulders, buried treasure, and cunning one-legged sea dogs — trace their roots back to this story.

That’s why this week’s plunder is a beautiful illustrated hardcover edition of Treasure Island — a perfect addition to any pirate enthusiast’s library.

And with a brand-new Treasure Island television series now in development, it’s the perfect time to revisit the original adventure that launched pirate fiction into legend.

⚓ Set sail with the classic:
https://amzn.to/4b4oodh

🗓️ Pirate Events

The Guthrie Renaissance Festival — Where Pirates Claim the Crown - March 21,22 & 28,29 2026

Guthrie, Oklahoma

If you think pirate captains were the only ones who could rule the seas, the Guthrie Renaissance Festival might have something to say about that.

Each year, this lively Renaissance celebration invites guests to step into a world of knights, merchants, and wandering rogues — but it also honors pirate lore in a unique way. Festival organizers crown a Pirate King and Pirate Queen, celebrating the boldest buccaneers roaming the fairgrounds.

Visitors can expect:

⚓ Costumed pirates roaming the village
⚓ Live entertainment and stage performances
⚓ Artisan vendors and period crafts
⚓ Food, games, and Renaissance festivities
⚓ A chance to see who claims the pirate crown

Renaissance fairs have long been a natural home for pirate enthusiasts. After all, the Age of Sail sits right alongside the Renaissance in history — and where there are sailors, there are always a few pirates not far behind.

If you’re looking to don your finest pirate coat and compete for bragging rights, this festival might be your chance to rule the seas — at least for a weekend.

Set your course:
https://guthrierenfair.com/

☠️ Captain’s Log

Pirate legends survive because people keep telling their stories.

From the decks of Anne Bonny’s ship to the pages of Treasure Island, the pirate world continues to inspire adventure centuries later.

Until next week — keep your compass true.

Fair winds,
— Captain Blackquill

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New voyages, bold stories, and rich plunder await those who sail with us.

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🎖️ THANKS FOR SAILING WITH THE CREW

We set sail every Friday, storm or shine — delivering pirate history, legends, and lore from across the seas.

Keep yer spyglass trained on the horizon,
rest when the winds allow,
and may your course be steady, your hold full, and your tales worth telling.

If ye stumble upon treasure, tall tales, or pirate lore worth sharing, send word to:
📧 [email protected]

Disclosure: Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links, which means we may earn a few extra doubloons if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you. Thanks for keeping The Pirate Republic afloat, ya savvy sea dog. 🏴‍☠️