Blackbeard: Terror of the Seas
Loading story...
1716-1718
Caribbean & Atlantic
The Demon Pirate
Blackbeard was tall, broad-shouldered, and terrifying. Before battle, he wove slow-burning fuses into his beard. Smoke wreathed his face, making him appear demonic. Fear was his deadliest weapon.
1717
Off Martinique
Queen Anne's Revenge
Blackbeard captured a French slave ship and renamed it Queen Anne's Revenge. He armed it with 40 cannons—more firepower than most naval vessels. This ship made him unstoppable.
May 1718
Charleston, Carolina
Blockade of Charleston
In May 1718, Blackbeard blockaded Charleston harbor for a week. He held the city hostage, demanding medicine. The governor had no navy to stop him. It was the height of his power.
June 1718
Bath, North Carolina
The Royal Pardon
Governor Eden of North Carolina offered pardons to pirates who surrendered. Blackbeard accepted—but he couldn't stay legitimate for long. Soon he was pirating again, this time with official protection.
November 22, 1718
Ocracoke Island
The Final Battle
Lieutenant Maynard of the Royal Navy tracked Blackbeard to Ocracoke Island. The battle was brutal—Blackbeard was shot five times and cut twenty before he fell. His head was cut off and displayed as a warning.
Legend Lives On
Blackbeard's body was thrown overboard. Legend says he swam around the ship three times before sinking. His legend grew larger in death than in life—the most feared pirate who ever lived.
Swipe to navigate