Top 10 Real Pirates Who Deserve Their Own Novels
We’ve all heard of Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and Anne Bonny—icons of the pirate genre who’ve been featured in countless novels, films, and shows. But history is teeming with lesser-known sea rogues whose real lives were every bit as dramatic—and often stranger—than fiction. These forgotten figures, with stories full of betrayal, revenge, hidden treasure, and high-seas adventure, deserve their own richly imagined novels.
Here are ten real-life pirates begging to be immortalized in fiction.
1. Ching Shih – The Pirate Queen Who Ruled the South China Sea
Once a Cantonese prostitute, Ching Shih became one of the most powerful pirates in history after marrying the commander of the Red Flag Fleet. Upon his death, she took over the fleet—commanding 300 ships and over 20,000 pirates.
She implemented strict laws (including execution for unauthorized loot), outwitted the Chinese navy, and even negotiated a retirement deal that allowed her to keep her fortune. Her story is a ready-made epic, rich with themes of power, gender, and strategy.
Novel potential: Game of Thrones meets Master and Commander, with a female lead who builds an empire through sheer will and cunning.
2. Bartholomew Roberts – The Reluctant Buccaneer
Better known as “Black Bart,” Roberts was initially forced into piracy but rose to command over 400 ships. Despite being a teetotaler and religious man, he embraced the pirate life with ruthless efficiency.
His contradictory nature—sober and devout, yet feared and merciless—makes him an ideal character for a psychologically driven novel. Roberts also authored a strict pirate code, adding layers of philosophy and order to a chaotic life.
Novel potential: A reluctant antihero grappling with morality, destiny, and rebellion at sea.
3. Sayyida al Hurra – The Moroccan Corsair Queen
After being forced from her Andalusian home, Sayyida became a pirate to seek revenge on Christian forces. She ruled the city of Tétouan and partnered with the infamous Barbarossa of the Ottoman Empire.
Her role as both ruler and pirate captain in the male-dominated 16th century Mediterranean world is ripe for exploration, blending politics, exile, and vengeance.
Novel potential: A sweeping historical saga of power, identity, and resistance set against the clash of empires.
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4. William Fly – The Last Pirate of New England
Fly’s pirate career was short-lived—just a few months—but his execution in 1726 marked the symbolic end of the “Golden Age of Piracy.” What makes his story gripping is his final act: using his hanging platform to criticize corrupt shipowners and call for fair treatment of sailors.
Fly could be a compelling voice for class struggle and maritime justice, perhaps in a tragic literary novel that questions who the real criminals were.
Novel potential: A grim, gritty narrative about rebellion and justice on the colonial American coast.
5. Jean Lafitte – The Gentleman Smuggler of the Gulf
Part pirate, part patriot, Lafitte operated in the Gulf of Mexico, smuggling goods through Louisiana while also aiding the U.S. during the War of 1812. His dual role as outlaw and unlikely hero adds complexity to his myth.
Lafitte’s charm, secretive nature, and possible buried treasure offer the perfect framework for an intrigue-laden historical thriller.
Novel potential: A morally gray smuggler caught between empires, loyalty, and self-preservation.
6. Mary Read – The Soldier Turned Pirate
Disguised as a man for much of her life, Mary served in the military before turning to piracy with Anne Bonny and “Calico Jack” Rackham. Her story, full of fluid identity, love, and combat, challenges gender norms and reads like high-stakes drama.
Novel potential: A character-driven, swashbuckling tale of identity, war, and fierce camaraderie.
7. Stede Bonnet – The Gentleman Pirate
Stede Bonnet left a wealthy plantation life to become a pirate—despite having no experience. Known for his peculiar leadership style and his unlikely partnership with Blackbeard, Bonnet’s story borders on tragicomic.
His transformation from aristocrat to sea criminal is almost Shakespearean in its arc, blending humor, ambition, and existential crisis.
Novel potential: A dark comedy or psychological tragedy about self-reinvention and misguided adventure.
✨ Step into the world where legend meets history with the Bilge Rat Pirate Adventure Series
— a swashbuckling saga that blends the raw grit of historical detail with the timeless allure of folklore. From cursed islands and whispered superstitions to battles fought under blood-red skies, the series captures the thrill of life on the edge of the map while weaving in echoes of the myths that shaped seafaring culture. Perfect for readers who love historical fiction, nautical adventure, and the folklore of the sea, these tales invite you to escape into lawless frontiers and decide for yourself where history ends and legend begins.
8. Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalahimah – The Blind Pirate of Arabia
This early 19th-century pirate terrorized the Persian Gulf and was feared for his fearlessness—even after losing an eye in battle. He reportedly blew up his own ship rather than let it fall into enemy hands.
Little-known in Western fiction, his story is full of epic battles, tribal loyalty, and brutal choices.
Novel potential: A gritty, Middle Eastern maritime epic steeped in loyalty, vengeance, and honor.
9. Pedro Gilbert – The Poet Pirate
Operating off the coast of Florida in the 1830s, Gilbert was notorious for burning captured ships with the crew still aboard. Yet, he also wrote poetry in his spare time.
This tension between brutality and art makes him a fascinating study in duality, perfect for a dark psychological thriller or poetic tragedy.
Novel potential: A surreal, brooding novel exploring the boundaries between beauty and horror.
10. Charlotte de Berry – The Possibly Real Pirate Legend
Though some historians believe she was fictional or greatly exaggerated, Charlotte de Berry supposedly disguised herself as a man to follow her husband into the navy, later becoming a pirate captain after surviving slavery, mutiny, and murder.
Even if her story is apocryphal, it’s cinematic gold. Her myth, whether fact or fiction, deserves a well-researched historical novel—or at least an inspired reimagining.
Novel potential: A feminist sea saga blending legend and reality into mythic proportions.
Conclusion
The historical record is full of pirates whose stories haven’t yet made it to the big screen or bestselling novels—but absolutely should. These men and women defied norms, challenged empires, and reshaped their destinies on the open sea.
With their unique backgrounds, bold decisions, and rich psychological layers, these real-life pirates offer authors and readers a treasure trove of inspiration for epic storytelling.
Whether you’re looking for political intrigue, personal transformation, or seafaring adventure, the truth—as always—is stranger and more compelling than fiction.