Bartholomew Roberts

Long ago, a man named Bart Roberts was a pirate.

He was born in Wales. He was a great leader at sea. He took over 400 ships.

He even made his own pirate code. These were rules for his crew. He used a special flag with a skull. People still write stories about him today. He was a very famous man.

Bartholomew Roberts was a famous pirate from Wales.

He was born as John Roberts in 1682. He likely went to sea when he was 13.

In 1719, pirates captured his ship. Roberts joined the pirates after that. He was a great navigator. This means he was very good at finding the way. Soon, his crew elected him captain.

Roberts was very successful. He took over 400 ships. He even made a pirate code. This was a set of rules for his crew. He used a flag with a skull and crossbones.

He traveled to many places. He went to Brazil and the West Indies. He also sailed to West Africa.

In one place, he took a ship full of gold and jewels. His crew liked him because he was brave. Some people even said he was "pistol proof." This means they thought bullets could not hit him. He remained a famous leader until he died in 1722.

Bartholomew Roberts was a famous pirate from Wales.

He was born as John Roberts in 1682 in Casnewydd Bach. He likely went to sea when he was 13 years old. He later changed his name to Bartholomew. Some people think he chose it after a pirate named Bartholomew Sharp. In 1719, he was a mate on a ship called the Princess. Pirates led by Howell Davis captured that ship near the coast of West Africa. Roberts was forced to join the pirates after his ship was taken.

He was very good at navigation. This means he was great at finding the way across the sea.

After Captain Davis died in an ambush, the pirates needed a new leader. The crew had two groups called "Lords" and "Commons." The Lords chose a name for the new captain. Within six weeks of his capture, Roberts was elected captain. He was a very outspoken and opinionated man. He led his crew back to the island of Príncipe to get revenge for Davis. During this time, Roberts began to see that being a pirate offered many opportunities. His crew stayed loyal because he was brave. They even called him "pistol proof" because they thought he was lucky.

Roberts was a very successful pirate during the Golden Age of Piracy. He captured over 400 prize ships during his career. Many of these were small fishing boats. He also captured much larger vessels. He traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to many different lands. He raided ships near the Americas and the West African coast. He was known by many names. Some people called him "The Great Pyrate." Later, people called him "Black Bart." This name came from a poem written much later in the 20th century.

Roberts used specific rules to lead his men. He created his own pirate code. The crew swore on a Bible to follow these rules. He also used an early version of the skull and crossbones flag.

In 1720, he captured a ship called the Sagrada Familia near Brazil. That ship had 40,000 gold moidores and jewelry for the King of Portugal. He later used a large ship called the Royal Fortune. He traveled to places like Newfoundland and the Caribbean. He even had a hidden shipyard in the Mira River. His success made him a very famous figure in history.

Today, people still talk about the life of Bartholomew Roberts. He has inspired many stories in books and movies. You might even hear his name in fiction, like the "Dread Pirate Roberts." His life shows how people lived and traveled on the sea long ago. He was a man who made many choices that changed his life. His story is a big part of the history of the ocean. Even though he was a pirate, his life is a subject of great interest to writers. He remains a famous part of maritime history.

Bartholomew Roberts was a Welsh pirate during the Golden Age of Piracy.

He was born John Roberts in 1682 in Casnewydd Bach, Wales. While he likely went to sea as a teenager, he did not become a famous pirate until much later. Roberts is considered the most successful pirate of his era based on the number of vessels he captured. Throughout his career, he took over more than 400 prize ships. Although many of these were small fishing boats, his impact on maritime trade was massive. His fame led to many nicknames, including "The Great Pyrate." Later, he became known as "Black Bart," a name inspired by his complexion.

Roberts' journey into piracy began in 1719 near the Gold Coast of West Africa. At the time, he was serving as a second mate on a slave ship named the Princess. Pirates led by Captain Howell Davis captured the Princess and forced Roberts to join them. Davis noticed that Roberts was a highly skilled navigator. This skill made Roberts a valuable member of the pirate crew. After Davis was killed in an ambush on the island of Príncipe, the pirates needed a new leader. The crew was divided into two groups called "Lords" and "Commons." The Lords had the authority to propose a candidate for the captaincy. Within six weeks of his capture, Roberts was elected captain by the crew.

As a leader, Roberts relied on a structured system to manage his men. He created a specific pirate code, which was a set of rules for the crew. The men swore on a Bible to uphold these articles. This code helped maintain order among the different sailors. Roberts also used an early version of the skull and crossbones flag to identify his ships. His leadership style was characterized by being outspoken and opinionated. His crew remained loyal because he was brave and successful in his raids. They even described him as "pistol proof," believing he was protected from harm. This loyalty allowed him to command large fleets of captured vessels.

Roberts' raids took him across the Atlantic Ocean to many different regions. Between 1719 and 1722, he operated off the Americas and the West African coast. In July 1719, he encountered a fleet of 42 Portuguese ships near the coast of Brazil. Roberts captured a large ship called the Sagrada Familia, which had 40 guns and 170 crew members. This single capture provided a massive amount of wealth. The ship contained 40,000 gold moidores and expensive jewelry intended for the King of Portugal. This event proved how much profit could be made through piracy.

In 1720, Roberts moved his operations toward the North Atlantic. He raided locations such as Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Cape Breton. In the harbour of Trepassey, he found 22 merchant ships and 150 fishing vessels. The captains and crews of these ships fled in panic, leaving the ships behind. Roberts took control of the 22 merchant ships but expressed anger at the captains for fleeing. He eventually replaced his original sloop with a larger brig from Bristol. This new ship was fitted with 16 guns. Later, he captured a French ship and added 26 cannons to it. He renamed this powerful vessel the Good Fortune, and later the Royal Fortune.

By the spring of 1721, Roberts' actions had caused serious problems for global commerce. His raids in the West Indies almost brought seaborne trade to a complete standstill. To continue his success, he sailed toward West Africa. He arrived near the Senegal River and captured several more ships. One notable capture was the frigate Onslow, which was carrying soldiers. Some of these soldiers even chose to join the pirates. However, because they were not professional sailors, they only received one-quarter of the usual pirate pay. This shows how the pirate hierarchy functioned based on specific roles and skills.

Bartholomew Roberts left a lasting mark on history and popular culture. His life has inspired many fictional characters, such as the "Dread Pirate Roberts." He remains a significant figure for historians studying maritime law and the Golden Age of Piracy. His ability to command hundreds of ships and thousands of men through a strict code is still studied today. Even though his career was relatively short, his impact on the oceans was immense. He transitioned from a simple merchant sailor to one of the most powerful figures on the high seas. His story connects the worlds of trade, law, and the adventurous life of the 18th-century ocean.