Although the majority of pirates in history have been men, there are around a hundred known examples of female pirates, about four of whom were active in the Golden Age of Piracy. Some women have been pirate captains and some have commanded entire pirate fleets. Among the most powerful pirate women were figures such as Zheng Yi Sao (1775–1844) and Huang Bamei (1906–1982), both of whom led tens of thousands of pirates.
In addition to the women that were pirates themselves, many have also historically been more heavily involved in piracy through secondary roles, interacting with pirates through being smugglers, lenders of money, purchasers of stolen goods, tavern keepers and prostitutes, and through having been family members of both pirates and victims. Some women also married pirates and turned their homes or establishments into piratical safe havens. Through women in these secondary roles, pirates were strongly supported by the agency of women. Some influential women, including monarchs such as Elizabeth I of England (), have also acted as powerful patrons of pirates. Although they have received little academic attention, women still occupy these important secondary roles in contemporary piracy. Piracy off the coast of Somalia is for instance supported to a large extent by on-shore women who participate in transportation, housing and recruitment.
Seafaring in general has historically been a highly masculine-gendered activity. On many ships in the Golden Age of Piracy, women were prohibited by the ship's contract (required to be signed by all crew members) due to being seen as bad luck and due to fears that the male crew members would fight over the women. Many famous female pirates, such as Anne Bonny (possibly died December 1733) and Mary Read (died April 1721), accordingly dressed and acted as men. Since the gender of many pirate women was only exposed after they were caught, it is possible that there were more women in piracy than is otherwise indicated by surviving sources.
In addition to historical female pirates, women in piracy have also frequently appeared in legends and folklore. The earliest legendary female pirate is perhaps Atalanta of Greek mythology, who according to legend joined the Argonauts in the years before the Trojan War. Scandinavian folklore and mythology, though the tales themselves are unverified, includes numerous female warriors (shield-maidens) who command ships and fleets. Female pirates have had varying roles in modern fiction, often reflecting cultural norms and traditions. Beginning in the 20th century, fictional pirate women have sometimes been romanticized as symbols of female liberty.
List of named female pirates
Ancient pirates
NameLifespanActiveCultureNotesDidoa.k.a. Elissa~800 BCPhoenicianThe legendary founder of Carthage. Sometimes considered a pirate since her legend involves her leading a sea expedition, raids, and the kidnapping of a large group of women.Tchiao Kuo-fu-jaa.k.a. Ch’iao K’uo Fü Jên~600 BCChineseIdentified as a pirate in the cited western sources, but this appears to be a misidentification of the historical 6th-century military leader Lady of Qiaoguo. There is no record in Chinese historiography (e.g., Book of Sui) suggesting she was a pirate, nor any evidence of her activity around 600 BC.Queen Artemisia I of Caria480 BCGreekQueen of the city-state of Halicarnassus. The earliest historical female pirate, Artemisia captained a fighting ship and led the most famous pirate fleet in the Mediterranean. She participated in the second Persian invasion of Greece (480–479 BC), fighting alongside Xerxes I of the Achaemenid Empire.Queen Teuta of the Ardiaei231–228 BCIllyrianQueen regent of the Ardiaei tribe, active in the Adriatic Sea. Sanctioned a number of pirate attacks against the Roman Republic and fought against the Romans in the First Illyrian War (229–228 BC).
Vendel and Viking Age
NameLifespanActiveCultureNotesPrincess Sela 420NorwegianAppears in the Gesta Danorum. Sister of the Norwegian king Koller, with whom she quarreled, and led her own raids both in sea and land. Killed by the Jutish king-turned-pirate Aurvandill after she attempted to avenge her brother.Alf and Alfhilda.k.a. Alvid; Altilda; Atwilda; Alvilda 550GeatishAppears in the Gesta Danorum. Her story is akin to a fairy tale and she consequently appears to be a mythical figure. Daughter of the Geatish king Synardus. Turned to piracy to escape an enforced marriage and led an all-female pirate crew. Eventually tracked down and defeated by her intended spouse, whereafter she married him on account of his prowess in battle.Groe 550GeatishAppears in the Gesta Danorum. One of the women accompanying Afhild.Stikla8th century?NorwegianAppears in the Gesta Danorum. Shield-maiden and pirate who alongside her sister Rusila fought against the Norwegian ruler Olov for control of his kingdom. Defeated and killed by Olov's forces who were aided by the Danish king Harald Wartooth.Rusila8th century?NorwegianAppears in the Gesta Danorum. Sister of Stikla, fought with her against Olov and Harald.Veborg 770DanishBriefly mentioned in the Gesta Danorum. Longship captain who was killed in battle. Participated in the legendary Battle of Brávellir.Hetha 770DanishBriefly mentioned in the Gesta Danorum. Longship captain who became the ruler of Zealand. Participated in the legendary Battle of Brávellir.Wisna 770DanishBriefly mentioned in the Gesta Danorum. Longship captain who became a standard-bearer and lost her right hand in battle. Participated in the legendary Battle of Brávellir.Rusla, "Red Daughter"8th/9th century?NorwegianAppears in the Gesta Danorum. Sometimes conflated with Rusila but appears to be a distinct figure. Sister of the Norwegian ruler Tesondus, who had been deposed by the Danish king Omundus. Angered at the Danish conquest and her brother being content with it, she fought against both but was ultimately defeated.Lagertha9th centuryNorwegianAppears in the Gesta Danorum. Viking shield-maiden who accompanied and later married the legendary hero and king Ragnar Lodbrok.
Medieval and Renaissance pirates NameLifespanActiveCultureNotesÆthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians 870–918911Anglo-SaxonRuler of Mercia. Became a military leader after her husband's death in battle against the Danes in 911. Took command of the fleets to rid the seas of the Viking raiders. Sometimes referred to as a pirate.Joanna of Flanders, "the Flame"a.k.a. Joanna of Montfort 1295–13741341–1347French / BretonDuchess of Brittany by marriage to John of Montfort. Famous and admired in Brittany for her skills as a warrior and military leader. Fought alongside her troops against the French in the War of the Breton Succession (1341–1365), at points commanding great fleets in naval battles. Sometimes referred to as a pirate.Jeanne de Clisson, "Lioness of Brittany"a.k.a. Jeanne de Belleville1300–13591343–1350sFrench / BretonFrench/Breton noblewoman. Turned to piracy to avenge her husband Olivier IV de Clisson. who was executed as a traitor during the War of the Breton Succession. Purchased three ships, which she commanded, and attacked French ships off the coast of Normandy. Ended her pirate career after she remarried to the English knight Walter Bentley in the 1350s.Elise Eskilsdotterd. 14831455–1470sNorwegianNorwegian noblewoman who turned to piracy to avenge her husband Olav Nilsson. Attacked ships in the seas near Bergen.Grace O'Malleya.k.a. Gráinne Ní Mháille, Granuaile 1530–160316th centuryIrishDaughter of a local chieftain in Connacht. Her family ran both a legitimate shipping business and a piracy business. Inherited her father's lands (Umhaill), becoming a powerful Irish ruler. With her three ships and two hundred men, O'Malley plundered ships both from England and from other parts of Ireland. She became so prolific that Queen Elizabeth I put a bounty on her head and considered sending the royal fleet against her. Captured by the English in 1577 but released in a hostage exchange and continued to engage in piracy. Entered into English service as a privateer in 1593.Sayyida al Hurra1485–15611515–1542MoroccanRuler of the western coasts of Morocco for over thirty years and a powerful Barbary corsair, operating out of Tétouan. Allied with the Ottoman corsair Oruç Reis, who operated out of Algiers. Raided Christian ships from Spain, regaining wealth her family had lost during the expulsions of Muslims from Spain. Much of the wealth was used to revive Tétouan. Earned the title al-Hurra (the free woman) and later married Ahmed el Outassi, Sultan of Morocco. Wishing to retain her political influence, she forced Outassi to travel to Tétouan for the wedding, the only time in Moroccan history a royal wedding was not held in the capital.Mary Wolverston, Lady Killigrewa.k.a. Elizabeth Killigrew; Old Lady Killigrew 1525–158716th centuryEnglishDaughter of the pirate Philip Wolverston, who educated her in piracy in her youth. Married into the Cornish Killigrew family, owners of Arwenack. Among other businesses, the Killigrews ran a criminal enterprise of seizing ships, hiding stolen goods, and bribing officials to look the other way. Wolverston was actively involved in the family's piracy. In 1582, she led crews on her own pirate attacks against a Spanish and then a German ship. Wolverston was thereafter imprisoned and sentenced to death by Queen Elizabeth I but was ultimately pardoned.Dorothy Monk, Lady Killigrew16th centuryEnglishDaughter-in-law of Mary Wolverston. Also charged with having engaged in piracy.Elizabetha Patrickson 163417th centuryEnglishRaided English ships alongside her husband William. Indicted on piracy, robbery, and murder charges on 10 March 1634 in an English court. She was tortured into a confession and later hanged.
Golden Age of Piracy