5 of history's most notorious female pirates

During the Golden Age of Piracy in the 17th and 18th centuries, many women were living in poverty and had limited options for making a living.

For some women, piracy offered a way to earn money and gain power and autonomy.

By joining pirate crews, women could earn a share of the loot and enjoy a more equal position within the crew than they might have had in other professions.

Other women may have been drawn to piracy for the thrill of adventure and the opportunity to travel to new places.

Pirates often traveled to exotic locations and encountered different cultures, which would have been an exciting prospect for many women who were otherwise confined to limited domestic roles.

Finally, some women may have turned to piracy as a way to escape restrictive social norms and gender roles.

Piracy offered a way for women to break free from traditional gender expectations and assert their independence and strength.

She was born in County Cork, Ireland around 1698 and spent much of her childhood in the British colonies of the Caribbean.

At the age of 16, Anne married a poor sailor named James Bonny, who was disowned by his wealthy family for marrying a woman from a lower social class.

In 1718, Anne and James moved to the pirate haven of New Providence Island in the Bahamas, where they fell in with a notorious pirate named Calico Jack Rackham.

Anne quickly became Calico Jack's lover and joined his crew as a pirate. She was known for her fiery temper and her skill with a sword, and quickly gained a reputation as a fierce fighter.

She dressed as a man in order to blend in with the crew and was even rumored to have been the one to convince Calico Jack to attack a British ship in 1720, which ultimately led to their capture.

After their capture, Anne and Calico Jack were brought to trial in Jamaica. Anne reportedly shouted insults at the judge and jury during her trial and was unrepentant about her life of piracy.

She was ultimately sentenced to hang, but her sentence was later commuted to life in prison.

Mary was born in England in 1685 and spent much of her childhood disguised as a boy in order to help her mother pass her off as the legitimate heir to her deceased half-brother's estate.

As an adult, Mary served as a soldier in the Dutch army and later joined a group of pirates led by the infamous pirate Calico Jack Rackham.

Like Anne Bonny, Mary dressed as a man in order to blend in with the crew and was initially mistaken for a man by her fellow pirates.

Mary quickly proved herself as a skilled fighter and gained the respect of the crew. She and Anne Bonny became close friends and fought together in several battles.

In 1720, they were both captured by the British navy and brought to trial in Jamaica.

During her trial, Mary revealed that she was a woman and reportedly claimed that she had become a pirate because she was forced to by her circumstances.

She was sentenced to hang, but her execution was delayed due to her pregnancy. She died in prison of a fever in 1721 before her sentence could be carried out.

Ching Shih was a famous female pirate who lived during the early 19th century in China.

She is widely considered to be one of the most successful pirates in history and is known for her fierce leadership style and strict code of conduct.

After being captured by the notorious pirate Cheng I in the late 18th century, she was forced to marry him.

Together, they built a powerful pirate empire that controlled much of the South China Sea, and after Cheng I's death, Ching Shih took over as the leader of the fleet.

Under Ching Shih's leadership, the pirate fleet grew to over 300 ships and tens of thousands of pirates.

Ching Shih was known for her strict code of conduct, which included severe punishments for infractions such as stealing from the pirate treasury or engaging in unauthorized sexual activity.

She also required her crew to wear uniforms and obey strict rules of behavior while on board the ships.

Ching Shih was a formidable leader and fighter, and her fleet was able to fend off attacks from the Chinese navy and other pirate groups.

In 1810, she negotiated a pardon with the Chinese government and retired from piracy, taking much of her wealth with her.

Grace O'Malley, also known as Gráinne Mhaol or "Bald Grace," was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1530 and was the daughter of a wealthy clan leader.

Grace grew up learning to sail and fight alongside her father's men and was known for her fierce independence and strong will.

When her father died, Grace inherited his fleet of ships and became a successful pirate, raiding the coasts of Ireland and England.

Grace was a shrewd businesswoman and politician as well as a skilled pirate.

She used her wealth and influence to negotiate with the English and Irish authorities and was able to secure favorable terms for her clan and her own personal interests.

She even met with Queen Elizabeth I of England to discuss her grievances and negotiate a peace treaty.

Despite her success, Grace faced opposition from both the English and Irish authorities, who saw her as a threat to their power.

She was imprisoned several times throughout her life, but always managed to escape.

Grace's story has become a legendary part of Irish history and folklore. She is remembered as a brave and independent woman who defied traditional gender roles and fought for her people's rights. 

Jeanne de Clisson was a famous French pirate who lived during the 14th century. She was born into a noble family and was married to a wealthy nobleman, Olivier de Clisson.

In 1343, Olivier was executed by King Philip VI of France, who accused him of treason.

In response to her husband's execution, Jeanne swore revenge against the French king and became a pirate.

She sold her estates to fund her piracy and purchased three ships, which she painted black with red sails as a symbol of her intent to avenge her husband's death.

de Clisson then began attacking and sinking French ships in the English Channel, sparing only the lives of those who were not involved in her husband's execution.

Jeanne became known as the "Lioness of Brittany" for her bravery and ferocity in battle. She reportedly wore a red velvet gown and carried a black axe as her weapon of choice.

She also allegedly had her ships' crews behead French prisoners as a symbolic act of revenge for her husband's execution.

Jeanne's piracy continued for over a decade, during which time she reportedly sank over 13 French ships.

Eventually, she remarried and retired from piracy, but her legacy lived on as a symbol of resistance against tyranny.