By Mona Everett

Previously printed in Ninnau

All hail Johnny Depp! So began Terry Brevertons seminar on Welsh pirates during the 2007 North American Festival of Wales.. Drawing from his several books on pirates and privateers, Mr. Breverton entertained and educated his audience with lively anecdotes about swashbucklers and scoundrels during the Golden Age of Piracy.

Life on board a pirate ship was infinitely more attractive (and generally longer) than what awaited men pressed into service on other vessels. Pirate ships were democratic, with captains only having ultimate authority when under attack. Riches were (supposed to be) divided equally, and what riches they were! Multi-million dollar treasures were plundered on the high seas. Privateers were given letters of marque by various government officials, which gave them permission to loot any enemy ship, with the proviso that a percentage would be turned over to the government. When privateers grew tired of taking all the risks and sharing the bounty, they often turned to out-and-out piracy.

Due to time constraints, Breverton focused on two of the most famous Welsh pirates, Sir Henry Morgan and Black Bart Roberts, but his books and research paint a broader picture of the impact Welsh pirates and privateers had on world governments at the time. He made the case that privateers saved King Charles reign from being a total disaster, and certainly piracy took a heavy toll on merchant sailing and trade in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

Not just outlaws, pirate captains like Morgan and Roberts were gifted strategists, thinking their way out of seemingly hopeless situations. Frequently taking on much larger ships, and even small fleets, when they were outgunned and outmanned, they still managed to give the enemy the slip time and time again.

These were extraordinary men. Back home in Wales, they were heroes, and today, thanks to Brevertons work, we can relive their adventures and learn a bit of history at the same time.

So, enjoy Hollywoods pirates, but for the inside scoop check out Brevertons books including Black Bart Roberts: The Greatest Pirate of Them All; Admiral Henry Morgan: King of the Buccaneers; The Book of Welsh Pirates and Buccaneers; and the Pirate Dictionary.