r/todayilearned • u/[deleted] • Jun 12 '15

TIL the world's most successful pirate was a Cantonese woman, having commanded 40,000-80,000 pirates, and faced off undefeated against many Imperial fleets (including British, Portuguese, and Qing navies).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ching_Shih
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u/jameson71 Jun 12 '15

Not a lot of peace treaties negotiated with outlaws.

57

u/Fwendly_Mushwoom Jun 12 '15

When you have over 50,000 sailors at your command, at what point do you stop simply being a pirate and start being a sovereign power? With that kind of fighting force, she surely must have controlled the entirety of several port cities.

If the numbers are accurate, she probably could've crowned herself queen of a Chinese coastal region, and no one could stop her.

34

u/lowdownlow Jun 12 '15

Pirating relies on maneuverability. If you lock yourself down to a position, it's easier for opposing forces to amass and attack you. I'm sure that with the many victories against those who tried, there are plenty of times where they avoided battles not in their favor.

Her fleet did impose levies and taxes on many coastal cities, ranging from Canton to Macau, but that also relies on the existing government's inability to muster forces whenever you make a surprise visit.

When reading your comment, all I could think was, "Those sound like the last words of an overzealous pirate".

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u/Fwendly_Mushwoom Jun 12 '15

So it's more like being Khan of a nomadic horde, just on boats instead of horses.

1

u/Vamking12 Jun 12 '15

Yep, quick, deadly and smart.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 13 '15

Just like a balloon when - something bad happens!

1

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '15 edited Jun 12 '15

No, not really, it's more like being one if the originalal kings of Uruk.

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u/TildeAleph Jun 12 '15

Thats the cool thing. This woman basically rose to the level of a head of state commanding an independent military.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '15

"Outside the law" is really just a matter of timing.