Real Caribbean Pirates: Rogues, Scoundrels, Heroes and Treasures

After the Spanish conquest of the Americas and word of the immense wealth flowing out of the New World reached Europe, high seas piracy became the scourge of ocean-going vessels. When French commander Jean Fleury apprehended three Spanish caravels on their way back from Mexico in 1523, shocked gasps were heard all the way from Buckingham to the palaces of Paris. Soon, sailors from all over Europe flocked to the Caribbean.