Captain Morgan and the Brethren of the Coast
By the 17th century, the Spanish empire started to waver, along with its religious monopoly on the Caribbean. Intent on maintaining its dominance, Catholic Spain and its allies went to war with the Protestant countries of Europe. Known as the Thirty Years War, it was one of the bloodiest religious wars in history.
Both sides relied on their Caribbean colonies to help fund the war effort in Europe. The English and Dutch lacked ships and manpower to take on the naval power of Spain. To compete, the Anglican British and Reformed Dutch revived the notoriously effective strategy of privateering. A variety of ship captains, merchants, and traders received letters authorizing them to attack, seize, and plunder Spanish ships. In the end, Spain couldn’t stop the widespread piracy of its Caribbean fleet.
The Protestant privateers banded together under the name, “Brethren of the Coast.” Probably the most famous of the Brethren was Captain Henry Morgan. Commissioned by England, Morgan commanded a fleet stationed in Jamaica. Over his career, he pillaged more than 400 Spanish ships.
British King Charles II knighted Captain Morgan for his heroism and appointed him deputy governor of the island of Jamaica. There, he spent his final years operating sugar plantations and drinking rum with his old pirate buddies. Today, Sir Captain Morgan’s infamous legacy lives on through a spiced rum that bears his name.
After the Thirty Years War, a number of privateers found themselves addicted to the spoils of a pirate’s life. However, without official letters authorizing their activity, they were considered outlaws. Regardless, many made the fateful choice to transition from “Brethren of the Coast” to “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and the rest is history.
Captain Morgan and the Brethren of the Coast
Randall acts as the lead writer for ColdWater’s Drive Thru History® TV series and Drive Thru History® “Adventures” curriculum.
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