Pirate Republic
The Republic of Pirates is the base or stronghold of a loose confederacy run by privateers-turned-Pirates in Nassau on Providence island in the Lucayans since the early 1700s. While it was not a republic in a formal sense, it was governed by an informal pirate code, which dictated that the crews of the Republic would vote on the leadership of their ships and treat other pirate crews with "civility".
History
The era of piracy in the Lucayans began in 1696, when the privateer Henry Avery brought his ship the Fancy loaded with loot from plundering Bharatian trade ships into Nassau harbour. Avery bribed the governor with gold and silver to let him and his crew lay low in the town. This established Nassau as a base where pirates could operate safely, although various governors regularly made a show of suppressing piracy. Although the governors were still legally in charge, the pirates became increasingly powerful. The era of true pirate control occurred when an Espérian Fleet attacked Nassau in 1703. This event became known as the Rosario Raid. The Espérians laid waste to Nassau, leaving it a smoking wasteland. Fort Nassau did not hinder their invasion as those in charge had allowed it to fall into disrepair. Hundreds were killed, and the island was effectively abandoned by many of its settlers and left without any Avalonian government presence. Nassau was then taken over by Avalonian privateers, who became completely lawless pirates over time. The pirates attacked Lormanian and Espérian ships, while the Lormanian and Espérian forces burned Nassau several more times. Pirates established themselves in Nassau, and essentially established their own republic with its own governors. In 1709, Governor Robert Thompson, governor of Abaco and the Grand Lucaya, called for the eradication of the Pirates of Providence Island. He started attacking their ships, arresting merchants associated with them, and executing anyone suspected of piracy. As an answer to these attacks, the pirate Morgan Barbarossa attacked and burnt the Governor’s Manor at Freeport and dragged his wife and nine-year-old son into the street, where they slit their throats. They let the governor live, as a clear message of what would happen to anyone who interfered in the business of Providence Island. By 1714 the War of the Espérian Succession was over, but many Avalonian privateers were slow to get the news, or reluctant to accept it, and so slipped into piracy. This led to large numbers of unemployed privateers making their way to Providence Island to join the republic and swell its numbers. The republic was dominated by two famous pirates who were bitter rivals – Benjamin Hornigold and Morgan Barbarossa. Hornigold was mentor to pirates such as Sam Bellamy and Henry Jennings. Barbarossa was mentor to Charles Vane, "Calico" Jack Rackham, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read. Despite their rivalries, the pirates formed themselves into the Flying Gang and quickly became infamous for their exploits. The Governor of Bermuda stated that there were over 1000 pirates in Nassau at that time and that they outnumbered the mere hundred of inhabitants in the town."that he is Governor of Providence and will make it a second Madagascar, and expects 5 or 600 men more from Rimnoque sloops to join in the settling of Providence, and to make war on the Lormanian and Espérians, but for the Avalonians, they don't intend to meddle with them, unless they are first attack'd by them."While originally the pirates had avoided attacking Avalonian ships, this restraint disappeared over time, and at their height, the pirates could command a small fleet of ships that could take on the frigates of the Royal Navy. The amount of havoc caused by the pirates led to an outcry for their destruction.
