Soldiers of Misfortune

 the history of mercenaries

Pirates and Buccaneers

Pirates and Buccaneers in the Caribbean served mainly French, Dutch and British as a kind of self-financed mercenaries in their war against Spain.

16th Century Engravings by Theodor de Bry

French Buccaneers sacking Havanna
French Buccaneers sacking Havanna



French Buccaneers sacking city
French Buccaneers sacking a city on Spanish Main



Francis Drake attacking San Domingo
Francis Drake attacking San Domingo



Walter Raleigh sacking a Spanish city
Walter Raleigh sacking a Spanish city



Older prints

Pirates celebrating
Pirates celebrating ashore



Pirates plundering a Spanish settlement
Pirates plundering a Spanish settlement



20th Century illustrations

Pirates dividing booty
Pirates dividing the booty



Pirates sacking a city
Pirates sacking a city on the Spanish Main



Pirate captain
Pirate captain on deck



a proud buccaneer
A proud buccaneer