La conquête des mers

Les conquête des mers

Un corsaire est un civil armé qui à légalement le droit d'attaquer en temps de guerre alors qu'un pirate est un hors-la-lois qui attaque illégalement pour piller un navire ou un village.

La piraterie existait déjà dans l'Antiquité. Toutes les civilisations anciennes ayant possédé une marine l'ont connue, les Phéniciens ni comme les Mycéniens, la mer étant considérée comme un espace libre où règne la «loi du plus fort»

I-Un corsaire

Thomas Cavendish (nicknamed the Navigator) was born on September 19^th , 1560 in Trimley St Martin in England and died in May 1592 at the age of 32, on Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean. He was the son of Roger Cavendish. He was educated at Corpus Christi College.

In 1586, Thomas Cavendish went into the Pacific Ocean with three ships where he burned three cities and thirteen Spanish ships. He seized the Manila Galleon (Santa Anna) and embarked two Japanese sailors (Christopher and Cosmas) who were part of the Spanish crew. Then he went to the islands of the probes. In 1588 he returned to England via the Cape of Good Hope (but with only one of its ships, the Desire).

Charles Robert Surcouf December 12, 1773 - July 8 1827à Saint-Servan is a French privateer. Intrepid sailor, he relentlessly harassed the merchant marines and British military, not only on the seas of Europe, but also those of India. His many achievements in this area earned him both glory. He was appointed a member of the Legion of Honour on the 26^th of June. Became owner, he continued to expand his fortune. Having embarked at the age of 13, between a desire for adventure and the need ofmoney, Robert Surcouf will be at the end of his life, one of the richest and most powerful owners of Saint Malo doubled to a prosperous landowner of 800 hectares.

This young and fiery captain, twenty years old , quickly ordered multiple buildings: the "Emily", the "Cartier", the "Clarissa", the "Trust" and "Revenant". He carried dozens of fights and twice, he faced two against one: in February 1799 against the "Anna-Maria" and "Coturbok" then in January 1800 against the "Louisiana" and "Mercury". He entered the legend with 44 takes, two of which - the "Triton" and "Kent".
From the 28^th of January 1796, Surcouf baptised his new ship by taking an American brig - the "Diana"- and after a brief struggle. Captain Tapson highlighted how the French behaved like gentlemen. In fact no member of the crew and passengers were complaining of any abuse against them.

Having failed to get in June or July 1795 a letter of marque, the Brest Captain, Le Vaillant renamed his ship the "Humble" in "Emily". Armed for trade, the building had, in fact, a small fire power and a small crew. He gave the command to Surcouf whose roadmap was clearer: go to the Seychelles in order to buy turtles, corn, cotton and other commodities.

II-Un pirate (Barbe Noire)

Edward Teach (nicknamed Blackbeard) was born in 1680 in Bristol, England and he died in battle on November 22^nd , 1718 at the age of 38 on Ocracoke Island. He became a pirate in 1716.

For two years, Teach accompanied Hornigold until he addresses a French merchant ship. July 5 is that his reputation is starting to become big. In 1718, he parted from Hornigold and will sail the seas alone with his crew of 300 men and four ships. He died in a collision when he confronted Maynard. Maynard made him cut his head and exposed the top of a mast and in the public square as a warning to all pirates.