Cool to see something other than New World pirates
People forget how happenin’ the Indian Ocean was at the time! Lot of money to be made there, for a daring captain with ‘flexible’ morals!
In fact, one of the biggest pirate heists ever undertaken was performed against the Mughal Empire, even!
On 7 September 1695, the English pirate Henry Every captured the 25-ship convoy of Imperial Mughal vessels making the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, including the treasure-laden Mogul ship known as the Ganj-i-Sawai and its escort, Fateh Muhammed. Joining forces with several pirate vessels, Every found himself in command of a small squadron, and they were able to capture up to £600,000 in precious metals and jewels, equivalent to around £103 million in 2023.
Every’s actions caused considerable damage to England’s fragile relations with the Mughals, and a combined bounty of £1,000—an immense sum at the time—was offered by the Privy Council and the East India Company for his capture, leading to the first global manhunt in recorded history. Every was never caught, nor was his treasure recovered, and their fate remains unknown.
Total badass.
Honestly, it’s cool that 1698 even happened. I’m grateful to all of the centuries before our few.
I like the details in this. On the right there is a fight breaking out and a prostitute is emptying a bowl on the guy who draws a sword. The monkey on the post. Natives/slaves cowering on the left behind the hut. The guy who’s looking at the painter.
I love paintings like this.
