Journey through the Ancient and Medieval Ages
Piracy is an ancient maritime practice, with roots going back to Antiquity. The earliest traces of piracy can be found in the Mediterranean, where peoples such as the Egyptians, Phoenicians and Greeks practiced this illegal trade. Pirates of this era were often slaves, criminals or people in precarious situations, who turned to piracy to survive or gain their freedom.
Ancient pirates
Ancient piracy is revealed through written sources, which illustrate the constant threat posed by these marauders to the trade routes and coastal civilizations of the time. The Mediterranean geography, with its rugged coastlines and limited routes, favored piracy. Coasts like Byblos and Athens, dependent on the sea, offered pirates unique opportunities thanks to the coastal navigation of ancient ships.
Pirates of Egypt and the Sea Peoples
© Akg/Album/François Guénet
Ramses III, standing and avenging, strikes prisoners of the Sea Peoples on a 12th century BC relief at Medinet Habu, Egypt.
The earliest written accounts of piracy in Egypt date back to the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, who spoke of the need for protection against pirates in the Nile delta. The Amarna Letters, dating from the reign of Akhenaton, mention the pirates Lukka and Sherden, who disrupted trade. The Sea Peoples, a mysterious confederation, were also feared adversaries, as evidenced by inscriptions in the temple of Ramses III at Medinet Habu.
Greek Pirates, between Epics and Raids
© Photography British Museum/Rmn-Grand Palais
Greek bowl from the 6th century BC: merchant ships attacked by pirates, protected by warships.
In Ancient Greece, pirates were sometimes seen as heroes in Homer's epics, although their image was generally negative. Thucydides described piracy as a phenomenon motivated by greed or necessity. From the 6th century BC, major coastal cities such as Athens began to take steps to counter piracy, including the use of fleets and the formation of alliances. Despite these efforts, piracy persisted, and Alexander the Great created an international coalition to combat it.
Les Pirates romains et la menace cilicienne
© Mosaic from the 2nd century B.C. in the Musée National du Bardo (Tunisia).
Caesar captured by Cilician pirates near the island of Pharmacuse, Turkey.
In the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, Cilician pirates became a major threat to trade routes, capturing ships and enslaving crews. The capture of Julius Caesar by the Cilicians in 75 BC provoked a severe Roman reaction. After the sack of Ostia in 67 B.C., Pompey the Great was charged with leading a massive campaign against the pirates, succeeding in limiting their influence through a policy combining military pressure and incentives.
The Pax Romana and the Decline of Ancient Piracy
The Pax Romana, which began after the death of Augustus in 14 A.D., considerably reduced pirate activity thanks to the political and economic unity of the Roman Empire. However, piracy did not disappear completely. As Roman influence waned in late antiquity, piracy resurfaced, becoming a major scourge until the emergence of Arab and European navies in the early medieval period.
Pirates of the Middle Ages
From the early Middle Ages, piracy experienced a revival marked by the diversity of the peoples involved and the maritime zones affected. The weakening of empires, political fragmentation, and the rise of maritime trade created a favorable context for the emergence of new forms of piracy. From the cold seas of the North Atlantic to the sunny shores of the Mediterranean, bold sailors turned to plunder, sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of a desire for loot and glory. These medieval Pirates, far from being a mere continuation of the ancient ones, developed new strategies, adapted to their environments, and left a lasting mark on maritime history.
Vikings, Explorers and Pirates of the North Atlantic
Left: ©Illustration by Alexis Master
The Danes about to invade England.
Right: ©1100 painting from Saint-Aubin Abbey.
Viking attack
The Vikings, best known for their explorations and invasions, also played a significant role as pirates in the waters of the North Atlantic and North Sea. From the late 8th to the early 11th century, these Scandinavian sailors devastated Western Europe with their light, fast and maneuverable ships, which enabled them to navigate in shallow waters and up rivers. The Vikings attacked merchant ships, coastal ports and wealthy monasteries, spreading terror and plundering the resources of their targets. In addition to their raids, they established settlements along the North Atlantic coast, notably in Iceland and Greenland. For the Vikings, piracy was not only a plundering activity, but was also seen as an honorable act, motivated by a desire for wealth, honor and glory.
The Narentins, Slav pirates in the Adriatic
The Narentins were pagan Slavic pirates who operated in the Adriatic Sea from the 9th to the 11th century, from the area that today corresponds to Croatia. Their influence spread when, in 928, the Muslims of Sicily recruited them to attack the coasts of Calabria, Sardinia and Corsica. Their formidable presence in the Adriatic disrupted maritime trade until they were finally eliminated by the Venetians, who put an end to their piratical activities in the region.
The Barbary Corsairs, Pirates of the Mediterranean
© Pier Francesco Mola
A Barbarian pirate
In the Middle Ages, the Barbary pirates distinguished themselves as the most notorious pirates in the Mediterranean. Originating in North Africa, these Muslim pirates regularly attacked Christian merchant ships, capturing thousands of people and selling them into slavery. The Barbary pirates were a feared group who exploited religious and political conflicts to enrich themselves and increase their power. In those days, piracy was often carried out by merchants whose livelihoods had been destroyed by war and conflict. These medieval pirates, often part-time, resorted to piracy to supplement their income or satisfy their taste for adventure.
© Aert Anthoniszoon
A French Ship and Barbary Pirates.
From its beginnings in antiquity to its various manifestations in the Middle Ages, piracy had a profound impact on trade routes and coastal societies. From the earliest Mediterranean attacks to Viking and Barbary raids, each period contributed to shaping the art of piracy. As the practice evolved, it was poised to enter a new phase of greatness. The Golden Age of Piracy heralded a time when pirates would become legendary figures and piracy would reach its apogee, profoundly influencing maritime history.