Created by David Jenkins, “Our Flag Means Death” is a period comedy series set during the golden age of piracy. It follows Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby), a moderately wealthy landowner who leaves behind his fortune and his family to become a pirate. He had a ship built and hired a crew, paying them a weekly salary.
However, he and the crew soon discover that he has absolutely no idea of ​​sea travel and is a terrible pirate. Salvation seems to come in the form of the legendary Blackbeard (Taika Waititi), who saves Stede just as he is about to be executed by the Spanish Navy. Here’s everything you need to know about Blackbeard. FRONT SPOILERS.
Is Blackbeard based on a real person?
Yes, ‘Our Flag Means Death’s Blackbeard is based on a real person. Blackbeard, real name Edward Teach, is one of the most infamous pirates. He was probably born around 1680 in Bristol, Kingdom of England. Little information is available about his early life, except that he may have served as a sailor on privateer ships during Queen Anne’s War. He then moved to New Providence, an island in the Bahamas, which at the time was a hotbed of piracy.
He apparently became a member of pirate captain Benjamin Hornigold’s crew in 1716. Hornigold went to mentor Teach. Later in 1716 Teach was given control of a sloop. He and Hornigold began plundering ships near Havana and Bermuda in 1717. Hornigold decided to accept the king’s pardon and leave the life of a pirate behind after being demoted. Teach subsequently became arguably the most fearsome pirate in the Caribbean.
On November 28, 1717, Teach, Stede and their crew captured a 200-ton French ship called La Concorde and renamed it Queen Anne’s Revenge. He became known for his flowing black beard, which he reportedly adorned with colorful ribbons. Queen Anne’s Revenge has become part of Blackbeard’s legends. It would have had 40 guns and over 300 men serving on board.
In May 1717, Blackbeard was more powerful than ever. He blockaded Charles Town (now Charleston), South Carolina, and plundered ships heading to or leaving port. He took some of Charles Town’s most prominent citizens hostage and said he would only let them go when the medical supplies for his crew were delivered. He finally kept his promise. After obtaining the medical supplies, the hostages were released.
Blackbeard was quite aware of his reputation and preferred to use it rather than outright violence to get people to do his bidding. He obtained the king’s pardon in 1718 from Governor Charles Eden of the Province of North Carolina, but eventually returned to piracy later that year. Alexander Spotswood, the governor of Virginia, decided to put a definitive end to Blackbeard’s escapades and dispatched soldiers to catch the man.
A brutal fight took place between Blackbeard and his crew and Lieutenant Robert Maynard and some sailors under his command at Ocracoke, Province of North Carolina, on November 22, 1718. Blackbeard and Maynard fought during the skirmish. Blackbeard was killed by Maynard’s soldiers and his decapitated head was placed on a post outside the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay, where he remained for several years.
Read more: Does our flag mean the Stede cap of death based on a real person? Did he really leave his family?
