The Real Pirates

Mr. 13

What is this all about? Well, I've been fascinated with pirates since I was I kid, and that's what drew me to One Piece in the beginning. My thoughts were "A pirate manga? Awesome!"

Anyway, we all know that many of Oda's characters get their names from real pirates. Being the pirate history buff I am, I decided to do some research. Here I have posted some history on those sea dogs and compared them to the characters they inspired. Sometimes there doesn't seem to be a connection between the ficional character and the real-life namesake. Other times…Well, you be the judge!

Roronoa Zoro: Named after the pirate FranÃ§ois l'Olonnais, known as one of the most ruthless and cruel "Pirates of the Caribbean". His pirating career started around the pirating town of Tortuga during the mid-1600's, where he sailed to Hispaniola and sided with the buccaneers there. He got his reputation from the way he treated his prisoners, cruel and unusual methods used. However, late in his career, he was deserted by his crew after supposedly ripping out a man's heart and gnawing on it. He was caught and killed by Indians after running aground on a sand bar off the Las Petras Islands.

Bellamy: Named after Samuel Bellamy, or Black Bellamy, who in 1715 set out from Cape Cod in search of sunken Spanish treasures. He promised a local beauty, Maria Hallet, that he would return sailing the fastest, tallest ship in the world. When the treasure hunt failed, and he refused to return to Cape Cod empty-handed, he turned to piracy. After a long and fairly successful run, Bellamy captured a three-masted galley called the Wydah, packed with loot. Bellamy made this his flagship, but was killed when the Wydah capsized during a squall on it's way back to Cape Cod.

Captain "Axe-Arm" Morgan: Named after captain Henry Morgan. Morgan persuaded the buccaneers of Jamaica and Hispaniola to aid him in an attack against Portabello, a well defended Spanish town. With a clever plan, he succeeded, and soon had gathered 36 ships and nearly 2,000 men. He then attacked Panama City, where he made off with most of the booty himself, deserting his men. Morgan was eventually captured by the British and sent to London to be tried. Instead, King Charles II ended up knighting Morgan and makng him govener of Jamaica for his raids against the Spanish. Taking into his new job, Morgan began to hang pirates, even a few he had previously sailed with. He died wealthy and respected.

More to come soon!

This post is deleted!

mugiwara

I've always been a big fan of Oda's historical references. I'm sure many of the people here know several already; the Zoro one I've seen many times. Morgan is new to me though. Axe-Hand Morgan certainly seems to share some of his real life counterpart's traits too. This could actually become a pretty informative thread if you can manage to keep adding to it.

Irresistiblement

Yes! I would love to see more connections whenever you find them, Mr. 13. This appeals to my historical side…

Bounty1Berry

Most interesting. I'm sure this would make an excellent resource.

Green Hair

Lafitte: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Lafitte

Alvida: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awilda

Blackbeard: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbeard

Bartholemew Kuma: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartholomew_Roberts

One Piece: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Piece

I was surprised by all of these articles (except Blackbeard, of course) Who would've thought that a pirate in those days acted like such a nobleman or that the pirate Alvida is based on was actually like THAT??

Dragon Warrior Steve

I actually thought that was pretty cool, the characters are so similar to the real pirates. If you have more, post them.

Mr. 13

I'll keep looking them up. I was gonna post the histories of Laffite, Batholemew, and Alvida, but I see I've been beaten to the punch there. Oh well.

wintergt

Just put them in the post anyway, it's not exactly "new" information, these were mentionned in the inspiration thread already, just nice to read em all in one detailed thread.

Mr. 13

Well…Alright. After reading the link's, I realized they did leave out a few facts. Here, in turn, is what I know.

Marshall D. Teach (Blackbeard): Named, of course, after the infamous pirate Edward Teach, or "Blackbeard", who terrorized the seas near North America late in the Golden Pirate Age (1689-1718). He gained his merciless reputation from his bizarre, almost mad, ways. For one, he would lace his hige black beard with cannon fuses and light the ends, so the smoke would wreath his face and make him look like a devil. He would also, before battle, mix gunpowder with rum and drink it down. Another occasion was when he locked he and his crewmen below deck on his flagship, the Queen Anne's Revenge (Blackbeard started his seafaring career during the Queen Anne's War), and filled the room with smoke from burning wicks. He refused to let them out until they had all passed out. Blackbeard didn't let the forget who had held out the longest.

Blackbeard's career was very short (1717-1718), but even so, he was a very successful pirate. He was killed in a short, yet spectacular, battle on Ocracoke Inlet near North Carolina. Supposedly, it took five musket ball wounds and twenty sword lacerations before dying, sinkoing to the deck in a pool of his own blood.

Bartholemew Kuma (Bear): Named after Batholemew Roberts, a.k.a "Black Bart", probably one of the most successful pirates in history. Before his turn to piracy, he was a crewman on a Royal vessal. The ship was boarded off the coast of Africa by the pirate Howel Davis, and Roberts was forced into the pirate crew. Although reluctant to piracy at first, Roberts became a natural at it. And when Davis was killed in 1719 during a sea battle, Roberts was appointed captain. Roberts took to his new career with gusto, looting and plundering wherever he went, eventually capturing 400 ships during his spree. He even took on the nickname "Black Bart". By 1721, he had successfully halted shipping to and from the Spanish Main.

His four year campeign ended when, during a cannon battle with a Royal Navy ship, the Swallow, Roberts was struck by a cannonball and perished instantly. His death officially mark the end of the Pirate Era.

And this one is pure speculation, but…

Crocodile: Possibly based after the fictional pirate, Captain Hook, from James M. Barrie's classic story Peter Pan. Hook got his name from the hook that stood in place of his left hand, which the boy Peter Pan cut off and threw to a passing crocodile. Hence, Hook fears crocodiles, especially the one that ate his left hand. That particular crocodile had also swallowed a clock, so it's approach was always signaled by the ticking of a clock. Hook, obsessed with killing Peter, eventually met his fate at the jaws of the very crocodile he feared.

wintergt

@Mr.:

Well…Alright. After reading the link's, I realized they did leave out a few facts.

If you want, you can also add they left out on wikipedia.. it's the whole concept of the project

Bartholemew Kuma (Bear): (snip) Black Bart (snip) His death officially mark the end of the Pirate Era.

Wonder why he's so unknown..

Mr. 13

He's actually fairly well known. Blackbeard is just more infamous.

Kalei

I'd love to see more added to this thread, and not just with the pirates. There're so many historical references in One Piece it's almost hard to believe. I know a few of the more obscure ones thanks to FB, perhaps I'll put together some info blurbs as you did some time. XD

Ivotas

@Mr.:

Crocodile: Possibly based after the fictional pirate, Captain Hook, from James M. Barrie's classic story Peter Pan. Hook got his name from the hook that stood in place of his left hand, which the boy Peter Pan cut off and threw to a passing crocodile. Hence, Hook fears crocodiles, especially the one that ate his left hand. That particular crocodile had also swallowed a clock, so it's approach was always signaled by the ticking of a clock. Hook, obsessed with killing Peter, eventually met his fate at the jaws of the very crocodile he feared.

IÂ´d like to that explenation that not only the hook but also the name "Crocodile" would have been inspired by the creature that Captain Hook feared the most.
Other than that it CrocodileÂ´s obsession with clocks when he gives Luffy three minutes in the desert or when he says that a bomb will explode in 15 minutes were probably also inspired by the clock that the crocodile has swallowed.

This isnÂ´t my theory. IÂ´ve read this month ago before while I was still a lurker here but it was such a nice elaboration of a possible Sir Crocodile experience that IÂ´ve memorized it. Unfortunally I donÂ´t remember whoÂ´s original theory that was. =(

Mr. 13

Not to mention giving everyone one hour before the room flooded and became part of the lake.

Here's one more for now. I'm still doing research.

**Lafitte:**Named after the American pirate Jean Lafitte, who operated mostly in and around New Orleans. With about 10 vessels, Lafitte raided Spanish, American, and British ships. Although arrested by the governor, Lafitte never showed up for the trial. The governor offered $750 for his capture, and in turn, Lafitte offered double that for the capture of the governor. In 1814, British officials offered Lafitte financial rewards and other items if he would help in their attack on New Orleans. Lafitte notified local officials who ignored his warning. Several weeks later, a small British naval fleet attacked. Lafitte and his crew slipped out of town before the attack. Later, General Andrew Jackson offered Lafitte a full pardon if they would help fight the British. Even after this, Lafitte continued his pirating from Central American ports until his death around 1821.

SwordKing

I just read in a book about pirates that there was once a female pirate captain named Alvilda. I know the One Piece character is called Alvida, but I don't think that's too far off.

Are there any other One Piece characters that might have been inspired by obscure historical figures?

Rama

Blackbeard's real name is Marshall D. Teach, which is along the lines of a real pirate's name. Morgan was also a pirate. Zolo's family name was baised off a pirate who's name I can't spell or pronounce. In fact, "Zoro" was based off the famous fencing swordsman, "Zorro".

KatanaJon1.1

I Think we already have this topic somewhere…

VildaHawk

coughspointstothelinkinmysigcough

Green Hair

http://ap.animemedia.org/showthread.php?t=3284

bevin

Old thread, move down! ^^

EDIT: I merged it instead since they've posted some stuff here… SHL.

Le Lawliet

@Rama:

Blackbeard's real name is Marshall D. Teach, which is along the lines of a real pirate's name.

remember, Whitebeard's name is Edward Newgate. So, Oda split the names up… is there a pirate by the name of Marshall Newgate then????

bevin

Not that I know of, but if memory serves me correctly (and it might not) I think there's a Newgate prison where some notorious pirates were held before excecution back in the day.

Mr. 13

Um…Is it safe to post again here? This was pretty much dead anyway. And yet...

Newgate prison I read about somewhere...Was it in London? Or was it Port Royal? My memory is broken.

Anyway, the reason I revive this is that I found something interesting! Remember L'Olonnois (the pirate that Zoro is based off of)? I happened to be at Disneyland in the pirate shop, which is right at the exit of Pirates of the Caribbean. I got this little card from the pirate fortune-card machine there, and on the back they have flags of famous pirates. To get to the point, one of them was L'Olonnois', and it featured three Jolly Rogers (skulls and crossbones) in a row.

Now this may just be speculation, but perhaps the three skulls coincide with the three swords? Hmm?

KatanaJon1.1

@Mr.:

Um…Is it safe to post again here? This was pretty much dead anyway. And yet...

Newgate prison I read about somewhere...Was it in London? Or was it Port Royal? My memory is broken.

Anyway, the reason I revive this is that I found something interesting! Remember L'Olonnois (the pirate that Zoro is based off of)? I happened to be at Disneyland in the pirate shop, which is right at the exit of Pirates of the Caribbean. I got this little card from the pirate fortune-card machine there, and on the back they have flags of famous pirates. To get to the point, one of them was L'Olonnois', and it featured three Jolly Rogers (skulls and crossbones) in a row.

Now this may just be speculation, but perhaps the three skulls coincide with the three swords? Hmm?

On a related note, I thought of Blackbeard's (One Piece version) flag.

Let's get this topic goin again, eh?

Mr. 13

But of course!

I hadn't thought of Blackbeard's flag, but now that has also accured to me. What did it look like again? It was…uh...three skulls crammed over crossed bones, right? (As in, One Piece's Blackbeard. The real pirate had a horned skeleton holding an hourglass in one hand and a spear in the other, which was stabbing a heart)