Pirates of the Caribbean: Buccaneers, Privateers, Freebooters and Filibusters 1493–1720

What it is

An illustrated history of piracy in the Caribbean from 1493 to 1720. Apestegui follows buccaneers, privateers, freebooters and filibusters against the background of Spanish settlement and European rivalry, using historical sources, maps and period imagery to place their activities in context.

Why it matters

Piracy belongs to the wider history of the Spanish treasure trade. This book supplies the political and maritime context behind attacks on ships, ports and trade routes, and helps distinguish state-authorised privateering from other forms of maritime raiding. It complements the fleet histories and pirate accounts already on the shelf.

Who it's for

Readers seeking an illustrated introduction to Caribbean piracy, and collectors who want the wider historical setting of the trade routes behind Spanish colonial coins.