Beginning with the 9th-century "Shield Maiden" pirate Alfhild and ending with "Big Mouth" Mohamed Abdi Hassan—who ransomed supertankers for tens of millions of dollars—this history of piracy surveys a millennium of blood and treasure. In this rogue's gallery, here are a surprisingly reasonable Blackbeard and brutal patriot John Paul Jones, alongside the medieval "Lioness of Brittany," heroic Chinese warlord Koxinga, and Jack "Birdy" Ward—possible inspiration for Pirates of the Caribbean's Jack Sparrow. Including black and white illustrations throughout, this treasure chest of capsule biographies brings these villains to life.