Middle Ages
| Name | Life | Years Active | Country of origin | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giorgio Adorno | d. 1558 | Malta | Knight of Malta active in the Mediterranean. Originally from Naples, he was elected "Captain-General of the Galleys" in 1547, 1549, 1557 and 1558. | |
| James Alday | 1516–1576 | 1540s | England | An English privateer. Raided Spanish ports with James Logan and William Cooke. |
| William Aleyn | fl. 1448 | 1432-1448 | England | English pirate active in the Thames and English Channel. Associate of William Kyd. |
| Richard Allen | d. 1572 | England | ||
| Jean Ango | 1480–1551 | France | A French ship-owner who provided ships to Francis I for exploration of the globe. | |
| Aruj | 1474–1518 | 1503–1518 | Ottoman Empire | An Ottoman privateer and Bey (Governor) of Algiers and Beylerbey (Chief Governor) of the West Mediterranean. |
| Awilda | 5th century | Scandinavia | She and some of her female friends dressed like sailors and commandeered a ship. | |
| Hayreddin Barbarossa | 1478–1546 | 1504–1545 | Ottoman Empire | An Ottoman privateer and later Admiral who dominated the Mediterranean for decades. |
| Baldassare Cossa (Antipope John XXIII) | 1370–1415 | Procida | Antipope during the Western Schism, John XXIII was accused of—among other crimes—piracy, incest and sodomy. | |
| Pier Gerlofs Donia | 1480–1520 | Germany (Frisia) | a Frisian warrior, pirate, freedom fighter, folk hero and rebel. | |
| Eric of Pomerania | 1382–1459 | Germany (Pomerania) | The first king of the Nordic Kalmar Union, he spent his last years living on the island of Gothland and "sent forth piratical expeditions against friend and foe alike". | |
| Eustace the Monk | c. 1170–1217 | France | He was a mercenary for both England and France. | |
| Alv Erlingsson | d. 1290 | Norway | He was a favorite of the Queen, yet committed countless acts of piracy throughout his life | |
| Jean Fleury (Florin) | fl. 1523 | 1520s | France | French privateer and naval officer under Jean Ango. Seized three Spanish ships carrying Aztec treasure from Mexico to Spain in 1523. |
| Magnus Heinason | 1545–1589 | Faroe Islands | Faroese naval hero and privateer. Was executed for piracy, though charges were later dropped. | |
| Klein Henszlein | d. 1573 | to 1573 | Germany | A 16th century pirate who raided shipping in the North Sea until his defeat and capture by a fleet from Hamburg |
| Wijerd Jelckama | 1490–1523 | Germany (Frisia) | The nephew of Pier Gerlofs Donia (also known as Grutte Pier), fought along his side against the Saxon and Hollandic invaders. | |
| William Kyd | fl. 1430–1453 | 1430s–1450s | England | English pirate active in Southwest England during the early-to-mid-15th century. |
| Gödeke Michels | d. 1402 | to 1402 | Germany | A German pirate and one of the leaders of the Likedeeler, a combination of former Vitalienbrüder |
| Didrik Pining | c. 1430–1491 | Denmark-Norway | A pirate and privateer operating in the North Sea. Often partnered with Hans Pothorst. | |
| Hans Pothorst | c.1440–1490 | Denmark-Norway | A pirate and privateer operating in the North Sea. Often partnered with Didrik Pining. | |
| Salih Reis | 1488–1568 | Ottoman Empire | A Turkish privateer and Ottoman admiral. | |
| Turgut Reis | 1485–1565 | Ottoman Empire | A Turkish privateer and Ottoman admiral as well as Bey of Algiers; Beylerbey of the Mediterranean; and first Bey later Pasha of Tripoli. | |
| Klaus Störtebeker | 1360–1401 | Germany | He was a leader of the Victual Brothers. | |
| Kristoffer Trondson (Rustung) | c.1500–1565 | c.1535–1542 | Norway | A Norwegian nobleman-turned pirate and privateer. Operated in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Gave up piracy in 1542 and eventually became admiral of the Danish Fleet. |
| Hennig Wichmann | 1370–1402 | 149?–1402 | Germany (Frisia) | One of the leaders of the Likedeeler, an association of former Victual Brothers. |
| Cord Widderich | d. 1447 | 1404–1447 | Germany | A pirate active during political conflicts between Dithmarschen and North Frisia in the early 15th century. |
| Magister Wigbold | 1365–1402 | 1392–1402 | Germany | Often described as the brains behind the Victual Brothers. |
| Wimund | b. 1147 | England | He was a bishop who became a seafaring warlord adventurer. | |
| John Crabbe | 1305-1332 | Flanders | Flemish pirate best known for his successful use of a ship-mounted catapult. Once won the favor of Robert the Bruce and acted as a Naval Officer for England during the Hundred Years' War (after being captured by King Edward III.) |
Read more about this topic: List Of Pirates
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—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)
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