https://sillyhistory.com/2022/01/16/coins-as-history/2023-04-22T17:09:44+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2020/04/13/blogging-and-a-course-on-witch-trials/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/the_witches_sabbath_by_frans_francken_ii.jpgThe_Witches_Sabbath,_by_Frans_Francken_IIThe Witches' Sabbath, painted in 1607 by Frans Franken II (1581 - 1642)2022-04-05T07:30:09+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2020/03/31/history-as-game-kingmaker/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/earlwarwicksvow_large.jpgEarlwarwicksvow_largeThe Kingmaker himself, who was as much a schemer as warriorhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/img_0181.jpgIMG_0181The game boardhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/illumination_of_henry_iv_cropped.jpgIllumination_of_Henry_IV_(cropped)Contemporary depiction of Henry IV2022-08-03T18:18:59+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2019/05/04/i-changed-and-made-some-landmarks-in-my-life/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/brian-on-top-of-the-pass.jpegBrian on top of the passIt's summer, can't you tell?2020-02-07T22:02:35+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/a-brief-history-of-the-cambridge-center-for-adult-education/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_0063.jpegIMG_0063https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_0055.jpgIMG_0055https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/bundesarchiv_bild_183-r06836_elsa_brandstrc3b6m.jpgElsa Brandströmhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/0a1cbba8d2fae5a0dbacf3eb56f83ff1-460x293-png.jpeg0a1cbba8d2fae5a0dbacf3eb56f83ff1-460x293.pnghttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_9619.jpgIMG_9619https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_0108.jpgIMG_0108https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/william_brattle_by_john_copley_boston.pngWilliam_Brattle_by_John_Copley,_Bostonhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/877px-john_dewey_cph-3a51565.jpg877px-John_Dewey_cph.3a51565https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/fullerdaguerreotype.jpgFullerDaguerreotypehttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_0079.jpegIMG_0079Brattle Hall and Brattle House2018-11-06T17:09:04+00:00weekly0.6https://sillyhistory.com/2018/04/02/history-can-be-personal-too/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/img_0506.jpgIMG_0506The rocking couch was such a favorite of my mother's that she took it with her to the assisted living facility2019-02-14T18:21:42+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2018/03/11/learning-history-from-the-master-hendrik-van-loon-1882-1944/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/800px-the_story_of_a_word.jpg800px-The_story_of_a_wordVan Loon illustrated his history with hand-drawn pictures! You have NO idea how much that mattered to me at age eight!https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/450px-hendrik_willem_van_loon_cph-3a02154.jpg450px-Hendrik_Willem_van_Loon_cph.3a021542019-05-05T02:17:29+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/09/26/honor-in-egils-saga/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/egil_skallagrimsson_17c_manuscript.jpgEgil_Skallagrimsson_17c_manuscriptWarrior, poet, and sometime heroic spewer of vomit, Egil was a Viking through and throughhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/johannes-flintoe-egil-skallarimsson.jpgJohannes-flintoe-egil-skallarimssonOn another occasion, Egil challenged Berg-Onund to a duel over a disputed inheritance when he couldn't get satisfaction by litigation. Painting by Johannes Flintoe (1787-1870)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/konung_ingjald_illrc3a5da_brc3a4nner_upp_6_fylkiskonungar_by_hugo_hamilton.jpgKonung_Ingjald_Illråda_bränner_upp_6_Fylkiskonungar_by_Hugo_HamiltonAlthough Egil thought burning people in their houses an honorable course, later Icelanders would condemn the practice as dishonorable, as in Njal's Saga. (Depicted: the burning of six kings by the legendary King Ingjald of Sweden, a book illustration by Hugo Hamilton (1802-71) in 1830.)2018-03-01T16:41:36+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2018/02/24/the-215th-anniversary-of-marbury-v-madison/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/405px-chief_justice_john_marshall.jpeg405px-Chief_Justice_John_MarshallChief Justice John Marshall, and don't mess with my opinions, sir!https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/marbury.jpgMarburyDon't recognize him? It's WIlliam Marbury. I wouldn't have known him, either.https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/johnadamsvp-flipped.jpgJohnadamsvp.flippedFederalist John Adams was so annoyed with Jefferson succeeding him that he left town rather than attend Jefferson's inauguration.2018-02-24T16:33:17+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2018/02/21/now-that-it-is-over-a-review-of-the-television-series-black-sails/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/jessicaparkerkennedyasmax-ep-406.jpgBlack Sails Season 4 2017The big winner in the series is Max, former prostitute turned successful businesswomanhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/captain-flint-black-sails-xxv.jpgBlack Sails Season 3Flint's character does dominate the serieshttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/black-sails-season-4-trailer-john-silver.jpgBlack Sails Season 4 2017Long John Silver in the midst of battlehttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/nassau.jpgNassauNassau harbor in Black Sails2018-02-22T18:02:00+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2017/02/05/sorting-through-facts-and-legends-of-samuel-bellamy-pirate/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/hallett-novel-cover.jpghallett-novel-coverStories of romances between outlaws and reputable women still pull in readers, as this 2010 book demonstrates.https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/whydah-map.jpgwhydah-mapLocation of the wreck of the Whydah2018-02-10T20:47:33+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2017/01/29/the-pseudo-shakespearean-tragedy-of-edward-england/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/mauritius_beach.pngmauritius_beachA beach on Mauritius (Credit: Wikipedia/Romeodesign)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/750px-flag_of_edward_england-svg.png750px-flag_of_edward_england-svgEngland's flaghttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/pirate_england.jpgpirate_england2017-02-01T12:47:01+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2017/01/22/lets-go-live-the-glamorous-life-as-pirates/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/571px-blackbeards_head.jpg571px-blackbeards_headCaptain Maynard hung Blackbeard's head from the bowsprit of his shiphttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/385px-majoor_stede_bonnet_gehangen_bw.jpg385px-majoor_stede_bonnet_gehangen_bwHow unfortunate was Major Stede Bonnet? This unfortunate!https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/bartholomew_roberts.jpgbartholomew_robertsAt least one feminist historian argued Black Bart was a woman because of his taste and style2017-01-23T20:57:19+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2016/11/29/crime-and-punishment-viking-style/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/am426_grettir.jpgam426_grettirGrettir survived almost 20 years as an outlaw, but then he was tough enough to put down an Icelandic zombiehttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/371px-njal_saga_-_battle_of_alc3beingi.jpg371px-njal_saga_-_battle_of_althingiNo one wants a fight at the Althing, but sometimes things get out of handhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/law_speaker-1.jpglaw_speaker-1The Law Rock where the Althing methttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/383px-laxdc3a6la_saga_-_guc3b0rc3ban_smiled_at_halldor.jpg383px-laxdaela_saga_-_gudrun_smiled_at_halldorGudrun greets her husband's slayers with a smile, but she'll get her revenge!https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/magnus_erlingssons_saga-huset_til_ossur-w-_wetlesen.jpgmagnus_erlingssons_saga-huset_til_ossur-w-_wetlesenOne of the most famous killings in the sagas is the burning of Njal in his home2016-11-30T12:55:02+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2016/11/21/the-norse-gods-all-too-human/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/billingrs_girl_bitch_and_odin_by_frc3b8lich.jpgbillingrs_girl_bitch_and_odin_by_frolichOdin's not going to get his way this time! (By Lorenz Frolich (1820-1908), 1895https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ah_what_a_lovely_maid_it_is_by_elmer_boyd_smith.jpgah_what_a_lovely_maid_it_is_by_elmer_boyd_smithDoesn't Thor look pretty as a bride? (By E. Boyd Smith (1860-1943), 1902)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/414px-mc3a5rten_eskil_winge_-_tors_fight_with_the_giants_-_google_art_project.jpg414px-marten_eskil_winge_-_tors_fight_with_the_giants_-_google_art_projectThor doing what he does best (By Marten Eskil Winge (1825-1896), 1872)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/760px-ragnarc3b6k_by_doepler.jpg760px-ragnarok_by_doeplerRagnarok: the world is being destroyed by fire (By Emil Doepler (1855-1922), c. 1905)2016-11-30T02:16:03+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2016/11/16/the-last-viking/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/battleofstamfordbridge.pngbattleofstamfordbridgeHarald (center) charging into battle for the last timehttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/harold-iii-coin.pngharold-iii-coinHarald helped convert Norway to a money economy by minting his own coinshttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/elisiv_of_kiev.jpgelisiv_of_kievHarald's Russian wife. There are varying accounts about whether he left her behind when he went to Norway or became a bigamist once he became king.https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/543px-pictures_of_english_history_plate_x_-_canute_and_his_courtiers.jpg543px-pictures_of_english_history_plate_x_-_canute_and_his_courtiersCanute was so great that some sycophants thought he could stop the tides!https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/harald_hardrada_window_in_kirkwall_cathedral_geograph_2068881.jpgharald_hardrada_window_in_kirkwall_cathedral_geograph_2068881A glorified portrait of Harald Hardrada (credit: Wikipedia/Colin Smith)2016-11-30T02:20:43+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2016/10/31/my-favorite-viking-saga-tragedy/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/nr_sheep.jpgnr_sheepIn good years, the sheep in the Orkneys multiplyhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/battle_of_clontarf_oil_on_canvas_painting_by_hugh_frazer_1826.jpgbattle_of_clontarf_oil_on_canvas_painting_by_hugh_frazer_1826The Battle of Clontarf, painted in 1826 by Hugh Frazer (1795 - 1865)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/haakon_den_godes_saga_-_gunnhild_faar_bud_om_eiriks_doed-_c-_krohg.jpghaakon_den_godes_saga_-_gunnhild_faar_bud_om_eiriks_doed-_c-_krohgGunnhild is ifnormed of Erik's death, as imagined in 1899https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/skullsplitterlabel.jpgskullsplitterlabelNo, Thorfinn didn't really look like this.https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/787px-blaeu_-_atlas_of_scotland_1654_-_orcadvm_et_schetlandic3a6_-_orkney_and_shetland.jpg787px-blaeu_-_atlas_of_scotland_1654_-_orcadvm_et_schetlandiae_-_orkney_and_shetlandA 1654 map of the Orkneys2016-11-01T15:23:09+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2016/10/09/a-primer-on-the-electoral-college/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/andrew_jackson.jpgImacon Color ScannerI wuz robbed!https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/453px-george-w-bush.jpeg453px-george-w-bushBetween losing the popular vote and winning the Electoral College through a controversial Supreme Court decision, George W. Bush had legitimacy problems early in his Presidency.https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/090508-neale-500.jpg090508-neale-500Congress counting the Electoral College ballots in 1877 (which actually was a complicated mess, but for reasons not germane to this article)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/lyndon_b-_johnson_oval_office_portrait-tif.jpglyndon_b-_johnson_oval_office_portrait-tifThe first President to need 270 electoral votes: LBJ. (He got 486.)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/374px-gilbert_stuart_-_george_washington_-_google_art_project.jpg374px-gilbert_stuart_-_george_washington_-_google_art_projectAnd who did the first electors vote for? Guess!https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/scene_at_the_signing_of_the_constitution_of_the_united_states.jpgscene_at_the_signing_of_the_constitution_of_the_united_states"Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States" by Howard Chandler Christy (1873-1952)2016-10-10T14:49:03+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2016/03/12/review-mary-beard-spqr-a-history-of-ancient-rome-2015/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/759px-ancient_bar_pompeii.jpg759px-Ancient_Bar,_PompeiiBeard discusses ancient restaurants and bars while comparing the dining habits of the rich and poor. (Credit: Wikipedia/Daniele Florio)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/mary-beard-spqr.jpgmary beard spqr2016-08-10T00:59:45+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2016/02/22/on-this-day-in-history-february-22/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/dolly_the_sheep_national_museums_of_scotland_edinburgh_-_geograph-org-uk_-_1301843.jpgDolly_the_sheep,_National_Museums_of_Scotland,_Edinburgh_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1301843I was so famous I became a taxidermist's project (Credit: Wikipedia/Mike Pennington)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/600px-lyell_1840.jpg600px-Lyell_1840I also assisted in getting Darwin and Wallace to cooperate in announcing evolution togetherhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/mc3a1ria_terc3a9zia_koronc3a1zc3a1sa_a_szent_mc3a1rton_szc3a9kesegyhc3a1zban.jpgMária_Terézia_koronázása_a_Szent_Márton_székesegyházbanThe War of the Austrian Succession also involved the Hungarian succession. Confused? So were contemporaries.https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/629px-robert_ii_alba_i.jpg629px-Robert_II_(Alba)_iThe Great Seal of Robert II2016-02-23T05:46:50+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/12/07/this-day-misremembered-in-history-december-7/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sequel_back.jpgsequel_backEvery taxi ride deserves a sequelhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/williambligh.jpegWilliamBlighBligh in one of his cheerier momentshttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/mary_stuart_james_darnley.jpgMary_Stuart_James_DarnleyDarnley and the Queen2018-12-28T22:56:34+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/10/05/historical-fiction-on-tv-vikings/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/still-of-kirk-douglas-ernest-borgnine-and-janet-leigh-in-vikingarna-1958.jpgstill-of-kirk-douglas,-ernest-borgnine-and-janet-leigh-in-vikingarna-(1958)That's Ernest Borgnine on the left, playing the 1958 version of Ragnar. Janet Leigh gets to play an ornament . . . oops, sorry, a princess. She does not kick ass.https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/vikings_gallery6_6-p.jpegvikings_gallery6_6-PSiggy's usually a throw-away character, but here she's an essential part of the funeral episodehttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/vikings_lagertha_3.jpgvikings_lagertha_3I should be putting a picture of Rollo here, but I don't care about him. Instead, here's the improbable warrior Lagertha, who's also Ragnar's first wifehttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/vikings_season2_episode1_gallery_8.jpgvikings_season2_episode1_gallery_8"Vikings" protagonist, Ragnar Lothbrokhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/vikings_season3_hero_1-h1.jpegvikings_season3_hero_1-Hhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/vikings_season3_hero_1-h.jpegvikings_season3_hero_1-H"Vikings:" Ragnar, his ex-wife, and company2015-10-07T18:49:28+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/07/19/walking-the-cinematic-plank-cutthroat-island/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ocuwgt1ld38ydjjysqlx.pngocuwgt1ld38ydjjysqlxThis could have been hothttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/davis-cutthroat-island.pngDavis Cutthroat IslandThis could have been hothttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/cutthroat_1_sm-_v219329203_.jpgCutthroat_1_sm._V219329203_But they ARE great action scenes!https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/cutthroat_island_ver2.jpgCutthroat_island_ver22015-07-31T02:39:52+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/07/10/getting-rid-of-a-pirate-captain-in-the-golden-age-of-piracy/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/hanging_of_william_kidd.jpgHanging_of_William_KiddThey left Kidd's body to hang as a warning to sailors not to turn piratehttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/400px-captain_dulaien_flag-svg.png400px-Captain_Dulaien_Flag.svgThere were many variations of the Jolly Roger; here is Walter Kennedy'shttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/372px-mfillmore.jpeg372px-MfillmoreWeird fact: One of the "forced" men who overthrew Phillips was President Millard Fillmore's great-grandfather!https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/blackbart7.jpgblackbart7Someone really ought to do a movie about Roberts' last fight2016-10-04T19:13:53+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/07/03/pirate-codes-of-conduct-from-the-golden-age-1721-24/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/johann_sebastian_bach.jpgJohann_Sebastian_BachSorry, JSB, yours is not a sick beat as far as pirates are concernedhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/800px-pyle_pirates_treasfight.jpg800px-Pyle_pirates_treasfightHoward Pyle did a LOT of pictures about pirates, as well as writing about themhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/lowther.jpgLowtherSaid to be Captain Lowtherhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/marooned.jpgMaroonedMarooned (1909) by Howard Pyle (1853 - 1911)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/john_phillips_pirate.jpgJohn_Phillips_pirateMaybe his lesser share as captain explains why John Phillips once forced a man to drink at gunpointhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/richards-depp.jpgrichards-deppIn the third "Pirates of the Caribbean" film, Keith Richards gets to play the keeper of the pirate code2015-07-09T16:51:47+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/06/26/the-career-of-calico-jack-rackam-the-pirate-with-two-women-pirates-on-his-ship/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/512px-pirate_flag_of_blackbeard_edward_teach-svg.png512px-Pirate_Flag_of_Blackbeard_(Edward_Teach).svgBlackbeard's flag: he wanted you to know he could kill youhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/early_18th_century_engraving_of_charles_vane.jpgEarly_18th_century_engraving_of_Charles_VaneCharles Vanehttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/vane-rackam-bonny.jpgVane, Rackam, BonnyOn Black Sails, Vane is a violent man, Rackam a sort of 18th c. pirate PR man, and Bonny is a psycho-killerhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/black-sails2.jpgBlack Sails2The women look right elegant in Black Sails' version of New Providencehttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/8_escudos_lima_1710.jpg8_escudos_Lima_1710There was gold in that treasure fleet, too! (Credit: Wikipedia/Augi Garcia)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/rey_carlos_ii-4.jpgRey_Carlos_II (4)The guy with the overextended lower jaw is Carlos II of Spain, whose inability to father children and death began the War of the Spanish Succession2025-06-14T04:00:37+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/06/22/pirates-states-and-international-law/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/800px-french_ship_under_atack_by_barbary_pirates.jpg800px-French_ship_under_atack_by_barbary_piratesBarbary (Muslim North African) pirates attacking a Frech ship in the Mediterraneanhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/800px-thetsarcannonjuly2004.jpg800px-TheTsarCannonJuly2004Supposedly cannons in the early modern era could throw their shot three miles, hence the three-mile territorial waters limit. (Credit: Wikipedia/GrahamColm)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/453px-pope_alexander_vi.jpg453px-Pope_Alexander_ViIt helped the Spanish that Pope Alexander VI (r. 1492-1503) was himself Spanishhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/775px-austria_hungary_ethnic-svg.png775px-Austria_Hungary_ethnic.svgThe Austro-Hungarian Empire was another example of two states under one monarch. Note how it consisted of many peoples, several of which have their own nations today.https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/worldmaplonglat-eq-circles-tropics-non.pngWorldMapLongLat-eq-circles-tropics-non2015-06-22T13:45:16+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/06/20/summer-pirates-class-postings/2015-06-20T22:56:49+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/05/08/has-the-adventure-galley-of-captain-kidd-been-found/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/charles_galley_1688.jpgCharles_Galley_1688There are no surviving pictures of the Adventure Galley, but this is of a very similar ship, the Charles Galley2015-05-11T12:22:53+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/04/17/and-on-the-sister-blog-to-this-one/2015-04-17T17:59:45+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/04/01/and-now-a-change-of-topic-the-shakers-go-west/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/shakers_dancing.jpgShakers_DancingShakers performing one of their famous dances during worship2015-04-06T09:32:14+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/03/02/as-low-as-one-can-go-the-pirate-captain-ned-low/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/low_presenting_a_pistol_and_bowl_of_punch.jpgLow_presenting_a_Pistol_and_Bowl_of_PunchNed on one of his "off" days: he actually gave the captain a choice between taking a drink or being shot. The captain drank.https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/the_cruelties_practised_by_captain_low.jpgThe_Cruelties_practised_by_Captain_LowNed's crew thought that stringing up people was entertaininghttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/edwardlowepicture.jpgEdwardlowepictureNope, no oil portraits of Ned Low for some reason. Instead we have this engraving, which you would think is symbolic of what Ned did to commerce, but is really about an actual incident when a storm almost sank his shiphttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/800px-drakeknightedtavistockmonument.jpg800px-DrakeKnightedTavistockMonumentGentlemen pirates like Drake are knighted by the Queen2015-07-18T18:45:21+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/02/22/fighting-jacobean-pirates-sir-henry-mainwarings-treatise/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/392px-james_i_of_england_404446.jpg392px-James_I_of_England_404446King James trying to look dashing and royal (1620), by Paul van Somer (1577 - 1621)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/cornelis_vroom_spanish_men_of_war_engaging_barbary_corsairs.jpgCornelis_Vroom_Spanish_Men_of_War_Engaging_Barbary_CorsairsSpanish Men-of-War Engaging Barbary Corsairs (1615) by Cornelis Vroom (1591 -1661)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/brasenose_college_from_loggans_oxonia_illustrata.jpgBrasenose_College_from_Loggan's_Oxonia_IllustrataBrasenose later in the 17th century2015-02-24T21:26:08+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/02/15/barbary-corsairs-and-the-united-states/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/tripoli_monument.jpgTripoli_MonumentWhat I couldn't find: the Tripoli Monumenthttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/attack_on_derna_by_charles_waterhouse_01.jpg"Attack on Derna"The American attack on Dernahttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/406px-burning_of_the_uss_philadelphia.jpg406px-Burning_of_the_uss_philadelphiaThe "Philidelphia" burnshttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/800px-enterprisetripoli.jpg800px-EnterpriseTripoliThe USS Enterprise vs. the corsair Tripoli, August 1, 18012015-02-18T20:46:55+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/02/08/floating-armories-and-other-ways-to-fight-pirates/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/convoy_ws-12_en_route_to_cape_town_1941.jpgConvoy_WS-12_en_route_to_Cape_Town,_1941WWII convoys even had airplanes as part of their escortshttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/800px-pirateship.jpg800px-PirateShipPainting by Ambroise Louis Garneray (1783-1857) who once sailed as a privateer himselfhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/reddragonship.jpgReddragonshipA 17th century East Indiaman2015-02-09T19:26:35+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/about/2026-02-02T18:26:11+00:00weekly0.6https://sillyhistory.com/how-howel-davis-took-a-fortress-by-subterfuge/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/800px-james_island_and_fort_gambia.jpg800px-James_Island_and_Fort_GambiaThe fort was rebuilt in later years, as it was an important port in the slave trade.https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/howelldavis.jpgHowellDavisCaptain Howel Davis, one of the smarter Golden Age pirates2016-07-16T14:34:17+00:00weekly0.6https://sillyhistory.com/2015/01/24/the-women-pirates-of-the-caribbean-anne-bonny-and-mary-read/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/mary_reed02.gifMary_reed02Mary Reed, armed and dangerous, possibly hoping to distract her enemies with her "very white" breastshttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/bonney_anne_1697-1720.jpgBonney,_Anne_(1697-1720)Anne Bonny, depicted by someone with a lot of imagination and little sensehttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/458px-rackhamjack.jpg458px-Rackham,JackRackam as depicted by contemporarieshttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/early_18th_century_engraving_of_charles_vane.jpgEarly_18th_century_engraving_of_Charles_VaneCharles Vane, who would not accept the King's pardonhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/general_history_of_the_pyrates_-_ann_bonny_and_mary_read_coloured.jpgGeneral_History_of_the_Pyrates_-_Ann_Bonny_and_Mary_Read_(coloured)2015-02-07T22:21:14+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/01/31/who-was-captain-kidd-and-why-did-he-become-famous/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/382px-pyle_pirates_burying2.jpg382px-Pyle_pirates_burying2Which pirate did Howard Pyle show burying treasure? Why, Captain Kidd, of course!https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanging_of_william_kidd.jpgHanging_of_William_KiddKidd's body was hung in chains along the shore of the Thames as a warning to sailors not to turn piratehttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/765px-the_charles_galley-willem_van_de_velde_the_younger-2.jpg765px-The_Charles_Galley-Willem_van_de_Velde_the_Younger-2Not the Adventure Galley, but a similar shiphttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/william_kidd.jpgWilliam_KiddI, William Kidd, am a gentleman of wealth2019-07-11T02:15:11+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2015/01/16/every-tew-misson-and-libertalia/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/a_pirate_and_his_madagascar_wife.jpgA_Pirate_and_his_Madagascar_wifeParadise may not last, but it can sure be fun. It has to be said in Johnson's favor that the pirates and natives treat each other as equals.https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/every-5-living-like-a-prince.jpgEvery 5 living like a princeEvery living like a prince in Madagascarhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/800px-pieter_bruegel_d-_c3a4-_037.jpg800px-Pieter_Bruegel_d._Ä._037An unflattering view of Cockaigne, emphasizing those well-known pirate virtues of sloth and gluttony2015-09-22T09:27:00+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2014/12/30/the-pirate-as-comedy-peter-pan-captain-hook-and-major-stede-bonnet/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/458px-bonnet.gif458px-BonnetMajor Stede Bonnet (from Johnson's 1724 book)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/416px-captain_hook.png416px-Captain_HookCaptain Hook fighting Peter Pan, original illustration from "Peter and Wendy"https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/captainhookcartoon.jpgCaptainHookcartoonCaptain Hook from the Disney film (Copyright resides with Disney)2015-01-01T15:47:41+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2014/12/16/piracy-some-basic-history/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/one_more_step_mr-_hands.jpgOne_More_Step,_Mr._HandsThe fictional Israel Hands confronting the boy hero of "Treasure Island," Jim Hawkinshttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/800px-rogerswoodes.jpg800px-Rogers,WoodesWoodes Rogers and his familyhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/495px-henry_every.gif495px-Henry_EveryBy some accounts the most successful pirate, Henry Every's capture of a Mughal treasure ship made him and his crew richhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/tortuga17thcentury.jpgTortuga17thcenturyTortuga in its buccaneering heydayhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/henry_morgan_in_colour.jpgHenry_Morgan_in_colourHe's more than just a name for a brand of rum. Henry Morgan was a successful buccaneer who was knighted for his efforts!2025-02-24T00:38:54+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2014/12/15/pirates-in-fiction-richard-hughes-a-high-wind-in-jamaica/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/high_wind_movieposter.jpgHigh_wind_movieposter2014-12-21T20:24:30+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2014/12/10/the-american-senate-filibuster/2014-12-10T19:30:09+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2014/10/22/a-new-history-e-magazine-and-the-secret-service/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/563px-mckinleyassassination.jpg563px-McKinleyAssassinationEveryone remembers Lincoln and Kennedy, but few recall the assassination of President McKinley in 1901.2014-10-23T20:21:29+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2014/10/21/riding-into-history-railroads-boutwell-and-an-old-mill/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/img_0636.jpgIMG_0636https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/img_0658.jpgIMG_0658https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/img_0618.jpgIMG_0618The store where Boutwell clerkedhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/img_0607.jpgIMG_0607The view down Station Avenue toward Boutwell's Househttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/img_0596.jpgIMG_0596https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/img_0674.jpgIMG_0674Railroads don't handle slopes well, so the trail sometimes cuts through the landhttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/img_0615.jpgIMG_0615Built a century and a half ago, I have to admit I've always found the Town Hall architecturally uninspiring2014-10-21T17:17:17+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2014/08/17/going-to-see-the-whydah/https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/523px-whydah-bell.jpg523px-Whydah-bellThe proof the wreck was the Whydah: its bell (credit: Wikipedia/jjsala)https://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/800px-whydah-gold.jpg800px-Whydah-goldWhydah treasurehttps://sillyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/whydah-museum.jpgwhydah museumThe Whydah Pirate Museum2022-11-12T05:54:27+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.com/2014/08/08/welcome-to-sillyhistory/2015-05-05T16:51:53+00:00monthlyhttps://sillyhistory.comdaily1.02026-02-02T18:26:11+00:00