Brethren of the Coast: The Pirate Republic

[Jedi Dragon]

Chapter 3: Vive la Revolution!​

Located on the island of Hispaniola, Saint-Domingue was one of the most profitable colonies in the world. Since Spain ceded the colony to France in 1697 at the end of the Nine Years War, its sugar plantations had produced millions of dollars for France, with coffee and cattle raising also being highly profitable. It was also home to the most brutal slave economy in the Caribbean, if not the world. Tens of thousands of African slaves were imported every year, both to fuel the growth of agriculture and to replace the thousands of blacks who died in accidents or were executed by local authorities. Harsh punishments were inflicted on slaves, including hanging, drowning, being burned at the stake, or even occasionally boiled alive in cauldrons.

By 1717, the slaves of Saint-Domingue had reached their breaking point. A series of uprisings on different plantations snowballed into widespread disorder. The militia soon found itself overwhelmed by the majority black population, which proclaimed freedom from the French crown. Back on Nassau, the Brethren Council saw an opportunity. Saint-Domingue was an export economy, and one that was suddenly freed from the trade restrictions of its European masters. If the pirates sent support to the rebels, then they would finally have an ally. Hispaniola had a long history with pirates. The island was home to the original Buccaneers, settlers of French, English, Dutch, and numerous other backgrounds who had made their homes on the island, mostly after shipwrecks and mutinies. When the Spanish drove them from their homes, they fortified the nearby island of Tortuga, which remained a pirate stronghold for years. With all this in mind, Saint-Domingue and Nassau seemed like a perfect match.

Slaves storming a plantation.​

In early 1718, the Brethren Council voted to recognize the rebels as the legitimate rulers of Saint-Domingue and provide them with military aid. The first pirates to arrive were the crews of Jack Rackham and Charles Vane, who sailed into Port-au-Prince in late February. France was already preparing an expedition to retake the colony, and the former slaves were glad to receive help, even if it came from brigands. When the French troops arrived in March, they found themselves in a nightmarish situation. They had the advantage in open battle, but the rebels would not engage them directly. Small groups of soldiers would be ambushed and slaughtered on the road, raiding parties would strike camps and supply depots before disappearing into the jungle, and the supply lines from France were ravaged by the pirates, who took many of the larger vessels into their own fleets. In Britain, Parliament was delighted by this turn of events. The fact that their greatest rival had lost its most valuable colony made the idea of striking a deal with the pirates much more appealing. The situation in the Caribbean was set to change.

 

[centurion18]

So did the otl revolt happen a century earlier or are my google skills just failing to find a 1717 uprising that was put down?

Why do I get the feeling that a little bit down the line the British will be looking back at sponsoring Nassau to attack the French as making a deal with the devil.

I could definitely see the Republic eschewing racism, sexism, etc. in favor of taking in anyone who's willing to go on the account.

I really like the idea of the Republic being this pragmatically egalitarian state. “You can sail and you can fight and that’s all I need to know.” Especially if Mary Reed and Anne Bonney survive and gain high status in the nascent nation becoming founding mothers. I can also see the Republic gaining a cultural distaste for slavery as its first real war involves fighting alongside slaves.

 

[Jedi Dragon]

This is just the OTL revolt moved up by 90 years.

I really like the idea of the Republic being this pragmatically egalitarian state. “You can sail and you can fight and that’s all I need to know.” Especially if Mary Reed and Anne Bonney survive and gain high status in the nascent nation becoming founding mothers. I can also see the Republic gaining a cultural distaste for slavery as its first real war involves fighting alongside slaves.

They will definitely be opposed to slavery. I like the idea of the Republic having founding mothers alongside the great male pirates. What started as pragmatism will grow into a key part of the Republic's identity. "A home for the cast-offs and misfits, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

 

[Mackon]

If the place can stumble on for a century mostly intact and then Ching Shih chooses it as her retirement investment that would be something.

 

[Ficboy]

The Pirates were more or less democratic in voting over matters such as who should be captain. A Republic of Pirates would be a Confederation with less big government and more autonomy.

 

[Walle Ras]

This is just the OTL revolt moved up by 90 years.

They will definitely be opposed to slavery. I like the idea of the Republic having founding mothers alongside the great male pirates. What started as pragmatism will grow into a key part of the Republic's identity. "A home for the cast-offs and misfits, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

Why, that seems fortuitous and rather sudden.

 

[Jedi Dragon]

Why, that seems fortuitous and rather sudden.

I thought it seemed like a good way to get the British on their side. It helps that Haitian slavery was so brutal that the slaves would be willing to rise up at just about any time.

 

[Jedi Dragon]

Chapter 4: Sunrise in the Caribbean​

By spring of 1718, opinion in Parliament had swung firmly in favor of making a deal with the pirates of Nassau. They did not pose a threat to British shipping, and had proven capable of threatening the Empire’s enemies at no cost to the British public. Offering formal acknowledgement would guarantee that British shipping would be left undisturbed, as well as secure a new source of manpower. With this in mind, the House of Commons passed the Act of Reconciliation with the Bahamas on April 5, 1718.

The Act recognized the current government of Nassau as legitimate. The rebels, and the new state they called Haiti, were not officially recognized, but Parliament would not make any moves against them. Britain would enter into a military alliance with the Republic, as well as restoring the island’s trade rights. The news was greeted in Nassau with great celebration. Hornigold, who had always been a proud Englishman, was especially pleased with the terms, as was Magistrate Barrow. France was enraged by the recognition of a rebellious colony, but as their expedition to reclaim their territory had gone so poorly, there was little they could do. By the end of the month, the French troops on the island had surrendered, and the new Haitian government had allied itself with the newly christened Republic of the Bahamas. Together, the two formed a confederation with strong commercial links and mutual defense obligations if either was attacked. Britain’s American colonies were also quite receptive to this new arrangement, as their supply of cheap goods was assured.

While the pirates of New Providence had achieved something that no band of outlaws had before, things could not stay the way they were forever. Statehood meant behaving like a sovereign nation: formal laws would need to be written, an official military would need to be formed, and, most odious of all to many of the Republic’s citizens, revenue would need to be collected. The path to security would not be a smooth one, but, for the first time, the outcasts of the West Indies had a place all their own.

 

[Jedi Dragon]

I know the last chapter was short, but hopefully this will make up for it. It turns out that running a country is harder than it looks, especially for a bunch of criminals.

Chapter 5: Ship of State​

Independence for the Bahamas meant more than the acknowledgement of foreign nations; it also meant that the islands would need to start behaving like a nation themselves. However, what exactly this meant was open to question. Some, mainly the English colonists who chose to stay after the war, wanted a more formalized, central government that would promote commerce. On the other hand, there were many pirates who wanted affairs to remain the same, with an economy fueled by plundering their enemies and as little government as possible. Charles Vane quickly emerged as a leader among this group, with the former rallying around Benjamin Hornigold.

In 1719, the first general election in the Republic’s history was due to be held. There were no political parties as such, but the candidates made it clear which factions they supported. When the votes were tallied up, the office of Magistrate went to Edward Teach, more widely known as Blackbeard. Teach was a follower of Vane’s limited government philosophy, and his election was a clear sign which way the political winds were blowing. The majority of seats on the Brethren Council went to other Vane supporters, but there was a vocal minority of reformers who were determined to make their voices heard, including Hornigold himself.

This continued focus on violent self-sufficiency put the Republic in an awkward position. British ships, along with those coming from the Thirteen Colonies, were safe, but Spanish and French merchants were in just as much danger as ever. As the Republic was allied with Britain, this caused much of the anger to be directed at Parliament, along with calls for them to restrain their friends in the Caribbean. The new British ambassador to the Bahamas warned Teach that attacking countries that were not at war with either power could lead to a trade embargo against the islands. This got his attention, and led him to make a speech before the Brethren Council, asking them to ban raids outside of open warfare. This was a controversial measure, and the debate was intense, with many councilmen questioning whether the magistrate had lost his touch, in light of his reputation as a fearsome plunderer. Ultimately, the motion failed, much to Britain’s disappointment.

In May of 1720, a Spanish ship on the way to Cuba was attacked by a pirate crew operating out of Nassau. As it turned out, this ship was carrying an important dignitary, who was promptly taken hostage. When news reached Barcelona, it precipitated an international crisis. The pirates were demanding a ransom for the official’s return, which the Spanish court found insulting. The Spanish decided to send a frigate to rescue their missing nobleman, only to find that the crew they were after had picked up a consort, which allowed them to fight off the rescue attempt. Now shots had been fired, and Spain declared war on the Republic of the Bahamas on June 1, 1720, with Britain declaring war in support of its ally two days later. Haiti joined in as a minor participant. The Republic had entered its first war.

 

[Carnivorous Vegetarian]

This TL needs an appropriate soundtrack.

I prefer the classics.

 

[Some Bloke]

What's the betting that TTL's Assassin's Creed IV takes place during this war.

 

[Ficboy]

A Pirate Republic is the most unique nation in existence.

 

[centurion18]

Now shots had been fired, and Spain declared war on the Republic of the Bahamas on June 1, 1720, with Britain declaring war in support of its ally two days later. Haiti joined in as a minor participant. The Republic had entered its first war.

This is the crucible that will forge the Republic into a true nation.
I was surprised by the British actually declaring war given the the Republic is clearly in the wrong in this instance for about half a second then I realized that since most of the fighting will probably take place in the Caribbean they most likely see this as an opportunity to cut into Spanish influence in the New World.

 

[Jedi Dragon]

I was surprised by the British actually declaring war given the the Republic is clearly in the wrong in this instance for about half a second then I realized the I realized that since most of the fighting will probably take place in the Caribbean they most likely see this as an opportunity to cut into Spanish influence in the New World.

Exactly. There was a little reluctance, but then they realized that this was their chance to take a bite out of New Spain.

 

[Jedi Dragon]

I don't have any experience with graphic design, so I would like to ask if anyone would be willing to create a flag for the Bahamas. The Jolly Roger won't really work as a national flag, so I was looking for something else to use.

 

[BustedMammon]

I feel like despite the Pirates being allies with the British for now, the American Revolution will be shifted to the goals of the Pirates. I don't see many of the Founding Fathers supporting the Revolution ITTL due to that factor.

 

[Jedi Dragon]

I feel like despite the Pirates being allies with the British for now, the American Revolution will be shifted to the goals of the Pirates. I don't see many of the Founding Fathers supporting the Revolution ITTL due to that factor.

We've still got a few decades worth of butterflies before we get to the Revolution. That said, the pirates still being around will change the conflict, but not in that way. It will still start in the Thirteen Colonies.

 

[Jedi Dragon]

Chapter 6: The Spanish Crucible​

The Bahamian-Spanish War, also known as the second Anglo-Spanish War in Britain, and sometimes referred to as the War of the Spanish Nobleman in common usage, was the first war the Bahamas, and their Haitian allies, fought as a recognized nation. The first few months were fairly uneventful, mostly consisting of raids on Spanish merchant vessels by pirate crews, as well as British privateers. The newly formed Bahamas Navy spent much of its time trying to enforce discipline on men famous for despising it. Commanders like Admiral Hornigold understood that they would need a properly organized military in order to conduct a war, although they struggled to make this a reality. Vane’s supporters in particular were loath to obey a central authority, and often came and went as they pleased.

British and Spanish ships in combat.​

In mid-July, Haitian troops crossed the border into the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo. They initially met little resistance, leading them to think that they could overwhelm the eastern half of the island before the Spanish army could arrive. When they reached the village of San Juan de la Maguana, however, they encountered a force of militia that fought them to a draw. The Haitians stopped to wait for reinforcements, which delayed them by several days. When they advanced again, they found that the Spanish had used the delay to withdraw and regroup with more troops from the east. The advance further north had also stalled, suffering from disease and hit-and-run attacks that chipped away at their numbers. By the end of the month, 200 men had arrived from New Providence, boosting the morale of the invading force. Over the next month, the combined Haitian-Bahamian army would push east, facing spirited resistance, but ultimately reaching Santo Domingo itself, which was already under blockade by the British. With no word from Spain on when help might be coming, and having been bombarded from the sea for weeks, the colonial governor surrendered on August 20.

The governor of Santo Domingo surrendering to Bahamian troops.​

The loss of such a large colony was a shock to the Spanish government. They had expected that the militia could hold for longer than they did, and now feared the loss of more territory if they did not act immediately. Troops were dispatched to reinforce Cuba, the jewel of the Spanish West Indies, and an expedition to retake Santo Domingo began being assembled. The transports made it safely to Havana, thanks to a large escort, but diverting naval ships to protect them meant leaving the Spanish merchant marine undefended. Combined attacks from the British and Bahamian navies ravaged the trade routes to and from New Spain, sinking hundreds of tons worth of shipping. The Bahamians became confident enough to consider attacking Puerto Rico, which was relatively undefended. However, the Spanish navy soon started to arrive in force, and the invasion plans were cancelled, The combined Anglo-Bahamian fleet met the Spanish at San Salvador on October 10, resulting in a narrow victory. This was the last major battle of the year, as operations largely died down for the winter.

In Spring, the idea of attacking another Spanish possession was revived. This time, the decision was made to go for Cuba, in the hopes that a victory there might convince the Spanish to sue for peace. Santiago was chosen as the target, as it was the closest large settlement. On March 10, a combined fleet of mostly Bahamian ships, along with a handful of smaller British vessels, sailed into Santiago Bay, bombarded the coastal defenses, and sacked the town. This had the intended effect, as Spain sent a diplomat to offer a cease-fire. Santo Domingo was given to Haiti, and Puerto Rico was handed over to Britain. The diplomat whose capture had started the whole conflict was ransomed back to the Spanish government for a relatively minor sum. The Bahamas, and their growing confederation, had showed that they were not to be trifled with, although Britain’s ability to keep them in line had been called into question. The conflict had forged a collection of pirate crews into a real country, one that looked forward confidently to the future.

 

[The Professor]

I don't have any experience with graphic design, so I would like to ask if anyone would be willing to create a flag for the Bahamas. The Jolly Roger won't really work as a national flag, so I was looking for something else to use.

Something like this?

Hints at the crossed bones and adds some red to hint at red ensign (not to mention some pirate flags had red fields).

 

[Jedi Dragon]

Something like this?
View attachment 574993
Hints at the crossed bones and adds some red to hint at red ensign (not to mention some pirate flags had red fields).

That looks nice. Different from the OTL Bahamas flag, but still keeps the cross design.