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[Narrator] Henry Morgan,
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an obscure soldier
from rural Wales,
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sent to the Caribbean as a pawn
in a war of empires.
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[Expert 1] He was really
interested in being
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on the seas, capturing treasure.
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[Narrator] Through cunning,
plunder, and conquest,
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he outmaneuvered his enemies...
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[Expert 2] Morgan was an agent
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of very violent
imperial expansion.
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[Narrator] ...to build
a kingdom for himself.
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[Expert 3] Morgan,
he's ruthless and brutal
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in his military tactics.
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[Narrator] Morgan's sins
were continuously overlooked,
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his ability to make great sums
of money for the right people
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rendering him untouchable.
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From lowly privateer to pirate
to lieutenant governor,
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Henry Morgan used the power he
seized to transform his life,
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building up Jamaica's
earliest sugar plantations,
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accelerating
a brutal slave trade.
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[Expert 4] Henry Morgan
was a slave trader
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as well as a pirate.
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[Narrator] So how did
Morgan come to be known
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as a fierce pirate?
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? ?
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The year is 1654.
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Across English port towns,
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able men join
a rapidly expanding navy...
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...to be shipped off to fight
for England's stake
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in the New World.
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? ?
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Some volunteer; others are
conscripted against their will.
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Amongst the crowd is
a young man, Henry Morgan.
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[Mark Hanna] That navy consisted
often of guys drunk from bars
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who would be kidnaped
and thrown on board these ships.
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We're pretty sure
that Morgan might have been
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one of those guys, someone
who had just been swept up
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in this, this fervor
to invade the Caribbean.
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[Narrator] Spain and England
have been lodged
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in a fierce rivalry
for nearly 200 years.
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For decades, the Spanish
have dominated the Caribbean.
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To launch a counterstrike,
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the English Navy
needs serious manpower.
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7,000 troops sail
to the Caribbean;
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amongst their ranks,
young Henry Morgan.
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Their aim?
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To conquer the island
of Hispaniola,
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the cornerstone of Spain's
New World empire.
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But the Spanish lie in wait.
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[Nuala Zahedieh]
They were humiliatingly
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defeated at Hispaniola.
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[Narrator] Thousands
of English troops
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lose their lives
on Hispaniola,
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survivors beating a hasty
retreat to their boats.
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[Zahedieh] And then
limped on to Jamaica.
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It's much smaller,
ill defended,
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and very much
a consolation prize.
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? ?
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[Narrator]
This invading force,
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with Morgan amongst them,
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have just become the first
English settlers to set foot
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on the shores of Jamaica.
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But they're at constant
risk of attack.
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Four major European
powers subscribed
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to the mutual concept
of no peace behind the line,
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a mutual understanding
that war will continue
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in the Caribbean
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regardless of any peace
treaties agreed in Europe.
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[Zahedieh] So, whatever
the situation in Europe,
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whether there's war or peace,
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the Spanish treated anyone
who ventured into these waters
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as a pirate.
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[Iszi Lawrence]
It's perfect for pirates.
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It's very hard to actually
control and police by any state.
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Spain is extracting a lot
of wealth from the Americas,
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all coming
through the Caribbean,
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and where there's trade,
there's opportunity to thieve.
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[Harcourt Fuller] When you look
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at a map of Jamaica,
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it's right in the middle
of the action.
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All of the ships coming
into the New World,
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there's a point where they
have to go past Jamaica.
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[Zahedieh]
It's completely surrounded
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by Spanish territories,
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and it's a very long way
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from the nearest
English outpost,
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so there was real fear
about Spanish reprisals.
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[Narrator] Within a year,
the English naval fleet
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withdraws from Jamaica,
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their fight spreading
to other fronts.
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But some men remain.
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Morgan is one of them.
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The young Welshman
harbors fantasies
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of raiding treasure
from Spanish colonies,
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fed by an insatiable desire
to make his fortune.
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? ?
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[Hanna] 1660s is the first time
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English people started
to use the word "privateer,"
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and privateer was a term
coined specifically in Jamaica
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to describe these sailors
who had been forced
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to come into
the Caribbean to fight,
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but now on their own,
acting independently.
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[Narrator] Morgan is
eager to prove himself.
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Whilst many settle into
quiet lives farming the land,
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Morgan has developed
a taste for battle
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and a reputation
as a talented tactician.
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He decides to put
these skills to good use.
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[Hannah Cusworth] He was
very wedded to the life
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of a privateer,
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of being on the seas,
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of capturing treasure.
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He was really interested
in Jamaica being a place
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that privateering
could flourish.
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[Richard Blakemore]
Morgan, by the early 1660s,
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is a captain,
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and he leads
a series of voyages,
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each one striking
at a different part
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of the Spanish territories,
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and with each one
bringing back more plunder.
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[David Wilson] He's part
of different privateering crews.
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But then
by the sort of mid-1660s,
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he's sort of elevated
to become one of the principal
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or dominant privateering
figures in Jamaica.
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And part of that
is through the patronage
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of Sir Thomas Modyford.
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[Narrator] In 1664,
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Thomas Modyford becomes
governor of Jamaica.
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The English Crown instructs
Modyford to clamp down
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on any privateering
in the region.
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But Modyford soon grasps
just how essential
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these privateers are
to both the security
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and economy of his island.
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And he finds a like-minded
accomplice in Captain Morgan.
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[Wilson] They strike up
a bit of a partnership,
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a bit of a relationship,
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whereby Modyford commissions
Morgan to attack the Spanish
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as part of this idea of
offensive defense, if you will.
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It was a really good way
of outsourcing war
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at a time when navies
were extremely expensive,
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so they couldn't afford
a standard navy, as it were.
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But what that meant was
that you had a maritime force
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that were focused
on attacking other vessels.
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It wasn't really
a defensive force.
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All of the wages
for the privateers
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came from the plunder,
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so if they didn't
attack vessels,
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if they didn't take any prizes,
they didn't get paid.
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[cannon fire]
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? ?
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[Narrator] In the 10 years
since his arrival in Jamaica,
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Morgan's striking reputation
has grown to attract
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colonial officials
and fellow privateers alike.
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He is elected Admiral
of the Brethren of the Coast...
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...a loose coalition
of free boaters,
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better known
as the buccaneers.
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[Blakemore] Morgan is
authorized by Thomas Modyford
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to take out a buccaneer fleet
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and to gather intelligence
about Spanish intentions.
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He is not commissioned
to attack Spanish towns,
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and in fact, his commission,
by excluding Spanish towns,
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gives him an incentive
to attack Spanish towns
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because any plunder from shore
is not due to be shared
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with the governor and the Crown,
whereas anything he takes at sea
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is due to be shared with
the governor and the Crown.
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[Hanna] There is a difference
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between a buccaneer
and a pirate.
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The original buccaneers were
essentially French cowboys,
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cattle rustlers,
who also took to piracy,
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who were known as "boucaniers."
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But among the English,
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when they anglicized
the word to buccaneers,
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that became individuals
who committed acts of piracy
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that involved
amphibious attacks.
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They're usually referring
to individuals who start
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their ventures on a ship,
but actually their plundering
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is typically land-based.
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? ?
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[Zahedieh] Buccaneers
knew the local geography.
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They understood
how to extract resources.
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They had local
knowledge and skills.
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In fact, much of this knowledge
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was gained
from indigenous people.
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So, whereas a European
force would come out
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and usually die like flies,
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buccaneers were
seasoned to the climate.
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? ?
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[Narrator] To satisfy
their desire for plunder,
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the buccaneers
take to the seas
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with a fleet of nine ships
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packed with a crew
of 500 privateers.
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[Blakemore] So the first thing
Morgan does is attack a town
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in Cuba, to capture prisoners,
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so he's already
instantly gone beyond
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the commission
that he was given.
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But the prisoners
that he captured,
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prisoners who may
have been tortured
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to elicit this information,
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obligingly say Portobelo is
intending to attack Jamaica,
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and so he uses that
as his justification
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to go and attack the city.
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[Narrator] Morgan
sets his sight on one
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of the wealthiest settlements
in the Spanish Empire.
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Portobelo is the terminus
for a cache of silver
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plucked from
across South America.
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As a result, it's one
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of the most heavily fortified
cities in the New World,
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surrounded by hostile waters
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busy with Spanish
fighting ships.
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? ?
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To snatch
Portobelo's treasures,
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Morgan must remain invisible.
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[Blakemore] A particular
kind of vessel,
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often known as a Jamaica
or a Bermuda sloop,
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develops in the Caribbean.
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And it has two particularly
important characteristics.
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One is they're relatively small
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and therefore can fit
into shallow water.
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And the other feature
was a different sail plan.
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They used what we'd now
call a fore and aft
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and a gaff-rig sail, which
was much more maneuverable
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than the larger square rigged
sails of frigates or warships.
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[Narrator] Anchoring
at Bocas de Toro,
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Morgan and his buccaneers
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transfer to an agile
fleet of canoes.
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For four days, they traverse
the coast undetected.
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[Zahedieh] Canoes were faster,
more maneuverable.
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They could go
in very shallow waters,
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and they were silent, so people
didn't know they were coming.
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[Narrator] The men leave their
canoes and continue by foot.
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At the gates of the city
looms Santiago Castle.
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Gathering his troops,
Morgan prepares to strike.
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? ?
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[Blakemore] And it's
an astonishingly quick attack.
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The buccaneers sweep through
the defenses outside the city.
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[swords clashing]
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The guard of the city
are caught
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almost completely
by surprise.
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[Narrator] The buccaneers push
into the heart of the city,
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cutting down its terrified
defenders and seizing captives.
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One final stronghold
stands between them
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and complete control
of Portobelo.
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But Morgan has a cruel plan.
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[Blakemore] Morgan forces
some friars and some nuns
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and the mayor of the city
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to walk as a sort of human
shield towards the gate.
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So he's ruthless and brutal
in his military tactics.
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[Narrator] With innocent
hostages as their shield,
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Morgan and his men
storm the final battlement.
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Soldiers are captured,
tortured into revealing
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the whereabouts of
Portobelo's hidden riches.
250
00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:32,240
Several blood-soaked weeks see
the buccaneers loot the city,
251
00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:37,520
ransoming captives and
reveling in their new wealth.
252
00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:41,280
But Morgan still wants more.
253
00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:42,920
[Blakemore] He writes
to the Spanish governor
254
00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:48,440
and threatens to destroy
Portobelo if he is not paid off.
255
00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:52,560
[Zahedieh] He started off asking
for 350,000 pieces of eight,
256
00:13:52,560 --> 00:13:55,000
but in the end,
settled for 100,000,
257
00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:58,640
mainly because his men were
actually beginning to get fever,
258
00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:02,080
so he wasn't sure that
he could last a long siege.
259
00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:06,720
They left after a month
with a prize
260
00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:09,640
worth about 100,000
pieces of eight.
261
00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:14,400
[Blakemore] A piece of eight,
or a Spanish dollar,
262
00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:15,960
was a peso de ocho,
263
00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:18,080
a Spanish coin
worth eight reales,
264
00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,520
hence "pieces of eight."
265
00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:22,200
Pieces of eight became really
266
00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:24,400
the first international
currency, and they traveled
267
00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:26,240
through all of the colonies
in the Americas,
268
00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:29,520
many of them finding their way
there by the way of buccaneers.
269
00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:33,560
A single piece of eight
would probably be worth
270
00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:36,800
a couple of days' wages
for a merchant sailor,
271
00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,640
but it could be a very
unreliable currency as well.
272
00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:41,360
It was very common
to clip the edges off
273
00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:44,240
in order to make new coins.
274
00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:45,920
And when people
needed small change,
275
00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:47,760
because there was no
smaller denomination,
276
00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:49,720
people would simply
cut up the pesos.
277
00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:52,440
And so slivers of silver
would be changing hands.
278
00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:56,000
So this really was the coinage
that floated the economy
279
00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,120
of the early modern world.
280
00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,480
[Zahedieh] Every one
of the 500 men
281
00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:03,920
came away with about 120 pounds,
282
00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:08,680
which was a massive amount
for a 17th-century mariner...
283
00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:13,840
...probably about 20 times
their usual annual wage.
284
00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:22,240
? ?
285
00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:25,480
[Narrator] The victorious
buccaneers return to Jamaica
286
00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:27,880
to a hero's welcome,
287
00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:30,520
their ships crammed
with looted treasure,
288
00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:34,080
their pockets bulging
with Spanish silver.
289
00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:39,280
For a buccaneer with silver to
spend, Port Royal is paradise.
290
00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:43,680
[Fuller] The importance
of Port Royal to the English
291
00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,400
cannot be overemphasized.
292
00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:49,160
It was considered
to be the richest
293
00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:51,800
and the wickedest
city on earth.
294
00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:56,440
It was quite the town.
It had taverns, it had brothels.
295
00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:57,440
[Blakemore]
Which are being driven
296
00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:59,000
by the presence
of the buccaneers.
297
00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,400
The buccaneers probably make up
somewhere between a third
298
00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:05,160
and a half of the population
of Port Royal at this time.
299
00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:07,160
[Kevin Dawson] Port Royal
becomes this sanctuary
300
00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,920
for pirates,
including Henry Morgan,
301
00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:12,760
and so they end up bringing
302
00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:13,960
much of their looted wealth
303
00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:15,920
into Port Royal.
304
00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,280
[Narrator] When buccaneers
have silver in their palm,
305
00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:21,640
rum flows like water.
306
00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:23,400
[Hanna] The connection
between pirates and rum
307
00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,400
is real for one reason,
which is that sugar
308
00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:28,840
is the primary commodity
produced in the Caribbean.
309
00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,160
And rum, of course,
is made from sugar.
310
00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:34,080
So, of course,
pirates drinking rum
311
00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,640
would have been quite common.
312
00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:38,920
Morgan himself was probably
more fond of drinking
313
00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:40,520
than many of his contemporaries
314
00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:45,320
and was well known for causing
small riots in Port Royal.
315
00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:48,400
[Lawrence] All of these stories
about Morgan being this drunk,
316
00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,400
I think it's very likely
317
00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:52,560
because water couldn't
keep fresh at sea.
318
00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:55,560
You had to drink in order
to not die of thirst.
319
00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,160
This is, you know,
part of being a pirate.
320
00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:01,200
And the fact that Morgan
is seen this way
321
00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:04,560
means that he must have
been drinking a lot.
322
00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:07,120
This is, you know, a story
that we keep getting about him,
323
00:17:07,120 --> 00:17:09,040
a rumor that keeps returning
324
00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:13,440
is actually he was very out
of control a lot of the time.
325
00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:19,760
? ?
326
00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:21,280
[Narrator]
Port Royal, however,
327
00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:22,920
is more than a chaotic jumble
328
00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:26,520
of raucous taverns
and brothels.
329
00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:29,760
By the tail end of the 1660s,
330
00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,120
the city has grown
to become the largest,
331
00:17:32,120 --> 00:17:36,000
richest English settlement
in the New World,
332
00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:38,080
overtaking
North American towns
333
00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:42,040
such as Boston, New York,
and Philadelphia.
334
00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:44,240
[Cusworth] It was
quite a diverse place.
335
00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:46,360
There were English settlers,
336
00:17:46,360 --> 00:17:49,920
enslaved Africans,
Jewish merchants.
337
00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:50,920
[Lawrence]
People wanted to settle,
338
00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:52,200
and if you wanted to settle,
339
00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:55,200
you can't do that with
just men; you need women.
340
00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:57,320
And so women
were being transported
341
00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:59,760
down to the Caribbean.
342
00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,120
[Narrator] Ever more people
begin to settle,
343
00:18:02,120 --> 00:18:05,560
families taking root,
building communities,
344
00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:10,160
men, women, children,
merchants, officials, soldiers,
345
00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:13,400
and of course,
those with growing wealth
346
00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,280
from illegal privateering.
347
00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:24,360
[Narrator] Anglo-Spanish
relations remain
348
00:18:24,360 --> 00:18:26,520
on a knife edge.
349
00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:28,440
Morgan has clearly overstepped
350
00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:31,160
the limits
of Modyford's commission.
351
00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:36,800
But he's also made Jamaica,
and its governor, wildly rich.
352
00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:41,280
So long as treasure continues
to fill Modyford's lap,
353
00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:45,000
Captain Morgan is free
to do as he pleases.
354
00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,320
Still, the official
has to at least appear
355
00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:51,200
to be reprimanding
the overzealous captain.
356
00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,000
Despite a warning
to appease the Crown,
357
00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:57,480
Morgan is gifted
a brand-new flagship,
358
00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,800
a frigate known as the Oxford.
359
00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:04,840
Capable of carrying
a crew of around 250 men
360
00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:09,160
armed with 26 cannons,
this two-deck gunship
361
00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:13,000
offers Morgan a level
of firepower and speed
362
00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:17,240
that far surpasses any vessel
he has commanded before.
363
00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,640
Sent to protect
Jamaica's coastline,
364
00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:25,200
Morgan decides that the Oxford
is far too magnificent
365
00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:29,360
to be wasted on mere defense.
366
00:19:29,360 --> 00:19:31,320
[Blakemore] He instantly
takes it as his flagship
367
00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:33,640
because even though
it's relatively small
368
00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:35,960
by the standards
of naval ships of the day,
369
00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,760
it's one of the most powerful
warships in the Caribbean.
370
00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:40,760
Most of the shipping
in the Caribbean at this time
371
00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:44,520
is relatively small vessels,
and so a frigate like the Oxford
372
00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:49,280
is a pretty big weapon
in the Caribbean at this time.
373
00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:52,200
[Narrator] Plotting his next
attack on the Spanish,
374
00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:56,520
Morgan sails to a small island
off the coast of Hispaniola,
375
00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:58,920
where he's joined
by 900 buccaneers
376
00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:01,120
from across the Caribbean.
377
00:20:01,120 --> 00:20:04,160
A war council is assembled
aboard the Oxford
378
00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:06,360
in preparation
for one of the greatest
379
00:20:06,360 --> 00:20:10,120
buccaneering expeditions
ever attempted.
380
00:20:10,120 --> 00:20:13,440
[Blakemore] He calls a council
on the ship to plan their raid,
381
00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:16,800
and after the council, they
have a big party on the ship,
382
00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:19,680
as is the custom
of the buccaneers.
383
00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:23,480
There's lots of firing of guns
and salutes and drinking.
384
00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:26,880
Doing those two things together
is probably not a good idea.
385
00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:30,720
The spark hits the magazine,
and the ship explodes.
386
00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:32,600
? ?
387
00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:37,200
[distant screams]
388
00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,520
All of those who were sitting
on the same side of the table
389
00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:46,400
as Morgan at dinner survive.
390
00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:48,800
All of those sitting
on the other side of the table
391
00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,360
are killed
in this enormous blast.
392
00:20:54,800 --> 00:21:00,000
Of about 200 men on board,
fewer than 10 survive.
393
00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:03,280
[man yelling]
394
00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:12,920
[Narrator] What remains
of the HMS Oxford sinks.
395
00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:16,880
Most of Morgan's
best men, dead.
396
00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:19,240
His grand plan
is no longer feasible
397
00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:22,680
with such a diminished force,
398
00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:25,960
and so Morgan settles
on a soft target--
399
00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:30,480
the Spanish city of Gibraltar
and its neighbor, Maracaibo.
400
00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:33,520
If his fleet can safely
navigate the sandbanks
401
00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:36,320
which shield both cities,
402
00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:39,480
this could still be
his greatest raid yet.
403
00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:43,400
[Zahedieh] Gibraltar
is in a huge lagoon.
404
00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,880
It was extremely difficult
to get entry.
405
00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:52,600
[Narrator] Once again,
Morgan utilizes canoes,
406
00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:55,600
now as pilot boats
guiding his ships
407
00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:59,080
through the perilous
shallows of the inlet.
408
00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:01,720
Once into the mouth
of the lagoon,
409
00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,640
his men head for Gibraltar.
410
00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:08,480
[Zahedieh] They took
Gibraltar fairly easily.
411
00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:10,760
They gathered the prize.
412
00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:12,840
[Narrator] Those unable
or unwilling to flee
413
00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,040
the city face torture.
414
00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:16,520
[man screams]
415
00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:20,520
[Narrator] Morgan and his men
thieving vast piles of silver,
416
00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:24,400
stealing a major Spanish
trading vessel,
417
00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:28,080
and seizing enslaved
African captives.
418
00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:30,920
Flush with victory
and treasure,
419
00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:33,760
they head back
through the lagoon.
420
00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:38,800
[Blakemore] A Spanish
squadron arrives
421
00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,920
and blockades
the mouth of the lake.
422
00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:45,880
[Zahedieh] Three Spanish
men-of-war were lined up.
423
00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:48,000
There was a moment of panic.
424
00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:55,160
[Blakemore] So, the buccaneers
are trapped within this lake,
425
00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:58,160
and they have to fight their way
out against a Spanish squadron
426
00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:01,640
of much more
heavily armed ships.
427
00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:05,920
[Zahedieh] But Morgan quickly
developed a strategy.
428
00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:07,400
[Narrator]
He has his carpenters
429
00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:13,000
convert his newly stolen ship
into a floating trap.
430
00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:17,160
The decks of the ship
are lined with wooden planks.
431
00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:20,160
[Zahedieh] They put sailor's
hats on the top of them
432
00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:24,800
to make it look as though
it was heavily manned.
433
00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:28,360
They cut holes in the sides of
the ship and stuck logs through
434
00:23:28,360 --> 00:23:30,920
to make it look
as though it was armed.
435
00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:34,840
They put gunpowder
inside with fuses
436
00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:39,920
and sailed towards
the exit of the lagoon.
437
00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:41,800
[Blakemore] So when
this flagship is sailing
438
00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:44,840
towards the Spanish fleet,
the Spanish sailors
439
00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:46,920
think that Morgan
is just overconfident.
440
00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:49,120
[shouting]
441
00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:50,480
[Blakemore] No one would
sail their flagship
442
00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:53,520
straight into the guns
of the enemy fleet.
443
00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:56,440
[Narrator] Morgan times it
to perfection.
444
00:23:56,440 --> 00:24:00,600
As the Spanish realize they've
been tricked, it's too late.
445
00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:06,360
The buccaneers' empty vessel
446
00:24:06,360 --> 00:24:08,720
plows into
the Spanish flagship,
447
00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:12,840
which immediately ignites,
engulfed by flames.
448
00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:24,360
[Zahedieh] The Spanish flagship
was totally burnt in minutes.
449
00:24:24,360 --> 00:24:26,800
Most of the crew drowned.
450
00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:31,080
? ?
451
00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:36,600
[Narrator] Racing past
the smoking remains
452
00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:41,440
of the flagship, Morgan seizes
the second Spanish ship,
453
00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:44,280
while survivors rush
for the safety of dry land
454
00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:47,240
on their third and final boat.
455
00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:51,320
Within minutes, Morgan has
cleared his way to safety.
456
00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:54,000
But he suspects
the sunken flagship
457
00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:56,200
may have carried
great treasures.
458
00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:00,320
[Dawson] The flagship sinks,
459
00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,800
and so Morgan comes to realize
460
00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:06,080
that a number of the Africans
that he has stolen
461
00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:08,720
are actually skilled
underwater divers.
462
00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:10,320
These African divers,
463
00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:14,800
they've trained their bodies
to basically work underwater.
464
00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,200
So, they're engaged in
what we call free diving,
465
00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:21,440
which is basically just diving
with the air in their lungs.
466
00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:24,000
Most of these divers were
able to hold their breath
467
00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:25,760
two to five minutes.
468
00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:27,440
And so they're not just
kind of diving underwater
469
00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:28,680
and picking things up,
470
00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:30,720
but they're actually having
to dive underwater
471
00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:34,320
and to break into the hulls
of Spanish treasure ships.
472
00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:39,280
They would have a rope with
rocks tied to both ends of it
473
00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:42,360
that they could loop
around their neck.
474
00:25:42,360 --> 00:25:43,600
They'd use these rock weights
to quickly descend
475
00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,480
and stand on a ship's deck,
476
00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:49,480
and then using
sledgehammers and pickaxes
477
00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,040
to actually gain access.
478
00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:54,280
And so he sends
those divers down,
479
00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:58,360
and they end up recovering
about 17,000 silver coins.
480
00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:10,960
[Narrator]
Morgan is unstoppable.
481
00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:15,720
This expedition has blessed him
with unimaginable wealth,
482
00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:17,200
his unique military cunning
483
00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:20,520
proven by his
spectacular escape.
484
00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,280
The infamous captain's
return to Port Royal
485
00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:26,040
is sure to be celebrated.
486
00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:27,920
But upon his arrival,
487
00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:31,560
he receives startling
news from London.
488
00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:34,680
There's been another swing
in Anglo-Spanish relations,
489
00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:38,320
and privateering is
now strictly forbidden.
490
00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:41,280
Without knowing it,
Morgan has just committed
491
00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:44,920
an illegal act of piracy.
492
00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:47,760
Will he face arrest,
493
00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:50,480
or worse?
494
00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:54,200
But silver saves
Morgan's skin once again.
495
00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:56,920
An official scolding
from Governor Modyford
496
00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:59,680
is softened by a share
of the plunder.
497
00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:07,480
? ?
498
00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:10,800
Now in his mid-30s,
Morgan must discover a way
499
00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:15,720
to thrive in a time of peace
between England and Spain.
500
00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:17,920
In a world without privateers,
501
00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:23,080
his raids have made him rich,
and now he seeks status.
502
00:27:23,080 --> 00:27:24,840
Founding sugar plantations
503
00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:28,160
and populating them
with enslaved people,
504
00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:33,360
Morgan's bleak empire
is growing.
505
00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:37,360
[Fuller] Jamaica at the time
was a sugar producing country.
506
00:27:37,360 --> 00:27:41,320
Sugar was essentially
the major commodity.
507
00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:44,600
All of that wealth
Morgan had acquired,
508
00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:49,760
he brought that back to Jamaica
and he owned three plantations.
509
00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,000
What does that mean?
510
00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:54,560
It means that Sir Henry Morgan
511
00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:59,280
was a slave trader
as well as a pirate.
512
00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:02,280
When we speak about pirates,
513
00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:06,840
we talk about the gold
and the silver,
514
00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:10,240
but oftentimes
when pirates raided ships,
515
00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:12,160
some of those ships
were slave ships,
516
00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:16,080
and they would also
take those slaves.
517
00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:19,760
Jamaica is one
of the most brutal places
518
00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:23,920
where enslaved Africans went to.
519
00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:27,360
Jamaica is a tropical country,
it's very hot,
520
00:28:27,360 --> 00:28:30,840
and they are working
sunup to sundown,
521
00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:35,160
the sun bearing down
on their backs.
522
00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:39,560
The leaves of sugarcane,
they're almost like razors.
523
00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:44,160
Their skins are being cut
by the extremely sharp edges
524
00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:46,120
of the sugarcane leaves.
525
00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:50,520
Their sweat is running
down into their cuts.
526
00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:52,280
And of course, they can't stop.
527
00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:55,840
[Blakemore] By the 18th century
528
00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:57,120
and through the course
of the 18th century,
529
00:28:57,120 --> 00:28:58,960
Britain becomes
the biggest shipper
530
00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:01,360
of enslaved African people
in the world.
531
00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:03,480
And that's directly
related to the growth
532
00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:05,960
of these Caribbean
sugar colonies.
533
00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:09,080
And in their early decades,
without buccaneering,
534
00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:10,800
these colonies would
not have been viable.
535
00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:14,080
So, there's a direct
personal connection
536
00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:16,720
because Henry Morgan
is himself a slaveholder,
537
00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:19,960
is capturing enslaved people,
is selling enslaved people.
538
00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:24,640
But there's also this broader
economic dimension.
539
00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,960
He is boosting the economy
that then leads
540
00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:30,160
to this enormous slave system
541
00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:32,680
that continues
for more than 100 years.
542
00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:41,480
[Narrator] But Morgan isn't
content living out his days
543
00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:43,640
on a plantation.
544
00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:46,400
July 1668.
545
00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:49,280
With trouble brewing
between England and Spain,
546
00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:51,960
he spots an opportunity.
547
00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:54,200
[Zahedieh] Modyford
received instructions
548
00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:57,880
to proclaim peace with Spain.
549
00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:01,600
But ironically,
the Spanish sent out orders
550
00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:04,680
to the Spanish governors
to commission privateers
551
00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:07,560
against the English,
and there was a real feeling
552
00:30:07,560 --> 00:30:10,160
that they were very
vulnerable to attack.
553
00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:17,080
[Hanna] Governor Modyford
told Morgan,
554
00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:19,880
"Hey, I have a feeling
that the governor of Panama
555
00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:22,560
is gonna raid Jamaica.
556
00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:23,760
I don't have proof,
557
00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:25,040
but I have a good feeling
it's gonna happen,"
558
00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:27,760
and that will justify
a raid against the Spanish.
559
00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:31,040
"So, how about you,
Morgan, go out and prove
560
00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:32,240
that this is going to happen,
561
00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:34,000
that there is going to be
a preemptive attack
562
00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:36,840
against Jamaica on the island."
563
00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:39,520
So Morgan said,
"Sure, I can do that."
564
00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:41,200
And so he captured a ship,
565
00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:42,520
and he went up
to the captain and said,
566
00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:46,120
"I have a feeling you are
about to raid Jamaica."
567
00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:47,480
He said, "No, I don't think so."
568
00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:49,840
And Morgan essentially
put a knife to his throat
569
00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:52,080
and said, "No, tell me, you were
about to raid Jamaica, right?"
570
00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:53,280
He said, "Sure.
Yeah, of course I was."
571
00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:55,760
And Morgan said, "Great.
572
00:30:55,760 --> 00:30:58,840
Okay, now I have a right
to do whatever I want."
573
00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:01,640
[Narrator] Upon receipt
of this information,
574
00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:05,720
Modyford issues Morgan
with a wide-ranging commission,
575
00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:08,840
the ruthless pirate given
carte blanche to organize
576
00:31:08,840 --> 00:31:11,240
the biggest
buccaneering expedition
577
00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:13,960
in the history
of the West Indies,
578
00:31:13,960 --> 00:31:17,360
targeting one of
the oldest European cities
579
00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:20,640
in the Americas.
580
00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:21,680
[Zahedieh] Like Portobelo,
581
00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:25,400
Panama had a sort of
legendary wealth.
582
00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:27,880
It was a glittering
sort of prize.
583
00:31:27,880 --> 00:31:29,800
[Narrator] Not only
does Panama boast
584
00:31:29,800 --> 00:31:35,320
a thriving mercantile community
of some 7,000 households,
585
00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:40,200
but it's key to
the Spanish silver route.
586
00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:42,520
Aware this could be
the mightiest conquest
587
00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:44,680
of his pirating career,
588
00:31:44,680 --> 00:31:51,000
Morgan and his invading force
set sail for Panama.
589
00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:53,440
[Blakemore] He gathers
about 2,000 buccaneers,
590
00:31:53,440 --> 00:31:55,400
probably four out
of every five buccaneers
591
00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:57,240
who are present
in the Caribbean at that time,
592
00:31:57,240 --> 00:32:01,080
including Dutch, French,
Spanish, Italian,
593
00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:03,360
also some people
of African heritage,
594
00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:05,640
some indigenous
Americans as well.
595
00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:08,920
[Narrator]
Between the buccaneers
596
00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:10,680
and the treasures of Panama
597
00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:14,640
are 70 long miles
of thick rainforest.
598
00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:17,800
Unable to safely dock
any closer to Panama,
599
00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:21,440
Morgan's men sail to the head
of the Chagres River,
600
00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:24,000
anchor their boats,
gather their weapons,
601
00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:26,720
and set off into the jungle.
602
00:32:26,720 --> 00:32:29,600
[Zahedieh] It's very,
very dense tropical vegetation
603
00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:30,800
either side of the river,
604
00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:34,200
so they were chopping
their way through.
605
00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:39,840
Along the river, there
were regular defense posts
606
00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:41,840
which had been manned
by the Spaniards.
607
00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:47,120
When they realized there was
this massive English force
608
00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:50,120
coming, they all just fled.
609
00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:52,760
But they did take all
their provisions with them.
610
00:32:52,760 --> 00:32:54,160
So the main problem
for the English
611
00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:56,920
was that they actually
had no food.
612
00:33:00,440 --> 00:33:02,200
[Narrator] As the days go by,
613
00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:05,160
hunger and sickness
grip the buccaneers,
614
00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:07,880
and many die of exhaustion.
615
00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:11,160
Seven torturous days
and nights pass
616
00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:16,000
before finally the survivors
emerge from the jungle.
617
00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:17,720
At the shores of the Pacific,
618
00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:20,920
they find Panama
and their salvation.
619
00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:24,680
[moo]
620
00:33:24,680 --> 00:33:29,400
[Zahedieh] They saw fields which
were full of grazing cattle,
621
00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:34,240
so they just fell upon them
and barbecued the meat.
622
00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:36,600
[Narrator] Whilst the
buccaneers gorge themselves
623
00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,880
in the fields outside the city,
the people of Panama
624
00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:43,240
prepare as best they can
for the battle ahead.
625
00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:50,200
? ?
626
00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:54,720
[Zahedieh] The town of Panama
was very ill defended.
627
00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:57,600
They were completely
inexperienced.
628
00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:01,840
There was no trained militia
or real defense force,
629
00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:04,080
so they were very vulnerable.
630
00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:07,520
[Narrator] The Spanish governor
makes a difficult decision--
631
00:34:07,520 --> 00:34:10,000
if the city falls
to the pirates,
632
00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:13,320
there will be nothing left
for the invaders to plunder.
633
00:34:13,320 --> 00:34:17,120
He orders barrels of gunpowder
to be wedged between buildings,
634
00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:20,760
to be ignited if and when
their defenses are breached.
635
00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:27,600
The two armies clash
beyond the city's walls.
636
00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:31,200
Morgan rapidly seizes
the high ground,
637
00:34:31,200 --> 00:34:34,000
dispatching a small body
of troops to take a hill
638
00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:37,360
overlooking
the enemy's position.
639
00:34:37,360 --> 00:34:40,800
The Spanish try
to dislodge Morgan's men,
640
00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:44,640
first with a cavalry charge
and then with infantry
641
00:34:44,640 --> 00:34:49,840
but are cut down by a curiously
disciplined pirate force.
642
00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:52,640
In desperation,
the governor unleashes
643
00:34:52,640 --> 00:34:54,680
a huge herd of cattle,
644
00:34:54,680 --> 00:34:59,160
hoping the beasts will
stampede over the attackers.
645
00:34:59,160 --> 00:35:02,440
But the animals, startled
by the crash of gunfire,
646
00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:06,480
turn back on their keepers,
crushing the Spanish troops.
647
00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:10,520
? ?
648
00:35:10,520 --> 00:35:13,040
It's a massacre.
649
00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:18,440
The buccaneers
only lose 15 men,
650
00:35:18,440 --> 00:35:22,760
whilst the Spanish
sacrifice around 500.
651
00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:25,880
The last line
of defense breaks,
652
00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:29,280
and Morgan's men
storm the fabled city.
653
00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:33,680
[Zahedieh] Because
the Spaniards had got warning
654
00:35:33,680 --> 00:35:36,640
that these privateers were
coming, they had actually
655
00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:41,280
managed to ship off
all of the real treasure.
656
00:35:41,280 --> 00:35:44,440
They put it all on ships
and taken it away,
657
00:35:44,440 --> 00:35:47,480
and then by the time
the privateers entered,
658
00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:49,720
the Spaniards burned
the town to the ground.
659
00:35:49,720 --> 00:35:52,520
? ?
660
00:35:52,520 --> 00:35:54,280
[cannons fire]
661
00:35:57,560 --> 00:36:00,560
[Narrator] The buccaneers
had battled the ocean waves,
662
00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:04,480
trekked through miles
of inhospitable forest,
663
00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:07,400
and slaughtered hundreds
of Spanish soldiers,
664
00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:11,560
and yet all that awaits them
are smoldering ruins.
665
00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:15,200
The treasures they were
promised are long gone.
666
00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:18,560
Owing to the sheer size
of the invasion force,
667
00:36:18,560 --> 00:36:22,920
each man takes home
a mere 80 pieces of silver,
668
00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:28,160
the equivalent today of $2,500.
669
00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:31,200
[Blakemore] Ironically, although
Panama is the biggest expedition
670
00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:32,840
and probably
his most well known,
671
00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:35,200
it's also his least successful.
672
00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:38,800
[Zahedieh] The shares
were really quite small,
673
00:36:38,800 --> 00:36:40,240
and there were actually stories
674
00:36:40,240 --> 00:36:43,720
that Morgan had embezzled
some of the prize.
675
00:36:49,960 --> 00:36:53,320
He was shipwrecked,
or cast away,
676
00:36:53,320 --> 00:36:59,080
in a port outside Port Royal
when he was on his way home.
677
00:36:59,080 --> 00:37:01,280
So it would have been
perfectly possible for him
678
00:37:01,280 --> 00:37:04,560
to have unloaded
some of the prize.
679
00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:10,840
[Narrator] Rumors
evolved into accusations.
680
00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:14,600
Could Panama really have
held so little plunder?
681
00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:18,240
Had Morgan taken
the best jewels for himself?
682
00:37:18,240 --> 00:37:21,880
We will never truly
know what happened.
683
00:37:21,880 --> 00:37:24,680
Legend claims that
Morgan's buried treasure
684
00:37:24,680 --> 00:37:28,120
is still out there,
685
00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:30,680
waiting for a lucky adventurer
686
00:37:30,680 --> 00:37:33,600
to unearth
the lost hoard of Panama.
687
00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:36,920
? ?
688
00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:44,560
[Narrator] Back in Jamaica,
689
00:37:44,560 --> 00:37:47,560
controversy grows
around Morgan.
690
00:37:47,560 --> 00:37:49,600
It becomes clear
his raid on Panama
691
00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:53,120
was carried out
under false intelligence.
692
00:37:53,120 --> 00:37:56,400
The Spanish never
did attack Jamaica,
693
00:37:56,400 --> 00:37:58,840
meaning Spain and England
were at peace
694
00:37:58,840 --> 00:38:01,800
when Morgan effectively
destroyed the city
695
00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:05,200
and stole all that remained
of its riches.
696
00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:08,440
A furious Spain demands
immediate retribution
697
00:38:08,440 --> 00:38:12,320
for what it considers
an unprovoked attack.
698
00:38:12,320 --> 00:38:14,200
[Wilson] He is taken,
as is Modyford,
699
00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:18,720
and sent back
to England in chains.
700
00:38:18,720 --> 00:38:22,080
[Blakemore] It seems that Morgan
is going to get into trouble.
701
00:38:22,080 --> 00:38:24,200
Modyford is imprisoned
in the Tower.
702
00:38:24,200 --> 00:38:26,960
Both of them may well be
put on trial for piracy,
703
00:38:26,960 --> 00:38:29,440
but in fact,
no trial ever happens.
704
00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:31,360
It seems like this is
just a sort of way
705
00:38:31,360 --> 00:38:35,240
of calming relations
with the Spanish.
706
00:38:35,240 --> 00:38:36,960
[Hanna] The king himself
clearly interacted
707
00:38:36,960 --> 00:38:39,240
and met Morgan himself
and was also very impressed.
708
00:38:39,240 --> 00:38:41,080
And so rather than
be charged with piracy,
709
00:38:41,080 --> 00:38:43,120
Morgan was actually knighted
710
00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:45,400
and sent back to Jamaica
as lieutenant governor,
711
00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:48,560
meaning the sort of right-hand
man to the governor himself,
712
00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:51,040
which is probably one of
the most dramatic career changes
713
00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:52,960
in the entire history of piracy.
714
00:38:55,480 --> 00:38:58,160
[Narrator] 1676.
715
00:38:58,160 --> 00:39:02,160
Morgan returns to Port Royal
as lieutenant governor.
716
00:39:02,160 --> 00:39:03,760
His mission from the king--
717
00:39:03,760 --> 00:39:06,560
to end piracy
in Jamaican waters.
718
00:39:06,560 --> 00:39:10,080
Former comrades
are now enemies.
719
00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:11,720
Despite his orders,
720
00:39:11,720 --> 00:39:14,960
Morgan is rumored
to support the local pirates,
721
00:39:14,960 --> 00:39:18,840
taking a cut from the bounty
of each of the hundreds of men
722
00:39:18,840 --> 00:39:21,760
operating illicitly
in the area.
723
00:39:21,760 --> 00:39:25,600
When Morgan suspects the French
plan to invade Jamaica,
724
00:39:25,600 --> 00:39:29,080
threatening his land,
his wealth,
725
00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:34,400
he uses his new powers
to declare martial law.
726
00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:37,080
The lieutenant governor
spends the following decade
727
00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:40,160
fortifying the island.
728
00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:45,080
[Zahedieh] By 1680, Port Royal
had 4 castles, about 120 cannon.
729
00:39:45,080 --> 00:39:49,160
It was actually better fortified
then somewhere like Portobelo
730
00:39:49,160 --> 00:39:52,520
had been when
he'd attacked in 1668.
731
00:39:55,200 --> 00:39:56,200
[Wilson] But at the same time,
732
00:39:56,200 --> 00:39:58,240
as a plantation owner
and a slaver,
733
00:39:58,240 --> 00:40:00,320
he is starting to get
more invested in the land
734
00:40:00,320 --> 00:40:02,920
and more embedded in
that plantocracy in Jamaica,
735
00:40:02,920 --> 00:40:05,520
that is mostly actually
emerging through the wealth
736
00:40:05,520 --> 00:40:09,040
that was brought in
by the privateers.
737
00:40:09,040 --> 00:40:11,800
[Blakemore] Morgan becomes
an establishment figure,
738
00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:14,560
and so he ends up being part
of this establishment
739
00:40:14,560 --> 00:40:16,480
who move against the buccaneers
740
00:40:16,480 --> 00:40:17,920
and tries
to suppress buccaneers.
741
00:40:17,920 --> 00:40:22,080
He sends out expeditions to
capture what he calls pirates.
742
00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:25,040
He executes some people
for piracy.
743
00:40:27,560 --> 00:40:29,560
[Narrator] At the age of 53,
744
00:40:29,560 --> 00:40:33,600
Morgan has reached the pinnacle
of Jamaican society.
745
00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:35,240
He has plundered a fortune
746
00:40:35,240 --> 00:40:38,560
in Spanish silver
and African labor.
747
00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:41,400
He now owns more than
100 enslaved people
748
00:40:41,400 --> 00:40:43,880
on three sugar plantations.
749
00:40:43,880 --> 00:40:46,040
But the consequences
of a lifetime
750
00:40:46,040 --> 00:40:49,240
of excessive drinking
finally catch up with him.
751
00:40:49,240 --> 00:40:51,640
[Cusworth] His body had
really taken a battering,
752
00:40:51,640 --> 00:40:54,240
and that he was
in pretty bad health.
753
00:40:56,920 --> 00:41:00,520
[Narrator] On August 25, 1688,
754
00:41:00,520 --> 00:41:03,640
he dies at
his mountaintop estate.
755
00:41:06,840 --> 00:41:09,040
Morgan is given
a state funeral,
756
00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:10,600
and an amnesty is declared
757
00:41:10,600 --> 00:41:14,080
so that pirates,
privateers, and buccaneers
758
00:41:14,080 --> 00:41:18,720
can pay their respect
without fear of arrest.
759
00:41:18,720 --> 00:41:23,680
? ?
760
00:41:23,680 --> 00:41:27,720
Henry Morgan rose from poverty,
761
00:41:27,720 --> 00:41:32,680
through the ranks,
becoming a powerful pirate.
762
00:41:32,680 --> 00:41:34,840
[Lawrence] Morgan's story
is unbelievable.
763
00:41:34,840 --> 00:41:39,680
He goes from absolutely nothing
to becoming a captain.
764
00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:43,000
[Narrator] Stirring up
conflict between nations
765
00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:45,520
only to find himself
coming face-to-face
766
00:41:45,520 --> 00:41:48,280
with a king who pardoned him.
767
00:41:48,280 --> 00:41:49,440
[Hanna] He was
sent back to England
768
00:41:49,440 --> 00:41:51,400
to face charges for piracy,
769
00:41:51,400 --> 00:41:54,880
only to be instead knighted,
appointed lieutenant governor,
770
00:41:54,880 --> 00:41:57,440
and then sent back as one
of the primary political leaders
771
00:41:57,440 --> 00:41:59,560
of the island of Jamaica.
772
00:41:59,560 --> 00:42:03,080
It's a remarkable trajectory
and career transformation.
773
00:42:03,080 --> 00:42:05,800
[Narrator] He had little
respect for the rule of law
774
00:42:05,800 --> 00:42:08,160
other than when
it benefitted him.
775
00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:10,160
He didn't care
for the lives of others.
776
00:42:10,160 --> 00:42:13,280
But his relentless
desire for more
777
00:42:13,280 --> 00:42:16,920
and a masterful
ever-tactical military mind
778
00:42:16,920 --> 00:42:19,560
rewarded him with great wealth.
779
00:42:19,560 --> 00:42:22,400
[Zahedieh] He accumulated
a considerable fortune
780
00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:25,000
through the proceeds of plunder.
781
00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:28,080
[Narrator] Treasure which would
be shared with powerful men
782
00:42:28,080 --> 00:42:32,080
to ensure his
continued prosperity.
783
00:42:32,080 --> 00:42:35,080
[Lawrence] Unlike so many
pirates who end up dead
784
00:42:35,080 --> 00:42:38,080
or hanged,
Morgan is celebrated,
785
00:42:38,080 --> 00:42:39,680
Morgan ends up on top,
786
00:42:39,680 --> 00:42:43,160
and that makes him really
unique among pirates.
787
00:42:43,160 --> 00:42:45,680
[Narrator] Morgan
singlehandedly bolstered
788
00:42:45,680 --> 00:42:47,440
the Jamaican economy
789
00:42:47,440 --> 00:42:52,720
through piracy, theft,
death, and slavery.
790
00:42:52,720 --> 00:42:54,080
[Blakemore] Henry Morgan himself
791
00:42:54,080 --> 00:42:57,000
ends up purchasing
numerous large plantations,
792
00:42:57,000 --> 00:42:59,480
becomes a very large
landholder in Jamaica
793
00:42:59,480 --> 00:43:02,000
and a slaveholder himself.
794
00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:04,240
So there are these really
intricate connections
795
00:43:04,240 --> 00:43:07,520
between slavery and plundering.
796
00:43:07,520 --> 00:43:10,000
[Narrator] He rose
to the role of governor
797
00:43:10,000 --> 00:43:12,960
and defended the lands
he'd helped build,
798
00:43:12,960 --> 00:43:16,920
but only when his own personal
wealth was under threat.
799
00:43:16,920 --> 00:43:19,160
[Zahedieh] I think
in the last 20 years,
800
00:43:19,160 --> 00:43:21,640
Morgan has been recast.
801
00:43:21,640 --> 00:43:24,040
He's no longer seen
as a national hero.
802
00:43:24,040 --> 00:43:28,000
He was an agent of very violent
imperial expansion.
803
00:43:29,520 --> 00:43:32,360
[Narrator] Captain Morgan
might be best remembered today
804
00:43:32,360 --> 00:43:37,600
as a brave, swashbuckling
pirate, but he was, in fact,
805
00:43:37,600 --> 00:43:40,480
a cruel and brutal thug...
806
00:43:40,480 --> 00:43:42,760
[gunshot]
807
00:43:42,760 --> 00:43:44,680
...who would do almost anything
808
00:43:44,680 --> 00:43:47,960
to protect
his ill-gotten treasures.
809
00:43:47,960 --> 00:43:51,200
? ?
810
00:43:51,250 --> 00:43:55,800
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