The King of Pirates: Being an Account of the Famous Enterprises of Captain Avery, the Mock King of Madagascar

In Short

Presented as two authentic letters from the infamous pirate Captain Avery, this picaresque work dismantles popular fables of his violent atrocities and mock kingship in Madagascar. The narrator recounts his actual seafaring trajectory—from roving Spanish waters to ambossing vast wealth from the Great Mogul's fleet. Rather than founding a villainous empire, the pirates fortify a temporary base, trick passing crews with inflated reports of their numbers, and methodically disperse across Persia. It has endured as a pioneering piece of realistic crime fiction that mimics genuine historical testimony.

The Story

The narrative opens with a preface attacking previous romanticized accounts of Captain Avery, particularly the sensational rumors that he raped and murdered the Great Mogul's daughter. Instead, the narrator offers his own account via two detailed letters. His piracy begins in the Americas, where, after escaping Campeachy, he and his stranded companions are rescued by an English vessel under Captain Redhand. Though initially unwilling to attack non-Spanish ships, the crew quickly hardens to open warfare against all nations.

Sailing toward South America and rounding into the South Seas, Avery's crew captures a massive prize containing gold of Chili worth 160,000 pieces of eight. After treating their captives humanely and sharing supplies with fellow buccaneers at Juan Fernando, the crew recognizes the growing danger of Spanish warships. They decide to cross the Atlantic and establish a base on the island of Madagascar.

Upon reaching Madagascar, the men build a fortified settlement complete with batteries, palisades, and ditches. Avery keeps his crew focused on securing their wealth while avoiding unnecessary conflicts with European warships. During a cruise into the Indian Ocean, they intercept the Great Mogul's fleet. Avery captures the primary treasure ship containing the Mogul's granddaughter, her retinue, and immense quantities of jewels and gold. Exercising self-restraint, Avery ensures the royal women are treated with decency while stripping them of their fabulous wealth.

Returning to Madagascar, the pirates find themselves possessing unprecedented riches. When English and Dutch merchant ships anchor nearby, Avery uses clever strategy rather than direct assault. He detains a small shore party, feeds them wild rumors of a 5,000-man pirate army with millions in diamonds, and sends them away. This deliberate disinformation deters European fleets from pursuing them.

Realizing they cannot stay safely on the island forever, Avery and a select group of twelve men decide to disband. Disguised as Armenian merchants, they carry their gold and jewels by boat to Bagdad and travel across Persia to Ispahan. After enduring a treacherous overland journey through deserts and wilderness, Avery reaches Constantinople. He concludes his second letter preparing to settle incognito in inland France, fully retired from his life of plunder.

How It Unfolds

A life of sea roving begins Stranded after escaping Campeachy, Avery and his men join an English pirate vessel under the violent Captain Redhand, quickly adapting to total warfare against all ocean commerce.

A massive haul in the South Seas The crew ambushes a Spanish vessel carrying a fortune in Chilean gold, securing their riches and retreating safely to Juan Fernando to plan their next destination.

Fortifying a retreat on Madagascar Seeking a haven far from European navies, the pirates sail across the Atlantic to Madagascar, building a heavily fortified, gun-lined settlement and a small town.

Intercepting the Mogul's treasure Cruising the Indian Ocean, Avery captures the Great Mogul's vessel, taking vast amounts of gold and jewels along with the Mogul's granddaughter while ensuring her respectful treatment.

Spreading rumors to secure safety When European ships arrive, Avery detains shore parties and feeds them wild exaggerations regarding his army's size, successfully scaring away potential naval pursuers.

Escape across the Persian wilderness Disguising themselves as Armenian merchants, Avery and his closest companions travel through Bagdad and Ispahan, safely smuggling their immense wealth into Constantinople.

The People

• Captain Avery wants to accumulate immense wealth at sea and escape with his life and loot intact. Hindered by Spanish warships, unruly crew members, and exaggerated public rumors that make him a target, he succeeds through calculated restraint and cunning deception, ultimately transforming from a hunted pirate into an anonymous, wealthy traveler retired in Europe.
• Captain Redhand (Nichols) wants unchecked plunder and bloodshed across the American coasts. Standing in his way are practical survival needs and the hesitation of his crew, leading him to execute ruthless measures until the company eventually divides its paths.
• The Great Mogul's Granddaughter wants safe passage with her royal retinue and household treasure. Confronted by Avery’s pirate fleet in the Indian Ocean, she loses her jewels and freedom, though her life and dignity are preserved before she is released.

In Its Own Voice

"When they saw us, not knowing who we were, they were just going to fire at us; when I, perceiving it, held up a white Flag as high as I could reach it, which was, in short, only a Piece of an old Linnen Wastcoat..."

Avery describes the precarious moment of his rescue near Campeachy before joining a broader life of piracy.

"She sate on the Side of a kind of a Bed like a Couch with no Canopy over it, or any Covering, only made to lie down upon; she was, in a Manner, cover'd with Diamonds, and I, like a true Pirate, soon let her see that I had more Mind to the Jewels than to the Lady."

Upon entering the cabin of the Great Mogul's granddaughter, Avery clarifies his mercenary priorities over sensationalized violence.

"...walking one Morning upon the Bank of the River Euphrates, I mus'd with myself what Course I should take to make off, and get quite away from the Gang, and let them not so much as suspect me."

In Bagdad, Avery contemplates his final escape strategy to enjoy his plunder in solitude.

What It's Really About

The narrative examines the fabrication of public myth versus the pragmatic, mercenary realities of organized crime. By contrasting sensational street pamphlets with Avery's matter-of-fact self-report, the text argues that effective piracy relies more on cold calculation, logistical management, and psychological bluffing than on senseless cruelty. It explores how money acts as a universal solvent, allowing men of desperate origins to wash away their criminal pasts and re-enter polite society as respected merchants.

Why Read It Today

This text appeals to readers who enjoy vintage maritime adventures, early picaresque fiction, and clever subversiveness. Instead of a moralizing tale where villains meet violent ends on the gallows, it delivers a surprisingly pragmatic look at an outlaw who successfully gets away with his crime.

The reading experience feels like discovering a confidential confession. The prose is direct, unadorned, and fast-paced, avoiding florid descriptions in favor of practical details about navigation, military fortifications, and currency conversions. Modern readers must navigate 18th-century capitalization and spelling conventions, along with period attitudes toward non-European peoples that reflect the era's colonial mindset. What stays with you is Avery's chillingly modern approach to self-preservation—his realization that spreading terrifying propaganda about his own power was a far better defense than firing a single cannon.