10 Most Violent Pirates In History

François L'Olonnais was an indentured servant who turned to piracy once his debt had been paid. If there were an award for most brutal pirate of all-time, L'Olonnais would likely be the odds on favorite to win it.

In his first year at sea, the Frenchman was part of a crew that was nearly wiped out by Spanish soldiers. He managed to save himself by hiding amongst his former comrades' bodies. After escaping, L'Olonnais joined up with a group of runaway slaves and sacked a Spanish town, which he then held for ransom. When the governor sent a relief force, the French pirate captured and beheaded them. From that point on, L'Olonnais promised to offer no quarter to Spaniards.

As time went on, the former servant became an expert torturer. Some of his favorite methods included burning his captives alive, wooding them until their eyes popped out, and cutting off portions of flesh.

L'Olonnais' most famous act of violence occurred following the capture of two Spanish soldiers in 1667. The pirate asked the men to show him a clear route to San Pedro. When they refused, the Frenchman proceeded to cut one of the men's chests open, tear out his heart and take a bite out of it. Unsurprisingly, the surviving prisoner decided to show L'Olonnais the route to San Pedro.

However, before he could make it San Pedro, the captain and his men were captured by an indigenous tribe known as the Kuna. The tribe tore L'Olonnais to pieces and incinerated his remains.