1. Bartholomew Roberts - The Charismatic King of Pirates
The most successful pirate of history, Bartholomew Roberts (a.k.a. 'Black Bart') accumulated wealth beyond his more famous contemporaries. Marked for his shrewd, calculating approach to piracy, and an ability to command the loyalty of his vast crew, Black Bart possessed the capabilities of control, strategy and refinement that the other entries have neglected. Believed to have been a finer character - in tastes and in conduct - Black Bart conducted himself with an enigmatic air that commanded respect and fear from his crew. Having been initially captured by a pirate crew, Bart was subsequently elevated to the captaincy after the previous was killed - a tribute to his persuasive character. He used the respect and loyalty of his crew to launch ambitious adventures to take the wealthiest ships and holds of the Caribbean and West Africa, whilst drawing up a strict code of articles to govern the conduct and procedures on board the ship. This controlled approach to piracy was so successful it brought Caribbean trade to a temporary standstill. Struck by a grapeshot from Captain Chaloner Ogle's 'The Swallow', Bart's crew were loyal to the end, weighing his dead body and plunging it into the sea - so fulfilling his final wish to be buried at sea. Stars as the primary antagonist of Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, and said to have co-authored 'The Code' of Pirates of the Caribbean.
