Storyline

From legendary John Ward, immortalized in fiction as Jack Sparrow, and English explorer Francis Drake; branded Pirates by their enemies but heroes by their comrades, to the notorious Pirates of the Caribbean shrouded in myth.

First Aired

2024-06-09
Last Aired

2024-06-30
Creator
Genre

Drama, Documentary
Seasons

1
Episodes

8
Status

Ended
Language

English
Network

National Geographic

Keywords:

based on true story pirate character study pirate ship fictional biography legendary hero semi-biographical fictionalized history legends sea pirates historical documentary based on real person based on legends

Stream and watch Pirates: Behind the Legends

Season 1

1. Francis Drake - For Queen and Country

Circumnavigation is the pinnacle of Drake's career, cementing him in history as the world's most contr...More

Circumnavigation is the pinnacle of Drake's career, cementing him in history as the world's most controversial pirate.Less

44mins 2024-06-09

2. Grace O’Malley - The Pirate Queen of Ireland

Grace O’Malley, the Pirate Queen of Ireland. Her rise from wanted pirate to Chieftain is won through a...More

Grace O’Malley, the Pirate Queen of Ireland. Her rise from wanted pirate to Chieftain is won through a warrior’s sword and a woman’s grit.Less

44mins 2024-06-09

3. John Ward - The English Pirate of North Africa

The Englishman turned Algerian pirate starts his remarkable ascent from petty pirate to a notorious me...More

The Englishman turned Algerian pirate starts his remarkable ascent from petty pirate to a notorious menace, becoming ruler of the Tunisian empire.Less

44mins 2024-06-16

4. Henry Morgan - The Lieutenant Pirate

A brilliant strategist, Morgan takes humans, treasure and Spanish colonial towns with no mercy later ...More

A brilliant strategist, Morgan takes humans, treasure and Spanish colonial towns with no mercy later becoming Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica.Less

44mins 2024-06-16

5. William Kidd - The Treasure Hunter

Captain Kidd, the treasure hunter. When the legitimate prizes of the Red Sea are not to be found, Kidd...More

Captain Kidd, the treasure hunter. When the legitimate prizes of the Red Sea are not to be found, Kidd quickly turns from pirate hunter to pirate.Less

44mins 2024-06-23

6. Blackbeard

Blackbeard is a terrifying figure with a diverse crew of pirates seeking equality and treasure, aboard...More

Blackbeard is a terrifying figure with a diverse crew of pirates seeking equality and treasure, aboard the stolen flagship The Queen Anne’s Revenge.Less

44mins 2024-06-23

7. Calico Jack, Anne Bonny, Mary Read: Rebel Spirits

The notorious pirate run town of Nassau is soon to be shaken by the English crackdown on lawlessness i...More

The notorious pirate run town of Nassau is soon to be shaken by the English crackdown on lawlessness in the Caribbean. Living off plunder and raiding, Calico Jack, Anne Bonny and Mary Read form a troublesome trio who successfully rob ships and live off the spoils of the sea until they are captured by pirate hunters and tried for piracy.Less

44mins 2024-06-30

8. Roberts - The Last Great Pirate

Bartholomew Roberts aka Black Bart, the most successful pirate of the Golden Age, his fleet amassing 4...More

Bartholomew Roberts aka Black Bart, the most successful pirate of the Golden Age, his fleet amassing 450 stolen ships. From his humble beginnings as a Welsh sailor, Roberts quickly becomes captain of a pirate ship, showing his shrewd captainship he writes down a pirate code. His piracy almost brings West Indies trade to a standstill until he is hunted down by the English crown.Less