November 8, 2024 • 9 mins
You think the pirates of the Caribbean ruled the seas? They had nothing on the pirate queen who commanded the largest and most powerful pirate fleet in history. 250 years ago, she controlled more than 70,000 pirates…and never had to answer for her crimes.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yeah, the world has always known tough chicks, but this
one might just take the cake. Imagine starting off your
life in poverty in eighteenth century China and winding up
running the largest pirate fleet in history as the pirate
Queen of the South China Sea. I'm Patty Steele Xiangxi.
From flower boat girl to prostitute to powerful and murderous pirate.
(00:24):
What a woman That's next on the backstory? The backstory
is back. Hard to imagine how difficult life was for
a woman born into poverty in eighteenth century China. Not
a lot of prospects, right, But no matter who we are,
when and where we live, we all want the same thing.
(00:46):
We want to see our dreams blossom into a better reality.
Hiangshi was born in seventeen seventy five in Canton, China,
on the South China Sea. Her parents were peasants and
she needed to find work to survive. As a teenager,
she took a job on a floating barge. As a
flower boat girl. She was basically entertaining men on a
(01:08):
floating brothel, but she was wildly intelligent and extremely ambitious.
Plus she knew how to read people and charm them.
Xang understood men, their motives, their secrets, and most importantly,
their weaknesses. In her mid twenties, she meets a guy
who would change her life. He's the notorious pirate Change.
(01:31):
He commanded a large fleet of ships. He was ruthless, ambitious,
and one of the most feared men in the South
China Sea. So when he sees Xiangshi, he sees more
than just a gorgeous woman. He sees her endless ambition
coupled with a mind as sharp as his own. He
actually proposes almost immediately for her part. Xiang sees this
(01:53):
as her ticket out. The marriage becomes a powerful partnership.
Jang doesn't just become Chang's wife, she's as equal, helping
him expand their empire. Together they build the Red Flag Fleet,
which soon becomes the largest and one of the most
powerful pirate fleets in history. Under their leadership, the fleet
(02:14):
grows from a few dozen ships to almost two thousand,
with as many as seventy thousand pirates under their command.
Xang is a natural leader. She knows how to inspire loyalty,
but also how to control her crew. She has a
strict code of conduct Rule number one. Any pirate who
disobeys orders is executed, plain and simple, no second chances.
(02:38):
Rule number two, all plunder has to be accounted for
and shared. Her pirates are entitled to their share, but
nobody skims off the top. And rule number three reflects
where Jang came from. Any pirate caught harming a female
captive without permission will be put to death. That was
not only progressive for its time, but made Xiangxi a
(03:02):
feared but respected leader. Xiangxi transforms a red flag fleet
into a well oiled machine, and she doesn't just control
her crew with an iron fist. Her ships patrol the
coastlines and demand tribute or protection pay from merchant ships,
fishing boats, and even villages along the shore. There's no
(03:22):
refusing to pay. You just do it, or you face
the wrath of the pirate queen. After six years of marriage,
Jiang's husband Change dies suddenly in eighteen oh seven. It's
a scary time for her, since she lives in a
society that views women as inferior, something she'll step aside.
But this tough chick, now thirty two years old, has
(03:46):
a different idea. This fleet is hers and hers alone,
and no one is going to take it from her.
Her fleet continues to grow, and in eighteen oh nine,
she's at the peak of her power. She decides to
attack the Portuguese colonial base of Macau. No small feet.
It's heavily fortified, protected by both the Portuguese military and
(04:08):
private militias who had long defended the colony from pirates
and foreign threats. But Jangshi she sees these defenses as
mere obstacles. She orders her fleet to set sail toward
the colony, her ships forming a menacing line. As they
approach the coast, the Portuguese see her ships on the horizon,
(04:29):
each one flying her signature red flag. They think they
can hold their ground with their cannons along the coast,
plenty of weapons and tons of experience dealing with pirates,
but they are wrong. Jangshi's determination, her tactics, and her
sheer will rule the day. As they engage in a
(04:49):
brutal battle. The Red Flag fleet swarms the harbor, using
fire ships and sheer numbers to overwhelm the Portuguese forces.
Her men are rel relentless and hand to hand combat
as they board the Portuguese ships and overpower their enemies.
Her strategy is brilliant and ruthlessly efficient. The Red Flag
(05:11):
Fleet moves like a well trained army rather than just
a ragtag band of outlaws. Every ship has a role,
every pirate a purpose, and together they are both brilliant
and brutal. The Portuguese can't withstand the onslaught, and after
hours of battle their defenses buckle. Jangshi's forces sweep through
(05:32):
the harbor, taking everything and crippling the Portuguese navy. By
the time it's over, Jiangshi has not only rated one
of the most fortified places in the South China Sea,
but given herself a reputation that no one would challenge.
The Red Flag Fleet was not to be underestimated. Soon
(05:53):
she forms an alliance with her dead husband's adopted son,
and they are even more unbeatable. At the height of
her power, Jiangxi rules the South China Sea. Her fleet
is so large it's like a floating city. They raid villages,
capture coastal towns, and defeat Chinese naval forces sent to
bring her down. The local government is powerless to stop her,
(06:17):
and she knows it. With every victory, her legend grows.
She becomes a terror to anyone on the water. Enforcing
her rule with absolute authority. Psychological warfare was her strength.
Jiangshi left survivors of her attacks behind so they could
spread stories of her brutality. Soon, the mere sight of
(06:39):
her sales was enough to make towns surrender without even
a fight. Folks claimed she ruled her fleet with a
sense of ruthlessness that no man could rival. But nothing
lasts forever. By eighteen ten, after years of terrorizing the coast,
she's too powerful for her own good. The Chinese government
(06:59):
is desperate and they realize they'll never defeat her through
force alone, so they offer her a deal, an amazing
offer of amnesty for her and her entire fleet. She
could walk away with no punishment if she just disbanded
her pirates and ended her reign. Now you would think
that she'd turn it down and want to keep going,
(07:20):
but Jangshi continues to strategize brilliantly. The deal is on
her terms, a full part, not just for herself, but
for all of her pirates, and she even secured the
right to keep her wealth, which was huge after years
of plundering. So she steps away from piracy and opens
a gambling house, giving herself a life of comfort and wealth.
(07:44):
And peace. Imagine that a pirate queen who once commanded
an empire on the high seas retiring peacefully, No gallows
or sword fights, just a brilliant game of chess where
she winds up living in relatives peace, her wealth and
power intact, Jangshi became one of the very few pirates
(08:06):
to retire comfortably, never punished for her crimes. She died
at the age of sixty nine, surrounded by wealth and
totally satisfied with her life. She didn't just survive as
a pirate. She conquered, broke every rule, and built an
empire in an age when women were expected to stay
silent and in the shadows. Her life inspired novels, movies,
(08:28):
and endless fascination. Jangshi is remembered as one of the
greatest pirates to ever live, a queen of the high
Seas who ended her life on her own terms through
strategy and intelligence. Hope you like the backstory with Patty Steele.
(08:50):
I would love it if you would subscribe or follow
for free to get new episodes delivered automatically, and feel
free to DM me if you have a story you'd
like me to cover On Facebook, It's Patty Steele and
on Instagram Real Patty Steele. I'm Patty Steele. The Backstories
a production of iHeartMedia, Premiere Networks, the Elvis Durand Group,
(09:12):
and Steel Trap Productions. Our producer is Doug Fraser. Our
writer Jake Kushner. We have new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.
Feel free to reach out to me with comments and
even story suggestions on Instagram at Real Patty Steele and
on Facebook at Patty Steele. Thanks for listening to the
Backstory with Patty Steele, the pieces of history you didn't
(09:33):
know you needed to know.
Yeah, the world has always known tough chicks, but this
one might just take the cake. Imagine starting off your
life in poverty in eighteenth century China and winding up
running the largest pirate fleet in history as the pirate
Queen of the South China Sea. I'm Patty Steele Xiangxi.
From flower boat girl to prostitute to powerful and murderous pirate.
(00:24):
What a woman That's next on the backstory? The backstory
is back. Hard to imagine how difficult life was for
a woman born into poverty in eighteenth century China. Not
a lot of prospects, right, But no matter who we are,
when and where we live, we all want the same thing.
(00:46):
We want to see our dreams blossom into a better reality.
Hiangshi was born in seventeen seventy five in Canton, China,
on the South China Sea. Her parents were peasants and
she needed to find work to survive. As a teenager,
she took a job on a floating barge. As a
flower boat girl. She was basically entertaining men on a
(01:08):
floating brothel, but she was wildly intelligent and extremely ambitious.
Plus she knew how to read people and charm them.
Xang understood men, their motives, their secrets, and most importantly,
their weaknesses. In her mid twenties, she meets a guy
who would change her life. He's the notorious pirate Change.
(01:31):
He commanded a large fleet of ships. He was ruthless, ambitious,
and one of the most feared men in the South
China Sea. So when he sees Xiangshi, he sees more
than just a gorgeous woman. He sees her endless ambition
coupled with a mind as sharp as his own. He
actually proposes almost immediately for her part. Xiang sees this
(01:53):
as her ticket out. The marriage becomes a powerful partnership.
Jang doesn't just become Chang's wife, she's as equal, helping
him expand their empire. Together they build the Red Flag Fleet,
which soon becomes the largest and one of the most
powerful pirate fleets in history. Under their leadership, the fleet
(02:14):
grows from a few dozen ships to almost two thousand,
with as many as seventy thousand pirates under their command.
Xang is a natural leader. She knows how to inspire loyalty,
but also how to control her crew. She has a
strict code of conduct Rule number one. Any pirate who
disobeys orders is executed, plain and simple, no second chances.
(02:38):
Rule number two, all plunder has to be accounted for
and shared. Her pirates are entitled to their share, but
nobody skims off the top. And rule number three reflects
where Jang came from. Any pirate caught harming a female
captive without permission will be put to death. That was
not only progressive for its time, but made Xiangxi a
(03:02):
feared but respected leader. Xiangxi transforms a red flag fleet
into a well oiled machine, and she doesn't just control
her crew with an iron fist. Her ships patrol the
coastlines and demand tribute or protection pay from merchant ships,
fishing boats, and even villages along the shore. There's no
(03:22):
refusing to pay. You just do it, or you face
the wrath of the pirate queen. After six years of marriage,
Jiang's husband Change dies suddenly in eighteen oh seven. It's
a scary time for her, since she lives in a
society that views women as inferior, something she'll step aside.
But this tough chick, now thirty two years old, has
(03:46):
a different idea. This fleet is hers and hers alone,
and no one is going to take it from her.
Her fleet continues to grow, and in eighteen oh nine,
she's at the peak of her power. She decides to
attack the Portuguese colonial base of Macau. No small feet.
It's heavily fortified, protected by both the Portuguese military and
(04:08):
private militias who had long defended the colony from pirates
and foreign threats. But Jangshi she sees these defenses as
mere obstacles. She orders her fleet to set sail toward
the colony, her ships forming a menacing line. As they
approach the coast, the Portuguese see her ships on the horizon,
(04:29):
each one flying her signature red flag. They think they
can hold their ground with their cannons along the coast,
plenty of weapons and tons of experience dealing with pirates,
but they are wrong. Jangshi's determination, her tactics, and her
sheer will rule the day. As they engage in a
(04:49):
brutal battle. The Red Flag fleet swarms the harbor, using
fire ships and sheer numbers to overwhelm the Portuguese forces.
Her men are rel relentless and hand to hand combat
as they board the Portuguese ships and overpower their enemies.
Her strategy is brilliant and ruthlessly efficient. The Red Flag
(05:11):
Fleet moves like a well trained army rather than just
a ragtag band of outlaws. Every ship has a role,
every pirate a purpose, and together they are both brilliant
and brutal. The Portuguese can't withstand the onslaught, and after
hours of battle their defenses buckle. Jangshi's forces sweep through
(05:32):
the harbor, taking everything and crippling the Portuguese navy. By
the time it's over, Jiangshi has not only rated one
of the most fortified places in the South China Sea,
but given herself a reputation that no one would challenge.
The Red Flag Fleet was not to be underestimated. Soon
(05:53):
she forms an alliance with her dead husband's adopted son,
and they are even more unbeatable. At the height of
her power, Jiangxi rules the South China Sea. Her fleet
is so large it's like a floating city. They raid villages,
capture coastal towns, and defeat Chinese naval forces sent to
bring her down. The local government is powerless to stop her,
(06:17):
and she knows it. With every victory, her legend grows.
She becomes a terror to anyone on the water. Enforcing
her rule with absolute authority. Psychological warfare was her strength.
Jiangshi left survivors of her attacks behind so they could
spread stories of her brutality. Soon, the mere sight of
(06:39):
her sales was enough to make towns surrender without even
a fight. Folks claimed she ruled her fleet with a
sense of ruthlessness that no man could rival. But nothing
lasts forever. By eighteen ten, after years of terrorizing the coast,
she's too powerful for her own good. The Chinese government
(06:59):
is desperate and they realize they'll never defeat her through
force alone, so they offer her a deal, an amazing
offer of amnesty for her and her entire fleet. She
could walk away with no punishment if she just disbanded
her pirates and ended her reign. Now you would think
that she'd turn it down and want to keep going,
(07:20):
but Jangshi continues to strategize brilliantly. The deal is on
her terms, a full part, not just for herself, but
for all of her pirates, and she even secured the
right to keep her wealth, which was huge after years
of plundering. So she steps away from piracy and opens
a gambling house, giving herself a life of comfort and wealth.
(07:44):
And peace. Imagine that a pirate queen who once commanded
an empire on the high seas retiring peacefully, No gallows
or sword fights, just a brilliant game of chess where
she winds up living in relatives peace, her wealth and
power intact, Jangshi became one of the very few pirates
(08:06):
to retire comfortably, never punished for her crimes. She died
at the age of sixty nine, surrounded by wealth and
totally satisfied with her life. She didn't just survive as
a pirate. She conquered, broke every rule, and built an
empire in an age when women were expected to stay
silent and in the shadows. Her life inspired novels, movies,
(08:28):
and endless fascination. Jangshi is remembered as one of the
greatest pirates to ever live, a queen of the high
Seas who ended her life on her own terms through
strategy and intelligence. Hope you like the backstory with Patty Steele.
(08:50):
I would love it if you would subscribe or follow
for free to get new episodes delivered automatically, and feel
free to DM me if you have a story you'd
like me to cover On Facebook, It's Patty Steele and
on Instagram Real Patty Steele. I'm Patty Steele. The Backstories
a production of iHeartMedia, Premiere Networks, the Elvis Durand Group,
(09:12):
and Steel Trap Productions. Our producer is Doug Fraser. Our
writer Jake Kushner. We have new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.
Feel free to reach out to me with comments and
even story suggestions on Instagram at Real Patty Steele and
on Facebook at Patty Steele. Thanks for listening to the
Backstory with Patty Steele, the pieces of history you didn't
(09:33):
know you needed to know.
Host
Patty Steele
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