Ching Shih (1775-1844) was a prominent Chinese pirate who led a fleet of 300+ junks with 20,000-40,000 pirates, leading the largest pirate fleet in history.
Biography[]
Ching Shih was born in 1775 in Guangdong, China, initially being a prostitute before being captured by pirate Cheng I. Cheng I married her, and she took over his fleet on his death in Vietnam in 1807; her name literally means "Cheng's widow". Ching Shih, inexperienced in piracy, recruited experienced pirate Cheung Po Tsai as her right-hand man, and the two would marry while pirating.
Her code included the beheading of any pirate who disobeyed orders; the prohibition of stealing from villages that supplied pirates; all booty having to be presented for inspection, being registered, and 80% being put into a public fund; withholding money from the squadron leader would lead to death; and pirates that raped captive women would be killed (if they had consensual sex, both would be executed).
Her fleet had 300+ junks and as many as 40,000 pirates, and she fought against the Qing dynasty and other mercantile nations in the Pacific Ocean. She took advantage of an 1810 amnesty to retire, and she died in 1844.