Random 13 Most Gruesome Ways Pirates Have Killed People Throughout History (12 items)

(#7) Some Pirates Really Did Make People Walk The Plank

Media often depicts "walking the plank" as the standard means of punishment for pirates. While it was used very occasionally, it was often considered too theatrical for common use.

The actual method of making someone walk the plank was also much more horrific than films generally make it out to be. Pirates would bind their captives with rope so that they could not swim and weigh them down with cannonballs to ensure they would sink.
(#12) Pirates Tied Slayers to Their Targets and Threw Them Overboard

People get many things wrong about pirates. Most believe them to be squabbling thugs who were constantly fighting each other, but they were actually a rather sophisticated group of people. Not only did they operate as a democracy, with each crewmember having a vote, but many also did not tolerate inhumane deeds.

Those who took the life of a captive or one of their fellow crewmembers would often be tied to the cadaver as punishment and thrown overboard. This meant the certain demise of the perpetrator as they sank to the bottom of the ocean with their lifeless target.
(#2) Captain Morgan Popped Out Captives' Eyes Using A Metal Bar

The Welsh pirate Captain Henry Morgan was never afraid of getting aggressive when he needed to find out valuable information. This is exactly what he did when he sacked Portobelo in 1668, a valuable port that saw all kinds of precious commodities pass through, including a vast amount of gold.

After taking over the city, he and his crew were unable to find all the treasure, so they began to torture officials. The main method was something called woodling. It involved strapping a leather cord around a person’s forehead and then tightening it with a metal bar. Those who didn’t reveal information quickly enough would perish when the pressure caused their eyeballs to pop out of their skulls.
(#5) Ching Shih Would Nail Her Enemies' Feet To The Decks Of Their Own Ships

Ching Shih is one of the most famous pirates who ever lived. Having begun her life as an escort, she was able to rise through the ranks of important Chinese pirate factions and eventually take command of hundreds of ships when her husband perished in the early 19th century.

Her favorite method of dealing with rival crews and enemies was to nail their feet to the decks of their own ships and proceed to beat them until they perished. The only way out of this horrendous situation was to agree to join her ranks and become part the Red Flag Fleet. This not only sent a message to anyone who would stand against her, but also made sure she had plenty of replacement pirates to bolster her crews.
(#10) Some Pirates Forced Captives to Run Until They Perished From Exhaustion

One sadistic form of punishment that usually ended up with the target perishing was known as sweating. It was often used as a form of psychological as well as physical torture, as it was done in front of the entire crew of a ship. This also made it perfect for setting an example to anyone else who thought of crossing the pirates.

The captain would force the captive to run up and down the deck of the ship. At the same time, the rest of the crew would be poking and piercing the man with swords and other instruments, causing lacerations that would eventually lead to loss of life.
(#6) Montbars The Exterminator Nailed His Victims' Intestines To Posts

Daniel Montbars, who was also known as Montbars the Exterminator for his cruel nature, was a 17th-century pirate. He became one of the biggest enemies of the Spanish Empire during his career and thus developed an intense hatred of any Spaniards he met.

While he did not like to shed blood without reason, he was merciless to any enemies that fought against him and would brutally punish any surviving soldiers. His favorite method was to cut open the stomach of a captive, pull out their intestines, and nail them to a post while beating them.