Ahoy me Hearties! Black Caesar, according to traditional accounts, was a prominent African tribal war chieftain. Widely known for his “huge size, immense strength and keen intelligence,” he evaded capture from many different slave traders.

He reputedly had a harem on his island, having at least 100 women seized from passing ships, well blow me down, as well as a prison camp where he kept prisoners in stone huts hoping to ransom them. Caesar’s Rock, one of three islands located north of Key Largo, is reportedly named after him, as is a channel there called Caesar’s Creek.

Caesar served aboard Blackbeard’s flagship Queen Anne’s Revenge. He was still with Blackbeard in 1718 when the pirates were cornered by Lieutenant Maynard. Taken prisoner by Virginian colonial authorities, Caesar, was tried for piracy but was acquitted.