39: Zheng Yi Sao

No Ordinary Women

From a brothel to a pirate queen. Rose tells us about Zheng Yi Sao, the fearless woman who defied expectations and took control of the Red Flag Fleet. Her marriage to pirate lord Zheng Yi was just the beginning of her remarkable journey. She demanded equality, power, and a share of the loot, and thus became the force behind the confederation of fearsome pirate squadrons. With colored flags and a fleet of junks, she led her pirates to seize control of Guangdong Province. Zheng Yi Sao's rule was brutal, but it brought immense wealth and power. Her audacious escape from a Sino-Portuguese blockade and her domination of the salt industry cemented her criminal empire. She was a master manipulator, a military genius, and a shrewd businesswoman. Discover the extraordinary tale of the pirate queen who commanded the seas.

Thank you to our sources!

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/ching-shih-chinese-female-pirate#:~:text=Ching%20Shih%20died%20in%201844,rule%20has%20penetrated%20popular%20culture.

http://www.cindyvallar.com/ZhengYiSao.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zheng_Yi_Sao#

https://www.worldhistory.org/Zheng_Yi/