HWS Women Pirates - Gerda the Sea-Beggar

"Liever Turks dan Paaps"


HWS Women Pirates is a spin-off of the current Historically Wrong Sketch Project: Blood and Steel, with the aim to portray the different types of Women Pirates in the 17th century era, albeit perhaps with lots of stylization and anachronism . Nevertheless, hopefully this will increase the awareness of people about the many pirates that ruled the sea during their golden age, from America, Erope to Asia. This drawing, represents one of the most influential, yet relatively unknown group of Dutch privateers, one that made a great impact not in bringing down an empire, but creating a new one.

Dance to the tunes of the Brave Dutch Men and Women! www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cQCL6…

There are many pirates and privateers, from the most notorious to the least known, that existed in the history books. However, in my opinion, there was only one that changed the course of Europe's History, and the Entire world. They were known as the Dutch Sea-Beggars or Watergeuzen , and this 3rd drawing of the Pirate series, is a representation of them to give a different image of pirates that we know today.

The dutch, and for the most part of low countries, were relatively less known that their neighbors who were the Ambitious Germans, Proud Frenchmen, Brave Scandinavians as well as the Royal Englishmen. Inl the 16th century, they were ruled by the House of Hapsburg, who were at that time, were trying to exert their authority over the low countries, along with the persecutions of the Protestants and high taxes. This, caused resentment amongst the dutch people, and afterwards, a group of Calvinist Nobles gathered, marched and petitioned to the ruling regent, Duchess of Parma. Alarmed by the sudden gatherings, the dutch nobles were later dismissed by the regent, whose court referred them as "Les Gueux", or "Beggars" in English. The name would later be adopted by the nobles in a patriotic spirit, who swore that they would be ready to even be beggars for their nation's cause and independence. Of course, this opposition did not last long, and they were utterly crushed by the Hapsburg shortly after. However, their legacy carried on in the hearts of many of their fellow countrymen, and one man came to claim its leadership and ideals who openly revolted against the Hapsburg rule, a man known by his name as "William of Orange".

William issued letter of marquee to various desperado from various background, as privateers, to disturb the Spanish Shipping line. Most of the privateers were known to be reckless, and brave enough to the point of absurdity, which earned them the nickname as Sea-Beggars. Initially the pirates were only active in raiding shipping convoys and traded their loots at English port, but When Queen Elizabeth of England refused to accept their ships and closed the English harbor, the Sea beggar became desperate and launched an attack on Briele, and managed to capture it in a surprise due to the absence of Spanish garrison at that time. After their success, the Sea-beggars then subsequently sailed, invaded and captured Vlissingen, due to its strategic importance.

The capture of the 2 towns, eventually prompted nearby towns to Revolt against the Hapsburg rule, and in a short amount of time, caused a major chain reaction that lead to numerous provinces joining the revolt for Netherlands, therefore, starting as what some scholars refer to the true beginning of Dutch War of Independence. It was through the audacity of these Sea-beggars, that many dutch people were inspired to fight for their freedom. Eventually, they succeeded in establishing their own independent United Dutch Republic. Although, a comparatively small nation in the eyes of the Giants of European Power, the dutchmen were proud seamen and traders, who went as far as India, Africa, America and East Indies and were revered as one of Europe's powerful trading and sea power.

Anyway, enough history lesson now. It's a bit funny to write this essay, given that the dutch ruled my country, Indonesia, for almost 3 centuries

As for her character in the Historically Wrong Sketch Series, She is Jonkvrouw Gerda Dirksdochter van Zeeland, a lady from the lower dutch nobility who took up in arms against the Harzberg  and their Iberian Ally in a fight for their independence from Imperium Germania Sanctum's authority. After having her holdings plundered by the ravaging Iberian army, she gathered what's left of her family's possessions as well as remnants of her dynasty, and joined the fight for independence as privateers, disturbing many of the Iberian Shipping Convoy. Eventually, her renown caught the eyes of the Turkish Orhan , and earned their support in exchange for keeping the Iberian busy in a contest for Mediterranean's supremacy, meeting the likes of a fellow barbary corsair Lalla taljat  .

Gerda was eventually captured by the Iberian after a failed attempt at capturing their Treasure ship and was executed shortly after. Her death may brought a little peace to the Iberian, but caused a raging uproar throughout the low countries, sparking massive rebellions across the provinces which ultimately ended in the Iberian and Harzbergs expulsion from the nation after a long struggle, sealing the independence once and for all.


There maybe some error or romanticized depiction of the Dutch history, so i'd appreciate if one can correct me on this one for future works
===================================================================================================

Beautifully inspired by the works of in his documented drawings of the Thirty Years War in Europe. Initially, I was rather confused to pick which pirate that better represented the ones that were active in europe in the 17th century. After much reading and researrch, i choose the dutch and their sea-beggars as the best candidate. Afterall, like what i have mentioned earlier in my opinion:

"Many pirates roamed the sea and plundered what they can, but there's only one that changed the course of history. It was the Dutch Sea-beggars"


For more on the Historically Wrong Sketch Series Project Blood and Steel