Zheng Shi

Chinese pirate queen who commanded history's largest fleet and established maritime codes

Zheng Shi (1785–1844), known as 'Cheng I Sao', transformed piracy into a highly organized enterprise controlling the South China Sea. After inheriting her husband's 400-ship fleet in 1807, she expanded it to 1,800 vessels with 80,000 crew - dwarfing contemporary naval forces. Her pirate code established progressive labor policies including injury compensation and loot distribution rules.

The Pirate Queen's naval tactics defeated Qing dynasty fleets and European merchant ships alike. She implemented strict discipline: unauthorized shore leave brought beheading, while rape victims could execute attackers. Her taxation system extorted protection fees from coastal towns while maintaining trade routes - an early example of organized crime syndication.

Zheng negotiated unprecedented amnesty in 1810, retiring with retained wealth while pardoning 17,000 pirates. Her legacy influenced maritime insurance practices and inspired asymmetric naval warfare strategies. The Pirate Queen's complex governance model demonstrated how marginalized groups could challenge empires through non-state maritime power structures in the early 19th century.