Utopias

Father Caraccioli.

Father Caraccioli was a 17th-century Dominican priest and ideological founder of the pirate utopia, Libertalia, alongside Captain Misson. Described as a “lewd” deist and anti-authoritarian, he converted French sailors to a radical, egalitarian philosophy, advocating for shared wealth, liberty, and opposing slavery and institutional religion.
Key Details About Father Caraccioli:

Background: An Italian priest who became disillusioned with the Catholic Church, viewing it as a tool for controlling the masses, leading him to adopt Deism.

The Partnership: Met Captain Misson in Rome and influenced him to abandon traditional naval life for a life of “liberty”.
Ideology: Believed all men were born free and equal, and that slavery was inherently wrong.

Role in Piracy: He was not a traditional pirate but rather a philosophical leader who encouraged the crew to become “Guardians of the People” and to capture slave ships to free their captives.

Libertalia: Helped establish the pirate colony of Libertalia on the coast of Madagascar, promoting a democratic society with no private property.