Utopias
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James Misson and Libertalia.
https://www.libertarianism.org/publications/essays/legend-libertalia-part-one
Libertalia part II.
https://www.libertarianism.org/publications/essays/legend-libertalia-part-two
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.
Two debates, but intertwined.
1. Did Daniel Defoe write the General History of the Pirates?
If he did, why would he compose one fictional account in a gigantic work of factual accounts?
So,
a) The utopia of Captain Misson is true, in which case it is a piece of history which should interest socialists, or
b) It is the one fiction in a work of factual accounts, which would make Daniel Defoe a utopian socialist – also of interest.2. If Defoe is not the author, but the unknown Captain Johnson, then the same (a & b above) apply. If b, then we have in the unknown Johnson an 18th century utopian socialist whom we do not know.
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