Amaro Pargo
Amaro Rodríguez Felipe y Tejera Machado | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | May 3, 1678 |
| Died | October 14, 1747 (69 years) San Cristóbal de La Laguna |
| Piratical career | |
| Nickname | Amaro Pargo |
| Rank | Captain |
| Base of operations | Atlantic |
Amaro Rodríguez Felipe y Tejera Machado (San Cristóbal de La Laguna, May 3, 1678 - San Cristóbal de La Laguna, October 14, 1747), more popularly known as Amaro Pargo, was a famous Spanish pirate.[1]
Biography
His youth was influenced by the presence and growth of piracy in the Canary Islands. Feared by some and admired by others, including the activities stood out as piratical slaver. He adapted the holds of their ships to the place of slaves, who were often transported in inhumane conditions (although this was very common at the time). The slaves used for plantations in America or some sugar mills of the Canary Islands.[1]
He earned a fortune, however a result of his friendship with the nun María de León Bello y Delgado, began performing works of charity and had a special interest in changing poverty.[1] Amaro Pargo witnessed many of the miracles of this nun. He qualified as a noble and died on October 14, 1747 in San Cristóbal de La Laguna. He was buried in the Convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán of La Laguna.[1]
Amaro Pargo was a character who in his day had the same reputation and popularity that Blackbeard and Francis Drake.[2] Because of their continuing struggle for the interests of the Spanish Crown against enemy powers, Amaro Pargo was considered a national hero in his time. Amaro Pargo fought against some of the most notorious pirates of his time, including Blackbeard.[3]
Exhumation
In 2013 the exhumation of his remains was conducted by a team of archaeologists and forensic Autonomous University of Madrid, for the purpose of DNA testing and rebuilding his face. The exhumation was sponsored by the video game company Ubisoft, initially planning to turn Pargo into one of the main characters of its 2013 video game Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.[2]
