Ching Shih was a Chinese pirate leader who terrorized the China Seas during the Jiaqing Emperor period of the Qing dynasty in the early 19th century. She commanded over 1800 junks manned by 60,000 to 80,000 pirates called “The Red Flag Fleet”. She entered into conflict with major nations, such as the British Empire, the Portuguese Empire, and the Qing dynasty. Ching Shih and her crew’s exploits have since been featured in numerous books, novels, video games, and films about piracy, pirates and their way of life in China as well as worldwide. Based on her tremendous influence and achievements as a pirate and commanding the vast fleet of around 1500–1800 ships manned by 80,000 sailors during her peak, she is widely accepted to be the most successful pirate in history.
