Nassau’s pirate republic effectively ended in 1718 when Woodes Rogers arrived as royal governor of the Bahamas.
New Providence, the island containing Nassau, had become a base for pirates after the War of the Spanish Succession. Weak colonial authority and the island’s strategic position allowed figures such as Benjamin Hornigold, Charles Vane, and Jack Rackham to operate from the harbour.
King George I issued a proclamation offering pardons to pirates who surrendered. Rogers reached Nassau in July 1718 with authority to restore British control, accept eligible pardons, and pursue pirates who refused them. His arrival marked the end of Nassau’s period as a largely self-governing pirate stronghold.
The phrase “Republic of Pirates” is a modern description rather than the official name of a recognized state. Nassau was not an independent country, but pirates did establish their own informal society and authority there before the colonial government returned.