Île Sainte-Marie, off Madagascar’s east coast, became a well-known pirate base during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.
The island lies close to important Indian Ocean sailing routes. Its sheltered anchorages, fresh water, and position near Madagascar made it useful to pirates and other maritime adventurers. Figures associated with the island include William Kidd, Robert Culliford, and Thomas Tew, although the details of individual visits are not always equally certain.
European ships carrying goods between Europe, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia passed through the wider region. Pirates could use Madagascar’s coast to repair vessels, obtain supplies, recruit crew, and sell or exchange goods. The island was not a formal pirate republic governed by a single pirate authority, despite later popular descriptions.
Île Sainte-Marie is now known officially as Nosy Boraha. It remains part of Madagascar, and its pirate history is an important part of the island’s historical tourism.