Pirate Roster

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Cheng I Soa

Copyright 2001, David Stapleton

A pirate queen from the South China Sea. She is first seen as a Cantonese prostitute named Shih Yang. In 1801 she married Cheng I, a commander of a pirate squadron. Cheng I fought on the Tay-son side of the Vietnamese rebellion until 1802 when the fight collapsed and was forced to retreat to the South China Sea. By 1804 Cheng I had had united a coalition of pirates numbering 400 junks and 70,000 men under seven banners - including the red, yellow, green, blue, black and white. On November 16, 1807, Cheng I died during a gale.

Through political manipulation Cheng I Soa was able to step in as admiral of the overall pirate fleet. To cement her position she even went so far as to marry Chang Poa, the commander of one of the squadrons and her previously adopted son.

While the pirates operated in the seas, taking weak merchants and wrecked ships, they also preyed deep inland, using the rivers to reach far up stream, sacking villages and exacting protection money or tribute from others. In January 1808 the pirates fought a pitched battle with government forces in Kwangtung waters. The battle went well for the pirates, who captured many government junks. Several other battle of similar nature over the years, seemed more to demonstrate the power of the pirates than weaken them.

The beginning of the end for what some books call the Ladrone pirates came when enmity erupted between Chang Poa and O-po-tae, the leader of another squadron. The two squadrons battled and Chang Poa was forced to retreat. O-po-tae in fear of the vengeance of Chang Poa and Cheng I Soa sought the peace with the government. He and his fleet were granted pardon and used as leverage to convince Cheng I Soa to submit as well. In 1810 the queen of the pirates received pardon in return for the ships of her fleet. The remaining pirates scattered with the loss of their leaders and were no longer a threat to shipping.

There is little doubt that Cheng I Soa was the leader of the pirates, but much of the literature focuses on the male figures of Ching I or Chang Poa. It is hard to determine what part Cheng I Soa actually played. At least in part her role was as political director and keeper of the peace. To have held together such a large force for over five years would have been no small feat. In the end however, it proved to be too much to expect. O-po-tae and Chang Poa retired from piracy to confortable government positions. Cheng I Soa died in 1844 at the age of sixty running a gambling house and brothel in Canton.