Born: 1661 (Province of Brittany, France)
Died: 1710
Biography:
Anne Dieu-le-Veut, also known as Marie-Anne or Marianne, was a French pirate who lived from August 28, 1661, to January 11, 1710. She is one of the few known female buccaneers, alongside the possibly fictional character, Jacquotte Delahaye. While many of Dieu-le-Veut’s exploits have been exaggerated or fabricated by later writers, she was indeed a real figure in history.
Born in the province of Brittany, France, Dieu-le-Veut’s early life is relatively unknown. It is believed that she was deported to French Tortuga as a criminal and arrived on the island during the reign of Governor Bertrand d’Ogeron de la Bouëre in the late 17th century. In 1684, she married buccaneer Pierre Lelong, with whom she had a daughter named Marie Marguerite Yvonne Lelong. Tragically, Lelong was killed in a fight on July 15, 1690.
After the death of her first husband, Dieu-le-Veut married Joseph Cherel in 1691. However, Cherel passed away in June 1693, leaving her a widow once again. It was during this time that she encountered the famous buccaneer Laurens de Graaf. The traditional tale suggests that Anne challenged de Graaf to a duel after he insulted her late spouse. De Graaf drew his sword, but Anne countered by aiming her gun at him. Impressed by her courage, de Graaf proposed to her instead of fighting. They married on July 28, 1693.
During her marriage to de Graaf, Anne had two more children, a daughter named Marie Catherine de Graff and a son who unfortunately died in childhood. Anne became known as Godless Anne and reportedly accompanied her husband on his acts of piracy. Despite the superstition that women onboard a ship brought bad luck, Anne was considered a good luck charm.
However, their luck ran out when the couple was captured by Spain and held hostage for three years. Although France made attempts to secure their release, Anne and de Graaf remained imprisoned until 1698. After her release, Anne was reunited with her husband. Unfortunately, very little is known about the couple’s later life. It is believed that they may have settled in Louisiana, but concrete evidence is lacking. De Graaf died in 1704 in Santo Domingo, and Anne passed away in 1710.
Legend has intertwined with reality when it comes to the stories surrounding Anne Dieu-le-Veut. One popular legend depicts her becoming a widow after a cannonball killed de Graaf during an attack on a Spanish ship. Anne assumed command of the ship and led her crew in a fierce battle against the Spaniards. However, they were outnumbered and captured.
Anne Dieu-le-Veut’s life is a fascinating glimpse into the world of 17th-century piracy. While some details may be lost to history or have been exaggerated over time, her existence as a female buccaneer remains an important part of women’s history.