First female pirate queen

Queen Teuta, a powerful pirate queen during the early Roman Republic, was leader of the Ardiaei tribe in Illyria (western Balkan Peninsula) from 231–227 BCE. Early in her regency, she granted letters of marque – effectively a licence – to privateers to raid and pillage for the state. Teuta sailed on many of her own ships and took an active part in numerous raids on rival city-states throughout the Mediterranean. Soon she became known as the “Terror of the Adriatic” as she stretched her conquests toward Rome. The Romans did not consider her a threat until Teuta managed to conquer Sicily and the Greek west coast, which opened the way for her to sail freely towards Rome. At this point, Rome could no longer ignore her piratical raids. Roman envoys went to her court to negotiate with her, to no avail. Rome officially declared war against Illyria and sent a fleet of 200 ships to attack her armies. Illyria had no support. Her governor, Demetrius, surrendered the Illyrian lands of Corcyra and Pharus to the Romans and eventually allied with them. Once-loyal city-states turned against Teuta as well. In an attempt to save herself, she promised to return Rome’s hostages. Unfortunately, the Roman fleet continued to pursue her until 227 BCE when they trapped Teuta and forced her to surrender. After this she fades from the historical records and her fate was unknown.