Known to the Anna Maria Island Privateers as “The Corsair” and the “The Terror of the Gulf” Jean Lafitte hated being called “pirate”. As he saw it, he was a “privateer” serving an economic purpose in a time that a country needed to economize. All throughout his short career in the Gulf of Mexico Lafitte never attacked an American ship. He respected our Constitution and our ideals.
In fact, in September 1814, during the War of 1812, the British, attempting to gain a foothold in the lower Mississippi valley from the sea, The British asked Laffite for help. Laffite was however hoping to gain pardon for his illegal activities in the Gulf. He opted instead to fight on the side of the United States. He supplied men, weapons, and his vast knowledge of the region to the US. Because of this, during the infamous “Battle of New Orleans” on January 8, 1815, his crew and followers helped Andrew Jackson to secure an overwhelming victory.
Legend has it that Lafitte, condemned by presidents, exonerated, and condemned again once stashed an enormous treasure somewhere along the beautiful shores of our Anna Maria Island. It is said that Lafitte’s escape from the British fleet during a particularly intense battle was so crafty and cunning that to this day his route has not been recreated and his treasure remains lost for the ages.
Your beloved Anna Maria Island Privateers have been pillaging and plundering the shores of Anna Maria in search of the lost treasure to share with Kids & Community for over 40 years. But, every year when the moon is at the fullest and shining the brightest along our salty shore, a ghost ship arises out of Davy Jones’ Locker. This ship is steered by ol’ Lafitte himself, and it invades our beloved Anna Maria in an eternal quest to recover the legendary treasure of the “Prince of Pirates”.
Hence the Anna Maria Island Privateers are rallying the good folks of Anna Maria Island and surrounding communities; to come together and join the krewe on this 1st weekend of November for the Anna Maria Island Pirate Invasion 2013.
