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{{Era|Individuals}}
{{Era|Individuals}}{{WP-REAL|Zheng Yi Sao}}
{{WP-REAL}}
{{Character Infobox
{{Character Infobox
|name = Ching Shih
|name=Ching Shih
|native =
|image=ACIChingShih.jpg
|image = ACIChingShih.jpg
|birth=c. 1775<br>{{Wiki|Xinhui, Jiangmen|Xinhui}}, {{Wiki|Guangdong}}, [[Qing dynasty|Great Qing]]<ref name="Wiki">{{WP|Ching Shih}}</ref>
|birth = 1775<br>{{Wiki|Guangzhou}}, [[China|Qing Empire]]
|death=1844 {{c|aged 68–69}}<br>{{Wiki|Nanhai, Foshan|Nanhai}}, Guangdong, Great Qing<ref name="Wiki"/>
|death = 1844<br>[[Macau|Portuguese Macau]]
|species=[[Human]]
|active =
|database=[[Database: The Widow Ching, Lady Pirate|The Widow Ching, Lady Pirate]]
|species = [[Human]]
|affiliates=Red Fleet
|database =  
|affiliates = Red Fleet
}}
}}
'''Ching Shih''' (Chinese: 鄭氏; 1775 – 1844), also known as '''Cheng I Sao''' (Chinese: 鄭一嫂), was a [[China|Chinese]] [[Piracy|pirate]] during the early 19th century. She is considered to be the most successful pirate of all time.
'''Cheng I Sao''' (鄭一嫂; c. 1775 – 1844), also known as '''Ching Shih''' (鄭氏), was a [[China|Chinese]] [[Piracy|pirate]] active in the early 19th century. She is regarded as the most successful female pirate in history, and among the most successful pirates overall, controlling a large fleet that dominated the {{Wiki|South China Sea}} and rivaled the navies of some of the world's major powers.<ref name="Wiki"/>


==Biography==
==Biography==
Ching Shih was a former [[Courtesans|prostitute]] who married the infamous pirate {{Wiki|Cheng I}}. After the death of her husband in 1807, Ching took command of all his operations, becoming the most important and powerful pirate in China.<ref name="Initiates">''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' – [[Database: The Widow Ching, Lady Pirate]]</ref>
Ching Shih was a former [[Courtesan|prostitute]] who married the infamous pirate {{Wiki|Cheng I}}. After her husband's death in 1807, Ching took command of all his operations, becoming the most important and powerful pirate in China.<ref name="Initiates">''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' – [[Database: The Widow Ching, Lady Pirate]]</ref>


Ching eventually married her lieutenant, {{Wiki|Cheung Po Tsai|Chang Pao}}, and turned her piratical enterprises into a ruthlessly effective organization. At the height of her career, Ching personally commanded a fleet of over 300 junks with a force of 20,000 to 40,000 individual pirates called the Red Flag Fleet. Her power even allowed her to establish hegemony in many Chinese cities, imposing levies or taxes against the citizens as the forces of Qing China and [[Great Britain]] struggled against her attacks.<ref name="Initiates" />
Ching eventually married her lieutenant {{Wiki|Cheung Po Tsai}} and turned her piratical enterprises into a ruthlessly effective organization. At the height of her career, Ching commanded a fleet of over 300 [[junk]]s with a force of 20,000 to 40,000 individual pirates called the Red Flag Fleet. Her power even allowed her to establish hegemony in many Chinese cities, imposing levies or taxes against the citizens as the forces of [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] China and [[United Kingdom|Great Britain]] struggled against her attacks.<ref name="Initiates"/>


Following several unsuccessful attempts by {{Wiki|Guangdong|Cantonese}} officials to end her rule, Ching's fleet finally suffered a series of defeats against the [[Portuguese Navy]]. Along with rifts inside the Red Flag Fleet, Ching's utter dominance over piracy in East [[Asia]] was at an end. The Chinese government offered amnesty to all pirates who wished to surrender, which she accepted. She retired from her pirate career the same year, 1810, keeping her loot.<ref name="Initiates" />
Following several unsuccessful attempts by {{Wiki|Guangdong|Cantonese}} officials to end her rule, Ching's fleet finally suffered a series of defeats against the [[Portuguese Navy]]. Coupled with the Red Flag Fleet's internal rifts, Ching's utter dominance over East [[Asia]]n piracy was at an end. In 1810, the Chinese government offered amnesty to all pirates who wished to surrender, which she accepted, and she retired with all of her loot.<ref name="Initiates"/>


In the early 18th century, the pirate [[Alonzo Batilla]] would recover several items related to {{wiki|Chinese New Year}}, including her pirate fleet flag.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Pirates]]'' – [[Alonzo Batilla's treasures]]</ref>
==Behind the scenes==
In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Pirates]]'', the Red Flag of Ching Shih's pirate fleet is featured as one of several collectible items that the protagonist [[Alonzo Batilla]] can find, despite the game being set in the early 18th century, decades before Ching Shih was even born.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Pirates]]'' – [[Alonzo Batilla's treasures]]</ref>
 
==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
ACP Red Flag.png|The flag of Ching Shih's Red Fleet
</gallery>


==Appearances==
==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' {{mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' {{1stm}} {{Mdat}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Pirates]]'' {{mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Pirates]]'' {{Mo}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
[[zh:郑一嫂]]
<!--[zh:郑一嫂]-->
[[Category:1775 births]]
[[Category:1775 births]]
[[Category:1844 deaths]]
[[Category:1844 deaths]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Chinese]]
[[Category:Qing people]]
[[Category:Han Chinese]]
[[Category:Han Chinese]]
[[Category:Courtesans]]
[[Category:Courtesans]]
[[Category:Pirates]]
[[Category:Pirates]]
[[Category:Pirate captains]]
[[Category:Zheng (鄭) lineage]]

Latest revision as of 16:46, 13 May 2026

Cheng I Sao (鄭一嫂; c. 1775 – 1844), also known as Ching Shih (鄭氏), was a Chinese pirate active in the early 19th century. She is regarded as the most successful female pirate in history, and among the most successful pirates overall, controlling a large fleet that dominated the South China Sea and rivaled the navies of some of the world's major powers.[1]

Biography[edit | edit source]

Ching Shih was a former prostitute who married the infamous pirate Cheng I. After her husband's death in 1807, Ching took command of all his operations, becoming the most important and powerful pirate in China.[2]

Ching eventually married her lieutenant Cheung Po Tsai and turned her piratical enterprises into a ruthlessly effective organization. At the height of her career, Ching commanded a fleet of over 300 junks with a force of 20,000 to 40,000 individual pirates called the Red Flag Fleet. Her power even allowed her to establish hegemony in many Chinese cities, imposing levies or taxes against the citizens as the forces of Qing China and Great Britain struggled against her attacks.[2]

Following several unsuccessful attempts by Cantonese officials to end her rule, Ching's fleet finally suffered a series of defeats against the Portuguese Navy. Coupled with the Red Flag Fleet's internal rifts, Ching's utter dominance over East Asian piracy was at an end. In 1810, the Chinese government offered amnesty to all pirates who wished to surrender, which she accepted, and she retired with all of her loot.[2]

Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]

In Assassin's Creed: Pirates, the Red Flag of Ching Shih's pirate fleet is featured as one of several collectible items that the protagonist Alonzo Batilla can find, despite the game being set in the early 18th century, decades before Ching Shih was even born.[3]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Appearances[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]