Oct 06, 2026

Steampunk Pirates: Origin, Cosplay, Flying ships

The world of Steampunk Pirates: it is a universe of maritime piracy, with flying ships, steam galleons and frigates, or airships as means of transportation.

Today we discuss the famous Steampunk Pirates 🦜, through their origin, the artists' illustrations, cosplay, airships, as well as accessories.

Of course, the pirates on their sublime airships (or flying boats) as we can imagine in Steampunk, never existed, due to the chronological inconsistency with the real airships. Moreover, airships, in the 19th century, were unfortunately a failure, due to the multiple accidents they caused.

However, when we imagine steampunk pirates in airships, their costumes and clothes are mainly based on the classic style that we can see on a pirate (jacket, pirate hat, sword, gun, accessories, ...). It's a little paradox, knowing that the steampunk universe is inspired and set almost entirely in the 19th century, while the Steampunk Pirates seem to come straight out of the 17th and 18th century, in the Golden Age (1715-1725) of Piracy.

In reality, piracy, declined and came to a halt at the beginning of the Victorian industrial age.

Where Steampunk Pirates come from?

Golden Age of Piracy

First, let's get the facts straight about piracy, so that there is no confusion. It didn't start in the 16th century, just as it didn't really end in the 17th century. Piracy was still present in the 19th century, however it has largely lost its influence (and its aura) compared to the so-called "Golden Age of Piracy". This period, as we have said, took place mainly between 1715 and 1725, although it can be extended from 1650 to 1730. It was during this period that famous pirates such as Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, Captain Kidd, Bartholomew Roberts, Henry Every, François l'Olonnais, and Anne Bonny were active.

Famous Pirates

In many ways, it can be said that piracy is the "Wild West" of Western Europe. Indeed, it has been considerably romanticized (as the Wild West was with the cowboy), and the vision we have today is largely erroneous, closer to fiction than to reality.

On the other hand, pirates and their exactions were a real scourge 💀 especially in the Caribbean and the USA. During the early 19th century, the U.S. military produced a multitude of ships and vessels to fight piracy in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Mediterranean. One of these ships, the USS Grampus, caused the downfall of Jean Lafitte, a very famous pirate of that period. Before his sinking 🌊, he was considered the Puerto Rican "Robin Hood". Thus, there are multiple rumors and urban legends that have arisen about the location of his hidden treasure 💎. In particular, Lafitte raided cities and towns along the East Coast of the US.

Although the influence of piracy was reduced in the 19th century, some groups still practiced the slave trade, although it was prohibited. As a result, by the end of the century, the Navy spent time destroying the vessels involved in this dark activity.

In addition to this, the US Navy and the Royal Navy ⚓️ teamed up to eliminate the Chinese Pirates between 1840 and 1860 in Asia. We think about it rather little, but pirates were not limited to Europe and America!

Ching Shih, for example, was a Chinese pirate leader who terrorized the seas of China during the period of the Jiaqing emperor of the Qing dynasty in the early 19th century. She commanded more than 300 junks (traditional Chinese sailing ships) inhabited by 20,000 to 40,000 pirates: men, women and even children.

Asian Steampunk pirate

Let's move on to another subject that is hardly mentioned: river piracy. A real calamity in North America, this form of piracy weakened during the 19th century. And indeed, as we'll see below, there are no Steampunk River Pirates, probably because it's not very aesthetically pleasing in terms of ships ⛵️ and style comes first.

Thanks to all that history and richness of the collective imagination, we have plenty of inspiration from the 1800s after all! Whether it's through the Asian Pirates, the Privateers, and of course the Pirates of the Caribbean 🐙.

Why be inspired by the Golden Age of Piracy?

It has a lot to do with what we said earlier. This "universe" has been romanticized, just like the Wild West, Medieval Fantasy, post apocalyptic, cyber punk, space opera, ninja, viking, ...

But if piracy did not have the same success in terms of appeal compared to the Wild West, it is probably due to the fact that it was closer to us and less "exotic".

But when they oppose the government, outlaws and brigands are very often appreciated by the population. This is how some pirates became popular, such as Lafitte as mentioned above, or Bonnie and Clyde of the Barrow gang, and many others.

Jean Lafitte

Perhaps you were not aware of this, but publishers of novels in the American West in the Far West published European books. Quite rare and limited, communications from the West to the East gave a kind of exoticism to the West. People on the East Coast and in Europe therefore had a distorted, sometimes idealized vision of it.

So piracy did exist in the 19th century, which inspired Steampunk Pirates with an increased conception of the romance of piracy in their world building, as well as in their costumes and ships.

Of all the Pirate-related movies, almost none represent those of the 19th century. They are all centered on the Golden Age, which is not surprising since this period is so rich in adventures, famous characters, etc...

Since there is often fantasy in steampunk, what could be better than beautiful flying boats for pirates!

The first flying boat of a pirate in the history of literature is that of Captain Hook in Peter Pan, by the novelist J.M. Barrie, in 1902.

Later, the steampunk movement took over the works and universe of Jules Verne, such as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Captain Nemo, bringing the marine world closer to the steampunk style.

We can also note the film Treasure Planet by Disney which is full of flying boats, which we mentioned in our article on the TOP of the Best Steampunk Films.

Steampunk Flying Boats

Since there is often fantasy in steampunk, what better way than with beautiful flying boats for pirates!

The first pirate's flying boat in the history of literature was Captain Hook's in Peter Pan, by novelist J.M. Barrie, in 1902.

Flying Boats

Later, the steampunk movement took over the works and universe of Jules Verne, such as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Captain Nemo, bringing the marine world closer to the steampunk style.

We can also note the film Treasure Planet by Disney which is full of flying boats, which we mentioned in our article on the TOP of the Best Steampunk Films.

Flying Boat Flying Boat Flying Boat Pirate Airship Flying Boat

Flying Boat Flying Boat Flying Boat Pirate Flying Boat Flying Boat Flying Boat

Flying Boat Flying Boat Flying Boat Flying Boat Flying Boat

Steampunk Pirate Cosplay

Very prolific and very creative, the universe of cosplay has totally appropriated the Steampunk Pirates! Cosplayers compete with ingenuity and originality to create the best costumes ever. Moustache for the Steampunk Pirates Men, or for example Corsets for the Steampunk Pirates Women. In any case, Hats off 🎩 to everyone!

Wig, fur costume, brown bustier, velvet or satin dress, corset, cape, skirt, suspenders, hood, anything goes. Conventions, carnivals, theme parties, costume parties or for Halloween, for adults or children, the pirate costume (and dressing up in general) is not yet out of fashion!

Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk

Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk

Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk Cosplay Pirate Steampunk

Steampunk Gun

If there is an essential accessory to the Steampunk Pirate's panoply, it's the Steampunk Pistol. Recurring weapon in this universe, it is often based on the design of a musket. Here is a nice gallery of this weapon (this toy, to be precise).

As you can see in these illustrations, steampunk pirates are not content with a spyglass, or a wooden leg. Why not add a 100% steampunk eye patch, a retro-futuristic musket, a mechanical arm, etc...