La Leyenda Del Pirata Mundaca: The Saga of a Spanish Pirate

By Michael Holm

Fermin Antonio Mundaca y Marecheaga was born in Spain in 1825 and became a wealthy man as a result of his involvement in shipping, but mostly from the slave trade. That is the reason for his reputation as a pirate. Mundaca actually existed.
This book is historical fiction with roots in true events and research of the vessels, the weaponry, the equipment, sailing skills, and the impact of world commerce, including slavery, during that era. The majority of the narrative is based on actual events.
The book follows the life of Mundaca from his boyhood and early enlistment in the Spanish Navy, his travels around the world, to his death in Mexico and the resultant legend on Isla Mujeres, an island off the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, in the State of Quintana Roo, where the legend continues.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469198187

Michael Holm

About the Author Michael Holm was born in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and has been involved with boating and sailing all his life. While living on a sailboat in Florida, he enjoyed researching Spanish galleons, pirates, and sunken treasure in the Gulf of Mexico. For thirty years, he was involved in a career that took him around the world and exposed him to divergent cultures and languages. His current hobbies are backpacking in the Olympic Mountains and kayaking on Puget Sound in Washington State, USA. He never passes a marina, or a boatyard, without glancing at the sailboats.

Book preview

Copyright © 2012 by Michael Holm.

Library of Congress Control Number:      PENDING

ISBN:                Hardcover             978-1-4691-9817-0

ISBN:                 Softcover             978-1-4691-9816-3

ISBN:                 Ebook                  978-1-4691-9818-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

Chapter 1  Historia Antigua de Espana

Chapter 2  Primer Amor

Chapter 3  El Marinero

Chapter 4  Pajes

Chapter 5  Barco

Chapter 6  La Muerte

Chapter 7  Las Islas Canarias

Chapter 8  Lejos Amor

Chapter 9  Trouvadore

Chapter 10  Havana

Chapter 11  New Orleans

Chapter 12  La Vuelta

Chapter 13  Tecora

Chapter 14  Esclavo

Chapter 15  El Capitan

Chapter 16  Isla Mujeres

Chapter 17  La Triguena

Chapter 18  Barco Negro

About the Author

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank delivery captain John Crismore and boat owner Ed Stone for allowing me to help crew a thirty-seven-foot ketch from Honduras to Florida. I apologize for heading toward the coast of Cuba, during the night watch, in a vain attempt to pick up more wind and the Gulf Stream.

I also thank Camille O’Reilly for showing us Mundaca’s grave site on Isla Mujeres, and her preliminary research at the local library. That is when I learned that Mundaca actually existed.

Next, I would like to thank Jennifer Blomgren and Anne Clark for their artwork and proofreading, especially Anne for the Spanish text.

Finally, I would like to thank my daughter, Jessica, for proofreading this book. Her master’s in English education came in handy. Thanks for helping out your old Dad.

Preface

Isla Mujeres is an island off the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, in the State of Quintana Roo, and is known for a mild climate and tranquility and as a place for lovers.

While exploring the island waiting for a weather window to continue sailing from Mexico to Florida, the delivery captain and I rented a golf cart and drove to Pirate Mundaca’s estate. We met an American nurse, fluent in Spanish, who was on vacation and was familiar with the island. She led us to Mundaca’s grave site in the local cemetery on the island.

A few weeks later, I received a letter from her with some research enclosed from the Isla Mujeres Library. It documented that Fermin Antonio Mundaca y Marecheaga actually existed. I began researching this book.

This book is historical fiction based on research of the vessels, the weaponry, the equipment, and the impact of world commerce, including slavery, during that era. The majority of the narrative is based on actual events.

Chapter 1

Historia Antigua de Espana

Fermin Antonio Mundaca y Marecheaga was born October 11, 1825, in the village of Bermeo, Santa Maria, Spain, which is now Vizcaya. His father was Domingo de Mundaca, and his mother, Maria de Marecheaga. His paternal grandparents were Antonio de Mundaca and Maria de Echavarria, and his maternal grandparents were Antonio