Klaus Störtebeker

Common card · No. 272440

Klaus Störtebeker (also known as Klaas Störtebecker, Johann Störtebecker or Nikolaus Storzenbecher) (circa 1360 – supposed 20 October 1401) was a German pirate. He was reputed to be the leader of the Victual Brothers (German: Vitalienbrüder), his group was hired to assist in a war between Sweden and Denmark and continued to capture merchant vessels mainly in the Baltic Sea and North Sea. Sharing their spoils equally, they named themselves "Likedeelers" (lit. 'equal sharers'). Within German folklore, Störtebecker is a legendary figure similar to Robin Hood, stealing from the rich to help the poor, and amassing and hiding great treasure. His reputed feats border the supernatural, such as allegedly walking past his crew after being beheaded.

Read on Wikipedia · Image Élisabeth Daynès, CC BY-SA 3.0