Gottfried Michaelsen
Gödeke Michels (Low Saxon; died 1402), also known as Gottfried Michaelsen in High German, was a German pirate and one of the leaders of the Likedeeler, a combination of former Vitalienbrüder.
Gottfried Michaelsen | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1360 |
| Died | 1400 or 20 October 1401 (age 40-41) |
| Cause of death | execution by beheading with sword |
| Other names | Gottfried Michaelsen |
| Occupation(s) | privateer, pirate, privateer ship captain, privateer fleet commander |
| Spouse | 1 |
| Relatives | 1 brother |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Sweden (Kingdom)
Magister Wigbold |
| Service/ | independent naval privateers (allies of Kingdom of Denmark) |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands held | Victual Brothers privateer fleet |
| Battles/wars | Denmark-Sweden War Hanseatic League Wars |
Early life
Career
Together with Klaus Störtebeker, Hennig Wichmann and Magister Wigbold, as well as other leaders of the Likedeeler, he raided shipping in the North and Baltic Sea near the end of the 14th century.
They possessed fast ships, which easily outmaneuvered the ships of the Hanse. Like many of the Likedeeler, Michels was primarily concerned with capturing valuable prizes. However, he disdained cowardice and those surviving crewmen who had not resisted were usually thrown overboard.
Death
Gottfried Michaelsen was eventually captured and executed in the year 1402, shortly after Klaus Störtebeker and crewmen were beheaded on the Grasbrook in Hamburg.
References
- Jörgen Bracker, "Klaus Störtebeker – nur einer von ihnen. Die Geschichte der Vitalienbrüder", in: Störtebeker. 600 Jahre nach seinem Tod, Wilfried Ehbrecht (ed.), Lübeck: Porta-Alba-Verlag, 2001, (=Hansische Studien; vol. 15), ISBN 3-933701-14-7.
External links
- Gottes Freund – Aller Welt Feind (in German)
