"Far too little-known are the Spanish corsarios of the Caribbean the Spanish privateers and pirates who attacked the English, French, and Dutch in the service of Spain and of their own material interests! yet the exploits of some deserve a book, an honest film documentary, or even a Hollywood film. I've already described the exploits of Italian corsario-in-Spanish-service Mateo Guarํn, but those of the Corsican brothers Juan and Blas Miguel [It. Giovanni and Biagio Michele] are equally epic, and the final fatal exploit of Blas Miguel was in the service of a blood vendetta.
The tale begins with Juan Miguel. He arrived in Havana in late 1681 or early 1682 with a patente de corso a privateering commission dated 15 October 1681, from Juan de Arechaga, the governor of Yucatan, Mexico, to cruise along the coasts of Yucatan, Cozumel, and Tabasco for smugglers and pirates. Cuban waters were clearly beyond his commission's authority, but Juan Miguel had a purpose in mind: to cruise new waters for greater plunder.
It's entirely possible that Miguel had turned to el Corso in reprisal or revenge for attacks by pirates and consequent lost cargoes, just as some English merchant captains had turned to buccaneering after attacks by Spanish corsarios: he may be the Juan Miguel who, along with Captain Francisco de Ojeda, was plundered by English buccaneers in 1679 while sailing from Veracruz to Portobello. However, Juan Miguel was a common name, therefore this is speculation…"
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