200. The East India Company’s Global Manhunt

In this episode of "Empire," William Dalrymple and Afua Hirsch continue their discussion on the pirate Henry Avery, focusing on his attack on the Mughal ship Ganj-i-Sawai. They detail the ship's immense wealth and the presence of Aurangzeb's family members on board, highlighting the devastating consequences of the pirate attack, including mass rape and murder. The hosts discuss how the British romanticized Avery's story, obscuring the brutality of his actions and the diplomatic fallout between the British and the Mughals. They trace Avery's escape and the subsequent manhunt, revealing how he evaded capture while his crew faced justice, and explore the various legends surrounding his ultimate fate, questioning the reliability of historical accounts.