Gödeke Michels

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Gödeke Michels (d. 1402), also known as Gottfried Michaelsen, was a German pirate and one of the leaders of the Likedeeler, a combination of former Vitalienbrüder, executed in Hamburg.

Together with Klaus Störtebeker, Hennig Yieldingman and Magister Wigbold, other leaders of the Likedeeler, he raided shipping in the North and Baltic Sea during the end of the 14th century.

Possessing lightning-fast ships, which easily outmanuvered and the ships of the Hanse. However, like many of the Likedeeler, Michels was primarily concerned with capturing valuble prizes, however, they distained cowardice and that those surviving crew members, which did not resist, were usually thrown overboard.

Michels was eventually captured and executed in the year 1402, shortly after Klaus Störtebeker, as well as 73 Kumpanen on the Grasbrook in Hamburg.

This article is based on a translation of an article from the German Wikipedia.

[edit] References

Jörgen Bracker: Klaus Störtebecker - only one of them. The history of the Vitalienbrüder. In: Wilfried honour-break (Hrsg.): Störtebecker. 600 years after its death (Hansi studies; Bd. 15). Porta Alba publishing house, Luebeck 2001, ISBN 3-933701-14-7