清朝民变
(
1761年～
1809年)
蔡牵（1761年－1809年），福建同安人。家境贫寒，幼丧父母。乾隆五十九年（1794年）因饥荒而下海为盗寇，船帮驰骋于闽、浙、粤海面，劫船越货，封锁航道，收“出洋税”，与出没香港海盗张保仔互相支援呼应，二人皆是“安南国艇匪”，蔡娶妻美艳，也是女海盗，能自造炮弹，人称“
蔡牵妈”。嘉庆七年（1802年），率船队攻厦门海口的大、小担山登岸夺炮。嘉庆九年（1804年）
蔡牵驶至台湾鹿耳门，在浮鹰洋面破温州镇水师。浙江提督李长庚率兵镇压（蔡自言：“不怕千万兵，只怕李长庚”），在定海洋面击败
蔡牵。次年称镇海王，船队驶入台湾凤山（今高雄），包围台湾府城。嘉庆十二年冬十二月（1807年）李长庚与福建水师提督张见升在广东黑水外洋合击
蔡牵，
蔡牵在只剩大船三艘的情况下于船尾发炮，击杀李长庚。嘉庆十四年（1809年）李长庚部将王得禄、邱良功分接任福建、浙江提督，合兵围攻
蔡牵于浙江台州渔山外洋，血战一昼夜，
蔡牵弹丸射尽竟以银为弹，次日寡不敌众，开炮自炸座船，与妻小及部众250余人沉海而死（一说
蔡牵自搂金锚投海自尽），余众4000降服；闽南语俗谚所谓：“
蔡牵造炮炸自己（自作自受）”是也。
马祖岛上妈祖庙，为
蔡牵捐资盖建。
另传有
蔡牵金银宝藏，现仍藏于马祖列岛尚未寻获，但是幸运者可在每年中秋节自海上特殊角度，在月光照耀下，发现特别明亮珠宝光出现。
Cai Qian (1761 -1809), the Fujian with Tongan. Poor family, young parents mourning. Fifty-nine Qianlong (1794) as a result of famine and the sea Bandits, Chuanbang surf in Fujian, Zhejiang, Guangdong area, and ships more goods, blocked routes, collect "taxes went abroad", and the haunted pirate Cheung Po Tsai in Hong Kong mutual support echo, 2 everyone is "Annan Guo boat bandits", Cai glamorous wife, also a female pirate, can be self-made shells, called "Cai Qian Ma." Jiaqing seven years (1802), Haikou, Xiamen attack rate of the fleet of large and small Tam Hill won the shot landing. Jiaqing nine (1804) Cai Qian Luerhmen near Taiwan, the floating town of Wenzhou Eagle Navy break the ocean surface. Zhejiang Admiral Li Ch'ang-keng shuaibing repression (Cai itself as: "Do not afraid of soldiers, I am afraid Li Ch'ang-keng"), in the ocean surface will beat Cai Qian. Zhenhai Wang said the following year, the fleet sailed into the Taiwan Fengshan (now Kaohsiung), surrounded by Taiwan Tainan. Jiaqing year, winter in December (1807) and the Fujian Admiral Zhang Li Ch'ang-keng see Blackwater oceanic joint attack in Guangdong Sheng Cai Qian, Cai Qian ship in only three cases in the stern fired, kill Li Ch'ang-keng. Jiaqing 14 years (1809) Li Ch'ang-keng Department of Wang Delu, Chiu Liang-kung points take over Fujian, Zhejiang, Admiral, combined forces laid siege to Cai Qian in Taizhou, Zhejiang Yushan oceanic, bloody battle a day and night, Cai Qian bullet shot to do actually with silver shells The next day outnumbered, fired from the fried Zuo Chuan, with his wife and children and more than 250 Department of Public Shen died (some say Cai Qian Jin anchor Touhai himself from the hug), Yuzhong 4000 yield; the so-called Taiwanese proverb: "Cai Qian Fried made guns themselves (ourselves) "is also.