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It seems that over the last few decades we have all fallen in love with the pirate. From Errol Flynn to The Dread Pirate Roberts to Captain Jack Sparrow, they have all found their way into our collective imagination, endearing themselves to us irrevocably. But what makes them so fascinating? Is it the thrill of the adventures that invariably follow them around? Perhaps that sense of mystery that surrounds them. Or maybe it’s just that roguish, devil-may-care way in which they go about their lives.
Whatever the reason is for this fascination with pirates, we are really enamored by an idea that never truly was. Even only a cursory knowledge of the men behind the legends will tell you that. The reality of the era was that it was a rough trade entered into by individuals who had to be just as rough to survive it.
Take Blackbeard, for instance. There are numerous legends of his cruelty. There is one story about him that has him shooting his own first mate solely because the crew would forget who he was if he didn’t shoot one or two of them every now and then. Then there are the more famous accounts of him burying his treasure. He would supposedly row to shore in a small boat with only his treasure and a single crewman on board. He would then put his treasure in the ground, kill the sailor and toss his body down over it, then bury them both. This was meant to act as a deterrent to any who were faint of heart and looking for his gold. To be fair, there is speculation that some or even most of the tales about him are exaggerated, having been promoted by Blackbeard himself in order to strike fear into the hearts of crewmen on any ship that crossed his path. But nonetheless, this is his legacy.
Although he was, perhaps, the most famous of the old pirates, cruelty was by no means exclusive to Blackbeard. The very flags that Pirates flew were a testament to their barbaric nature.
Pirate flags are commonly known as the Jolly Roger. But where did this term come from exactly? There are a few possibilities. The most likely origin for the phrase is simply the English pronunciation for the French term for “red flag,” which is, “Jolie Rouge.” The other possibilities include it stemming from the phrase “Old Roger,” which the English used to refer to the Devil, or simply an offshoot of the word “rogue.”
Yes, I did say, red flag. Although we are used to seeing the skull and crossbones on a black background, pirate flags were originally red. This color was meant to represent blood and merciless destruction. Black flags on a ship were originally hoisted to let other vessels know that it was a plague ship. Already meant to represent death, it was an easy transition from that into a popular color for pirate flags. It was known as “the banner of King Death.”
The main purpose of flying a flag on nautical vessels of the time was simply to help determine which ships were friendly and which were hostile. This tradition took on a further purpose for the pirate. The flags hoisted on pirate ships became a way of intimidating other vessels. The easiest conquest was achieved by making another crew surrender, after all. Even going so far as to identify the specific pirate on the horizon and ensuring that his fearsome reputation preceded him. Just as Blackbeard may have planned.
Each pirate ship flew its own version of the flag. There were many variations, all with one, common theme. Skeletons, skulls, devils, swords, and the many representations of death. This is what it means to be a pirate.
But modern fiction depicts them quite differently. It has been kind, creating the lovable pirate with all his quirks and chivalry. We see him in the same light that we have come to see similar men of adventure in. It is the story of the cowboy, the knight, and the highwayman. There’s nothing wrong with putting the pirate on this pedestal, as long as we know that, that’s what it is. A pretty story. Our own dreams and desires wrapped up in a man of the sea. A pirate. A life that never was that we truly want to be our own.
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