Modern children, like their peers many years ago, dream of raising a pirate flag over their schooner and becoming formidable conquerors of the deep sea. Books, films and computer games on this subject do not lose their popularity and become the basis for children's games.
Why is it the “Jolly Roger, ” as the pirate flag is commonly called, is considered the main symbol of the sea robbers, why did it get its name, when and where did it appear, and what do the symbols on it mean? We will try to figure this out.
Before answering these questions, let's recall who were considered a pirate, what these people were.
Who are they?
In reality, the sea robbers were not so funny as they are portrayed in the animated film "Abrafax under the pirate flag." The word "pirate" is quite ancient, and scientists believe that it arose in the 5th century BC. Translated from Latin, it means "a sea robber trying to be happy." Over time, other names appeared: bukanier, privateer, filibuster, privatir, bukanir, corsair.
Robbery "in law"
Privateers, filibusters, corsairs and privateers practiced pirate robbery of ships of other powers during the war, receiving special privateer certificates for this - official permissions from one or another royal house. For such a license for robbery, they all deducted a certain percentage of the state, thus replenishing the treasury. When attacking enemy ships, they had to raise the flag of the country that gave them permission. But the raised black pirate flag meant the presentation of an ultimatum demand to surrender. In the event that the enemy did not intend to do this, privateers raised a red flag, which warned that there would be no mercy.
After the wars ended, many hired robbers did not want to leave such a lucrative business. They continued to rob merchant ships of both former enemies and their former masters.
How it all began
For the first time, "jolly Roger" as a pirate flag, according to documentary evidence, began to use Emmanuel Vine in the late XVII - early XVIII centuries. The image on his flag that we know today was supplemented by an hourglass, meaning the following: "Your time is running out." In the future, many leaders of the sea robbers developed their own unique version of the "Jolly Roger" drawing. Raising such a flag warned the captains about whom they had to deal with.
The oldest surviving pirate flag, whose photo you see below, is in the Portsmouth National Museum of the Navy of England. He was captured in battle on the African coast in 1780. And today on it you can see small bullet holes with burnt edges.
What colour is he?
The pirate flag of black color familiar to us from cinema and cartoons. However, this was not always the case. Initially, the pirates used a red cloth, which meant that everything would be destroyed, no mercy should be expected. In addition, sea robbers could use both state flags to intimidate or reduce the vigilance of their opponents, as well as banners of other colors, indicating themselves to the allies.
Why is it called that?
Many people think about why the pirate flag is called the "Jolly Roger." Today there are several theories trying to explain this.
The first of them says that during the plague and other infectious diseases, ships hoisted a black flag with two white stripes, warning other vessels of the danger. Subsequently, the stripes became crossed. They were joined by a human skull, which was used by sea robbers.
Another version is based on a documented fact that in France, the privateer flag was officially called Joyeux Rouge - “merry red”. British pirates rethought and heard this: Jolly Roger (Jolly Roger). We also recall the fact that at the end of the XVII century in the UK laws were adopted against vagrancy - rouge laws, and the word "roger" can be understood as "fraudster", "beggar", "tramp". In addition, in the northern provinces of England and Ireland, the “old Roger” was sometimes called the leader of the dark forces.
There is another hypothesis: the pirate flag got its name thanks to King Roger II of Sicily (1095-1154). This ruler became famous for many victories both at sea and on land under the red banner on which crossed bones were depicted.
Popular characters
For us, the obligatory pattern decorating the pirate flag (the picture is presented below) is a human skull and two crossbones on a black background.
Indeed, this symbol of death was most widely used both among the sea robbers and on tombstones in England. No less common signs that reminded everyone that a grave was waiting for were skeletons, hourglass, swords and spears, crossed swords and sabers, raised glasses and wings. These were popular characters that anyone could decrypt. So, an hourglass and wings meant elusive time, and a full glass - a toast to death. Similar images were found both individually and in various combinations.
Personal Rogers
As already mentioned, the skull with crossbones is one of the oldest and most famous versions of the "Jolly Roger." It is worth noting that it was in this form that it was used by Edward England, a marine robber from Ireland, who hunted robberies in the Indian Ocean in the first quarter of the 18th century. Many captains tried to create their own easily recognizable pattern on the flag.
So, the rather famous Welsh captain Bartholomew Roberts, who traded in the Caribbean in the 18th century, decorated the pirate flag (the picture is slightly lower) with itself, standing on two skulls above the abbreviations AMN (A Martiniquar's Head - “Martinique skull”) and ABH (A Barbadian's Head - “Barbados skull”).
For some reason, this Welshman did not like the inhabitants of these islands very much, and, correctly understanding this hint, the ships from those parts preferred to surrender without a fight.
Christopher Mudin, who pirated in the Carolina area at the beginning of the 17th century, decorated his pirate flag, the photo of which you see below, with a skull with crossbones, an hourglass with wings and a hand with a sword.
The flag of Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, has a skeleton with an hourglass and a spear aimed at a bleeding heart.
