Whenever traveling ships and merchant sea vessels discover a
pirate flag, sailors would immediately panic and know that their lives are in grave peril. Many boats instantly surrendered and gave their belongings to the pirates as soon as they see the banner. The first pirates featured a red flag to alert others not to try and fight back. The red flag was known as the Blood Flag which was generally shown with the country flag of the pirates. The black flag was also commonly used if the other ships did not easily give in to their demands.
Several symbols and characters were used by pirates to quickly trigger fear in the hearts of those who oppose them. Some of the regularly used images were hourglasses, swords, skulls and bleeding hearts. The Jolly Roger is the most famous pirate flag symbol, which included a skull with crossbones. The flag was most likely derived from the Jolie Rouge from France or the rouge laws from the British. The symbol generally represents transactions with thieves and outlaws. “Roger” might have stemmed from these or it could also represent a stud bull.
Death was signified by pirates by displaying the skull and crossbones. Other images were also associated with death like a raised glass and dancing skeletons.
Among the most dreaded flags in the past was the
Blackbeard flag. It showed a horned skeleton with a spear beside a bleeding heart. Bartholomew Roberts featured another intricate pirate flag which presents a pirate with an hourglass beside a skeleton holding a spear.
Labels: custom flag, custom flag maker, custom flag. personalized flag, pirate flags
by:
The Flagman
