The Birth of Piracy
The word pirate itself appeared in IV-III centuries BC uh, and before that the word “laystes” was used, which was also associated with robberies and murders. Piracy itself appeared simultaneously with navigation, and the line between sailors and pirates was very thin - most sailors traded where they did not feel strong enough to rob and capture.
As navigation developed, piracy began to be considered one of the most serious crimes, and many states even united to fight sea robbers. However, despite the constant struggle against them, pirates still exist, since the thirst for easy money cannot be completely eradicated.
Types of pirates
There are quite a few names for sea and river robbers. Most often, they differ in the places and times in which they robbed ships and attacked coastal settlements.
The Teucrs are Middle Eastern pirates who operated in the 15th-11th centuries BC, one of the peoples of the sea.
Dolopians - Ancient Greek pirates, also known as Skyrians, plundered in the second half of the 6th century BC.
Ushkuiniki - Novgorod river pirates who traded throughout the Volga up to Astrakhan, mainly in the 14th century.
Barbary pirates operated primarily in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, but also appeared in other seas.
The Likedelers were pirates of the Northern European seas during the Hanseatic League.
Buccaneer (from English - buccaneer) is the English name for a filibuster (in the second half of the 17th century)
Filibusters
A filibuster is a 17th-century sea robber who had a special letter of authorization (commission or letter of marque), which allowed him to attack certain ships and colonies, and also indicated where he had the right to sell his booty. As a rule, such a certificate was given in war time- the governors of the English and French islands of the West Indies did not receive sufficient military assistance from the mother countries, so they gave permits to any ship captain for money.
It can be noted that filibusters were social outcasts from different countries and different social status, while they strictly adhered to their laws and customs. For example, even before going to sea, filibusters discussed who would get how much booty. It is noteworthy that part of the spoils was usually given to governors, kings and other officials.
Corsairs
The word corsair itself appeared in the 14th century from the Italian “corsa” and the French “la corsa”. Corsairs were not much different from filibusters, since they also attacked enemy ships under a license from some state. And in peacetime, they were given a letter of reprisal, which also gave them the right to plunder enemy ships for “compensation for damage from the subjects of another power.”
Typically, a piracy license was purchased by a private shipowner, who equipped the ship at his own expense. In the countries of the Germanic language group, a synonym for a corsair is a privateer, and in English-speaking countries it is a privateer (from the Latin word privatus - private).
Methods of fighting
Almost at all times, the main method of combat was boarding. It happened like this - the attacking ship came close to the “victim”, after which the ships were grappled with special boarding hooks, cats and drecks so that the ships would not separate during the battle. Next, the pirates landed on the deck of the enemy ship using the bridge and captured the ship using bladed weapons and firearms.
This method of attack made it possible to minimize damage to both ships and the valuable cargo that was in the victim’s hold. The defeated ship could either be taken to the port or scuttled after robbery if it was seriously damaged.
The attacks themselves were not thoughtless; a strong rope net was stretched over the deck of the ship to protect against falling debris; arrows were placed on the tops of the ship to fire at the enemy from above, from a more convenient position. The pirates also thought through the protection of their ship, for example, to protect the quarterdeck and poop, where the controls of the ship were located, they erected barricades of logs and barrels filled with scrap iron between the sides.
With the advent of cargo insurance, many captains of ships with expensive cargo preferred to simply give the spoils to the pirates and collect the insurance. In such cases, unnecessary casualties were avoided.
Jolly Roger
Of course, one of the main symbols of pirates is a flag with a human skull and crossbones - the Jolly Roger. There was no single pirate phage - there were quite a lot of variants of this flag. Some depicted skulls and crossbones, others a skull and an hourglass (a hint that time was running out), still others a hand with a saber, etc.
Everyone knows about pirates of the Middle Ages - their romantic images in books and films are familiar to everyone. However, even today the problem of seizing merchant ships and crew for the purpose of obtaining a ransom or selling the cargo remains extremely relevant. are cruel and ruthless, and there is nothing romantic in their activities. What they look like and what they do today is further in the review.
Somali pirates are perhaps one of the most famous and dangerous in the world. modern world. Piracy in Somali waters began to flourish starting in 2005, after civil war. Before this, most of today's pirates were ordinary fishermen. Banditry was fueled by overpopulation, poverty and food shortages. Given the availability of ammunition in Yemen, men are arming themselves to the teeth at a relatively low cost. Most pirates are young people, under the age of 30, former fishermen or even police officers. Given the widespread alcoholism and drug addiction among them, Somali pirates often lose their sanity and show particular cruelty. They rob not only fishing boats and private yachts, but even other pirate ships.
Pirates of the Caribbean have been plundering for centuries. But this is not the only and not the main source of income for modern pirates - drug trafficking brings them even greater profits. And corruption among government officials contributes to the flourishing of illegal businesses. Caribbean pirates are no less dangerous than Somali ones - they do not hesitate to rob shops on land and kill witnesses.
The Strait of Malacca between Sumatra and Malaysia is also considered unsafe for cargo ships. Pirate raids in this area account for 30-40% of all attacks annually. They act very quickly, attack the ship, transfer cargo to their ships, and take money and personal property of the crew members.
Piracy peaked in 2000 South-East Asia: 242 cases from total number 460 attacks per year. However, in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, government efforts are being made to combat piracy as cargo ships remain a major mode of import and export in Southeast Asia.
Indonesia, which has about 17,500 islands, remains one of the most convenient regions for piracy. Indonesian pirates are armed with knives, pistols and grenades, they hide among the islands and always attack unexpectedly. Previously uninhabited islands have now become a haven for pirates, where they store their stolen goods. And although the number of attacks there has dropped significantly since 2011, Indonesian waters remain one of the most dangerous regions for cargo ships.
We know a lot about medieval pirates: they were cruel, frantic and brave to the point of madness. But if you still think that pirates are just a bunch of uncivilized and dangerous thieves, then you are probably wrong. The fact is that they were very disciplined, followed strict rules and the charter. Moreover, they can be called progressive: many things that remained taboo for the whole world until the last century were openly recognized by pirates, for example, democracy or same-sex marriage. Below you will find some myths and facts about pirates that will probably be of interest to you.
1. The earrings worn by pirates served a strange purpose.
Oddly enough, pirates believed that earrings helped protect their hearing. They had good reason to worry about this, since they often found themselves near firing cannons. The dangling parts of the earrings were used to cover the ears during shots. As you can see, the pirates were quite logical in their reasoning.
2. Pirates wore eye patches even if their vision was not impaired.
Do you think that every pirate who wore an eye patch was missing one eye? In fact, most pirates used eye patches not to hide the absence of one eye, but to improve night vision, which was very important for their “job.” During the raid, the pirates had to run on and under the deck. The eye patch allowed him to see clearly both in the bright light on deck and in the darkness below.
3. Another secret of pirate earrings
Pirates often wore large round earrings made of heavy precious metals. But it was hardly a tribute to fashion. They were needed for other purposes. If the pirate died of an accident, whoever found him would be able to use these earrings to cover burial costs. Some pirates even engraved the name of their home port on their earrings in the hopes that some kind soul would send the body home (covering the costs after selling the jewelry, of course).
Many superstitions were associated with earrings. For example, pirates believed that wearing them could prevent seasickness, improve their eyesight, and help them when they were drowning.
4. Pirates performed same-sex marriages
Many centuries before society accepted the very existence of homosexuality, pirates entered into same-sex marriages. The couple shared their property and spoils, and the men were each other's legal heirs.
This practice most likely resulted from the fact that there were mostly only men on deck. Some historians claim that they gradually developed romantic relationship, while others speculate that they were simply sharing women with each other.
5. The real horror was the red flag, not the black one.
If you were on a ship in the Middle Ages and saw a black flag, you wouldn't have to worry. But if it were red, it would indicate great danger. A red flag on a pirate ship was nothing more than a death warning: it meant that all the people on the ship that the pirates were about to capture would be killed immediately.
Although the origin of the term "Jolly Roger" is unclear, it is believed to be associated with these red flags on pirate ships. Most likely, this was the name given to the pirate flags on ships that were ready to attack.
6. Pirates were very disciplined
Pirates had strict rules regarding any action, be it the distribution of responsibilities or the division of loot. In addition, the pirates held democratic elections and followed the rules of engagement on board, and anyone who violated them was severely punished. They seemed to be more civilized than many simple people that time.
The pirates also had a kind of “health insurance.” Crew members were compensated according to the severity of their injury. A pirate who lost his dominant hand, for example, was paid more. Moreover, pirates who became disabled during raids were never disposed of. They were called veterans and were left on the ship.
7. Pirates created a secret drink to cure diseases
British sailors created grog by mixing water with rum. However, later a pirated version of this drink appeared, which served as a remedy for treating diseases. The pirates added sugar and lemon juice, which actually helped prevent scurvy.
8. Pirates Had Health Insurance
Pirates were in some ways much more modern than some people living today. Hundreds of years ago, when no one had ever heard of health insurance, pirates already had it. It is interesting to note that in those days when medicine was not very developed, pirates paid benefits to all wounded members of their crew.
For example, 600 Spanish dollars (the currency prevailing at the time) was paid for the loss of a limb. The loss of an eye was compensated with 200 Spanish dollars, and total blindness - 2000 (today that's almost $153,000). Crew members could receive compensation in the form of money or slaves.
9. The burning beard of the fiercest pirate
Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, was considered one of the most feared pirates of all time. Before attacking the ship, he wove hemp into his beard and set it on fire. The smoke coming straight from his beard gave him a demonic appearance, which undoubtedly frightened his enemies. Although this act seems crazy to us, for the pirates it was a sign of courage.
10. Most of the pirates' loot consisted of booze and weapons.
If you are still hoping to find buried treasure, you may be disappointed. Despite popular belief, pirates rarely took cash or gold, much less hid it. They loved booze and always needed weapons, so those things were high on the list of priorities. For the same reason they took away food and clothing.
11. Female pirates
Women could also be pirates. A great example of this would be Anne Bonny and Mary Read, who went on a pirate ship together in 1720. In addition, some women preferred to wear men's clothes and hide their identity.
12. Julius Caesar was once captured by pirates
The famous Julius Caesar was once a prisoner of a group of pirates who had no idea of his strength and worth. When they demanded a ransom of 20 talents (about 600 thousand dollars) for his release, the Roman emperor laughed and said that it was worth at least 50. All the time Caesar was on the ship, he read poetry to the pirates.
Known as the most powerful politician in history, Caesar was noted for his fair play in war. But, despite the "friendly" relations during captivity, he later ordered the death of each of them.
13. Prisoners didn't walk the plank
Many believe that pirates forced their captives to walk on a plank as torture, but this myth was actually invented by writers. Real pirates immediately killed their hostages. But even when they decided to torture them, they used other methods. For example, they could leave a prisoner on a deserted island, tie him to the back of a ship while sailing, or beat him with a leather whip.
14. Pirates were the first “authors” of maritime jargon
Yes, pirates had their own slang, many of these phrases are still in common use. For example, the phrase Three sheets to the wind was coined by pirates and is still used today. It is translated as “drunk as hell.” Pirates used this phrase to say that a ship might get out of control.
There isn't much documentary material on piracy. Many of the existing facts are only partly true. Information about who these people really were has undergone many different interpretations. As often happens in the absence of reliable first-hand data, quite a lot has been devoted to this topic. a large number of folklore Considering all of the above, we decided to present dossiers on several legendary sea robbers.
Active period: 1696-1701
Territories: East Coast North America, Caribbean Sea, Indian Ocean.
How he died: he was hanged in a specially designated area in the docks located in east London. His body was subsequently hung over the Thames, where it hung for three years as a warning to potential sea robbers.
What is famous for: the founder of the idea of buried treasure.
In fact, the exploits of this Scottish sailor and British privateer were not particularly extraordinary. Kidd took part in several minor battles with pirates and other ships as a privateer for the British authorities, but none of them significantly influenced the course of history.
The most interesting thing is that the legend about Captain Kidd appeared after his death. During his career, many colleagues and superiors suspected him of exceeding his privateering powers and dabbling in piracy. After irrefutable evidence of his actions emerged, military ships were sent for him, which were supposed to return Kidd to London. Suspecting what awaited him, Kidd allegedly buried untold riches on Gardines Island off the coast of New York. He wanted to use these treasures as insurance and a bargaining tool.
The British court was not impressed by the stories of buried treasure, and Kidd was sentenced to the gallows. This is how his story suddenly ended and a legend appeared. It was thanks to the efforts and skill of writers who became interested in the adventures of the terrible robber that Captain Kidd became one of the most famous pirates. His actual actions were significantly inferior to the glory of other sea robbers of that time.
Period of activity: 1719-1722
Territories: from the eastern coast of North America to the eastern coast of Africa.
How he died: Killed by cannon fire during a battle against the British fleet.
What is famous for: he can be considered the most successful pirate.
Although Bartholomew Roberts may not be the most famous pirate, he was the best at everything he did. During his career, he managed to capture more than 470 ships. He operated in the waters of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. In his youth, when he was a sailor aboard a merchant ship, his ship and its entire crew were captured by pirates.
Thanks to his navigational skills, Roberts stood out from the crowd of hostages. Therefore, he soon became a valuable resource for the pirates who captured their ship. In the future, an incredible career rise awaited him, leading to him becoming the captain of a team of sea robbers.
Over time, Roberts came to the conclusion that it was completely pointless to fight for the miserable life of an honest employee. From that moment on, his motto was the statement that it is better to live for a short time, but for your own pleasure. We can safely say that with the death of 39-year-old Roberts, the Golden Age of Piracy came to an end.
Period of activity: 1716-1718
Territories: Caribbean Sea and East Coast of North America.
How he died: in a battle against the British fleet.
What is famous for: successfully blockaded the port of Charleston. He had a bright appearance and a thick dark beard, into which during battles he wove ignition wicks, frightening the enemy with clouds of smoke emitted.
He was probably the most famous pirate, both in terms of his piratical prowess and his memorable appearance. He managed to mobilize quite an impressive fleet pirate ships and lead him in many battles.
Thus, the flotilla under the command of Blackbeard managed to blockade the port of Charleston for several days. During this time, they captured several ships and took many hostages, who were later exchanged for various medicines for the crew. For many years, Teach kept the Atlantic coast and the islands of the West Indies at bay.
This continued until his ship was surrounded by the British fleet. This happened during a battle off the coast of North Carolina. Then Teach managed to kill many Englishmen. He himself died from multiple saber blows and gunshot wounds.
Active period: 1717-1720
Territories: Indian Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
How he died: died shortly after being removed from command of the ship and landing in Mauritius.
What is famous for: the first to use a flag with the image of the classic “Jolly Roger”.
Edward England became a pirate after being captured by a gang of thugs. He was simply forced to join the team. After a short stay in the waters of the Caribbean, he was in for a rapid rise up the pirate career ladder.
As a result, he began to command his own ship, used to attack slave ships in the Indian Ocean. It was he who came up with the flag with the image of a skull above two crossed femurs. This flag later became a classic symbol of piracy.
Active period: 1718-1720
Territories: waters of the Caribbean Sea.
How he died: hanged in Jamaica.
What is famous for: the first pirate to allow women on board.
Calico Jack cannot be classified as a successful pirate. His main occupation was the capture of small commercial and fishing vessels. In 1719, during a brief attempt at retirement, the pirate met and fell in love with Anne Bonny, who later disguised herself as men's clothing and joined his team.
Some time later, Rackham's team captured a Dutch merchant ship, and without knowing it, they took another woman dressed as a man on board the pirate ship. Reed and Bonnie turned out to be brave and courageous pirates, which made Rackham famous. Jack himself cannot be called a good captain.
When his crew was captured by the ship of the governor of Jamaica, Rackham was so drunk that he did not even manage to get into a fight, and only Mary and Anne defended their ship to the last. Before his execution, Jack asked for a meeting with Anne Bonny, but she flatly refused and, instead of dying consoling words, told her former lover that his pitiful appearance caused her indignation.