Today's children, as well as their peers many years ago, dreaming to raise the flag on his pirate schooner and become a formidable conquerors of the sea depths.Books, movies and computer games on this topic do not lose their popularity and become the basis for children to play.Why the "Jolly Roger" as called pirate flag, is considered the main symbol of the pirates, for whatever reason it stuck for a name, when and where it comes from, and that mean it depicted the characters?Let's try to figure it out.
Before answering these questions, let us remember, who was considered a pirate, what were these people.
Who are they?
In reality, pirates were not as funny as they are portrayed in the animated film "Abrafaks a pirate flag."The word "pirate" is quite old, and scientists believe that it originated in the V century BCTranslated from Latin, it means "luck trying to pirates."Over time, there were other names: Buccaneer, Privateer, filibuster, privateer, bukanir, corsair.
Robbery "in the law»
Privateers, freebooters, buccaneers and privateers practicing pirate plunder the vessels of other nations during the war, getting to this particular letters of marque - the official permission from one or another of the royal house.For similar license to pillage everything they deducted a certain percentage of the state, thus replenishing the treasury.When attacks on enemy ships, they had to raise the flag of the country that gave them permission.But pirate raised a black flag meant presenting ultimatum demands surrender.In that case, if the opponent was not going to do that, captors raised a red flag, which warned that no quarter will be.
After the wars, many hired robbers did not want to leave such a lucrative business.They continued to plunder merchant ships as the former enemies, and their former masters.
How it all began
first "Jolly Roger" as a pirate flag, according to documentary evidence, Emmanuel began to use Vine to end of XVII - early XVIII centuries.Known to us today, the image on its flag was complemented hourglass, means: "Your time is running out."In the future, many of the leaders of the pirates have developed their own unique version of the figure "Jolly Roger."Raising this flag captains warned about with whom they will have to deal with.
The oldest of the surviving pirate flag, photos of which you can see below, is in the National Museum of Portsmouth Navy England.He was captured in the battle near the coast of Africa in 1780.And today it is possible to see the small bullet holes with burnt edges.
What color is it?
familiar to us from movies and cartoons pirate flag black.However, it was not always.Initially, the pirates used the red canvas means that all will be destroyed, should not expect mercy.In addition, the pirates could use as national flags to intimidate or reduce vigilance of their opponents, and banners of different colors, indicating to the Allies themselves.
Why is it called so?
Many think much about why the pirate flag called the "Jolly Roger."Today there are several theories that attempt to explain it.
The first states that during the plague and other infectious diseases in the ships raised a black flag with two white stripes, to warn other ships of the danger.In the future, the band steel crossed.They were joined by a human skull, which use sea robbers.
Another version is based on documented fact that the French corsair flag is officially called Joyeux Rouge - «cheerful red."British pirates rethink and heard so: Jolly Roger (Jolly Roger).Also remember that at the end of the XVII century in the United Kingdom have passed laws against vagrancy - rouge laws, and the word "roger" can be understood as a "cheater", "beggar", "tramp".In addition, in the northern provinces of England and Ireland, the "old Roger" is sometimes called the leader of the dark forces.
There is another hypothesis: the name pirate flag was due to King Roger II of Sicily (1095-1154 biennium).This ruler famous for many victories both at sea and on land under the red banner on which were depicted crossbones.
Popular characters
We must figure decorating pirate flag (picture shown below), a human skull and two crossed bones on a black background.
Indeed, this symbol of death was most widely used in the environment of pirates, and the gravestones in England.No less common characters, recalls that all the waiting grave were skeletons, hourglasses, swords and spears, crossed swords and sabers raised glasses and wings.It was a popular character, who could decipher any.So, hourglass and wings meant fleeting time, and a full glass - a toast to the death.Similar images met both individually and in various combinations.
Personal Roger
As already mentioned, the skull and crossbones - one of the oldest and best-known versions of "Jolly Roger".It should be noted that in this form it was used by Edward England - Marine robber from Ireland, hunted robbery in the Indian Ocean in the first quarter of XVIII century.Many captains have tried to create their own easily recognizable figure on the flag.
So, quite a famous Welsh Captain Bartholomew Roberts, hunted in the XVIII century in the Caribbean, decorated pirate flag (the picture is a little below) himself standing on two skulls of abbreviations AMS (A Martiniquar's Head - «skull martiniktsa") and ABH(A Barbadian's Head - «Barbadians skull").Somehow, the Welshman very much disliked the inhabitants of these islands, and correctly understanding the hint, the edges of the court preferred to give up without a fight.
pirated near Carolina in the early XVII century, Christopher Mudin a pirate flag, photos of which you can see below, decorated with a skull and crossbones, the hourglass with wings and a hand with a raised sword.
The flag of Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, painted skeleton with hourglass and aimed at bleeding heart spear.
Who today raises the pirate flags?
Do not think that "Jolly Roger" rises today only child or adult parties.Introduced in the First World War tradition of submariners enter the port after a successful operation with a pirate flag raised alive today in many fleets.Even during the war with Iraq, many British submarines raised "Jolly Roger", returning to the base.
on such flags symbolically tells the story of the vessel, as well as its achievements.The crew of the submarine did pirate flag with their hands, adding to its various parts after successful operations.Today's collection of contemporary "Jolly Roger" in the English Royal Navy submarine museum has fifteen copies, which are characterized by their own unique characters.For example, the red bars represent the military, and white - merchant ships.Image dagger indicates that the submarine was involved in some kind of spy or secret operations from enemy shores.
