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The Jolly Roger is the name now given to any of various Flag s flown to identify the user as a Pirate . The most famous Jolly Roger today is the ''' Skull And Crossbones ''', a Skull over two long Bone s set in an X arrangement on a black field. Historically, the flag was flown to induce pirates' victims to surrender readily. Since the decline of piracy, various military units have used the Jolly Roger, usually in skull-and-crossbones design, as a unit identification Insignia or a victory flag to ascribe to themselves the proverbial ferocity and toughness of pirates. ORIGINS OF THE TERM The name "Jolly Roger" goes back at least to in July , 1723 . While Spriggs and Roberts used the same name for their flags, their flag designs were quite different, suggesting that already "Jolly Roger" was a generic term for black pirate flags rather than a name for any single specific design. Neither Spriggs' nor Roberts' Jolly Roger consisted of a skull and crossbones. Richard Hawkins, captured by pirates in 1724 , reported that the pirates had a black flag bearing the figure of a skeleton stabbing a heart with a spear, which they named "Jolly Roger". David Cordingly (1995). Under the Black Flag: The Romance and Reality of Life Among the Pirates, New York: Random House, p. 117. Another theory is that it comes from the French term "joli rouge", ("pretty red") which the English corrupted into "Jolly Roger" or simply "Hodge". While it is true that there were a series of "red flags" that were feared as much, or more, than "black flags", this seems unlikely because the red flag was not adopted from the French and it is not likely that the black flag was either, and there is no primary source reference to the name "Joli Rouge" for any flag, piratical or otherwise. Yet another theory states that "Jolly Roger" is an English corruption of "Ali Raja," the name of a Tamil pirate.Cordingly, p. 118. ORIGINS OF THE DESIGN The piratical use of black flags, with skull and crossbones or other motifs upon them, predates the appearance of the term "Jolly Roger" by at least twenty years. The first known pirate use of the black flag with skull and crossbones is by Emanuel Wynne about 1700 . Henry Every is frequently shown in secondary sources using the skull and crossbones on black in 1695 or 1696 , but contemporary evidence for this is lacking. A piratical black flag is also attributed to Thomas Tew , who plundered Mughal shipping in 1693 , but this design did not feature skull or crossbones, and its authenticity is dubious. From early Roman times on through the Middle Ages, skulls and long bones were associated with death, long before they became symbols of piracy. Skulls and long bones were displayed in Catacombs , Monasteries , Churches , church crypts and graveyards. They are the bones that resist decay the longest, and remain long after the corpse has gone. They were then carefully laid out respecting the dead. Later, skull and long bones crossed were depicted or sculpted in said places, especially above the entrances to churches and graveyards. They served as a '' Memento Mori ,'' meaning "remind yourself of your own death." It was a general warning against the sin of vanity, reminding bypassers of their mortality. Thus, it became at once a common symbol of death and decay and a warning against the vagaries of fortune, as well as a first hint of an emerging sense of Egalitarianism : in death, we are all equal. Thus, when appearing on pirate flags, the allusion to death would be instantly understood by any observer. After 1700, the use of black flags by pirates proliferated; Johnson refers to at least a dozen pirate crews flying black flags. The piratical use of black flags was evidently far more common than the use of the skull and crossbones device upon them. Walter Kenedy is the only pirate documented by Johnson as using the skull and crossbones design without further adornment. From other sources it is known that Edward England and some 19th Century Algerian corsairs used the skull and crossbones. Richard Worley may also have used the device; Johnson says that he "made a black Ensign, with a white Death’s Head in the middle of it, and other Colours suitable to it," which is consistent with, though not fully corroborative of, the skull on crossbones device traditionally attributed to Worley in secondary sources. However, not all pirates used black flags, even during the 18th Century . Red was also a frequently used color, as will be seen below, and during the Buccaneering period of the 17th Century , red flags were far more associated with pirates than black ones were. Origins of red pirate flags The origin of the red flag is likely that English Privateer s flew the Red Jack by order of the Admiralty in 1694 . After England signed a separate peace in the War Of The Spanish Succession in 1713 , many British privateers turned to piracy and some retained the red flag, as red symbolized blood. No matter how much seamen dreaded the black pirate Standard , all prayed they never encountered the "Bloody Red". This red flag boldly declared the pirates' intentions: that no life would be spared. In combat practice many merchants were surprised when a fast ship changed a fellow national flag for the more portentous Jolly Roger, which was the desired effect. One idea to be presented goes back to the nature of flags during the age of the sail. A red flag was often flown as a sign to show that a particular signal had been denied or refused. For example a fleet would signal its flagship that it would like to stop for a meeting, if the Admiral was disagreeable his ship flew a red flag to show the request was denied. In a case of a surrendering ship a red flag meant no quarter would be given, meaning that, even though the ship was surrendering, her crew would not be spared. Executed pirates' bodies were often hung at the entrances to harbors so their bones would serve as a warning of the fate that awaited captured pirates. It is most likely the skull and crossbones motif was taken to show that there were pirates on board, placed on the red flag to show no quarter given to all ships. This is a possible origin of the "joli rouge" of France, because the skull was often smiling and placed on a red flag. Since the white cross began to be confused with the English Red Ensign, the flag was purportedly changed to black to show the nature of a pirate ship. This hasn't been confirmed by historical documents. The Red Beauty What is confirmed by the Royal Naval College is the use of the Red Beauty. The Royal Navy's famous White Ensign- a St. George's Cross with a Union Flag in the canton- has always been reserved for Crown vessels. its civilian counterpart The Red Ensign - an all-red field with the Union Flag in the canton, and known fondly as "The Red Duster ", was reserved for British and British-Registered Merchant Shipping. During the wars with various nations, France, Spain and Holland particularly, Privateer ships were commissioned to harry the enemy and bring back treasure and captured ships as prizes. These vessels flew a blank red ensign known as The Red Beauty, in order not to reveal their home country. This of course gave The Crown 'plausible deniability'. The Red Beauty, or Jolie Rouge, resembled the same red flag flown as a warning that the ship was arming itself, and as a combat signal indicating that no quarter would be asked or given. It was often flown with the Skull and Bones flag which indicated that there was death on board. The whole affair was eventually adopted by Pirates, many of which were, or had been, Royal Privateers on Crown orders. Templar hypothesis In his book ''Pirates & The Lost Templar Fleet'', used a Greek Cross and not the Andrew's Cross (Χ) used on pirates' flags. In any case, neither Childress nor anybody else has ever produced the slightest actual evidence that the Templars ever flew such a flag, that the Templar fleet was ever seen again after the suppression of the Order, or that there is any connection whatever between the Templars and "Golden Age" piracy. It has been suggested that the skull and cross bones were intended as an insult to the Vatican and as a warning to sympathisers by mocking the Cardinal's Hat and Cross Keys symbol of the Vatican. The cross keys was certainly in use by vessels of the Vatican by the 17th Century. Many voyages to and from the ' New World ' were sponsored by the Pope and European Monarch s with the express purpose of acquiring gold. It must be remembered that some countries of Europe were in great religious turmoil by this time and it is possible that pirates were keen to display their neutrality to countries opposed to Rome whilst mocking the Vatican itself. The problem with this argument is that every contemporary reference to the skull and crossbones makes it clear that the sight was deservedly feared by Protestants as well as by Catholics. USE IN PRACTICE Pirates did not fly the Jolly Roger at all times. Like other vessels, pirate ships usually stocked a variety of different flags, and would normally fly False Colors or no colors until they had their prey in firing range. When the pirates' intended victim was within range, the Jolly Roger would be raised, often simultaneously with a warning shot. At first sight, it might seem a bad idea to forewarn your quarry by flying the Jolly Roger. However, its use may be seen as an early form of Psychological Warfare . A pirate's primary aim is to capture the target ship intact along with any cargo it may be carrying. With a sufficiently bloodthirsty reputation, a pirate flying the Jolly Roger could intimidate the crew of a target ship into surrender, allowing the ship to be captured without firing a shot. For example in June 1720 when Bartholomew Roberts sailed into the harbour at Trepassey , Newfoundland with black flags flying, the crews of all 22 vessels in the harbour abandoned them in panic. Burl, Aubery ''Black Bart'' pp. 133-4 Typically, if a ship then decided to resist, the Jolly Roger was taken down and a red flag was then flown, indicating that the pirates intend to take the ship by force and without mercy, according to several historians and the History Channel ; this idea appears largely based on Richard Hawkins' report that "When they fight under Jolly Roger, they give quarter, which they do not when they fight under the red or bloody flag." Flying the Jolly Roger too early as the only flag has its drawbacks. The quarry might have sufficient warning to attempt an escape. Also, warships were often under standing orders to fire at will at a ship flying this flag according to National Geographic. Nevertheless, when fighting naval or militia ships, it is frequently reported that pirates hoisted the Jolly Roger during the battle, presumably to intimidate their opponents or inspire their own men. It is not certain what material most pirates fashioned the Jolly Roger from, although Bartholomew Roberts had one made from Silk . Howell Davis , however, was at one point required to fashion his flag from a Tarpaulin . Pirates often flew multiple Jolly Rogers, often of different designs, on the same ship. Roberts, for example, was seen off Africa displaying various kinds of Jolly Rogers at his jackstaff (on the bow of the ship), at the mizzenmast peak, and at the top of the mainmast, while also showing an English flag at the ensign staff on the stern. Kennedy flew Jolly Rogers simultaneously from his ensign staff, jackstaff, and mainmast. There were many variations and additional emblems on actual Jolly Rogers. and Martinique that death awaited them). Dancing skeletons signified that the pirates cared little for their Fate . EXAMPLES OF JOLLY ROGERS |
Image:Pirate Flag Of Blackbeard (Edward Teach)svg
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Blackbeard" class="copylinks">"Blackbeard" Edward Teach's Flag |
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Image:Pirate Flag Of Emanuel Wynnesvg
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Emanuel_Wynne" class="copylinks">Emanuel Wynne's Flag |
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Image:Pirate Flag Of Henry Everysvg
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Henry_Every" class="copylinks">Henry Every's Flag |
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Image:Pirate Flag Of Thomas Tewsvg
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Thomas_Tew" class="copylinks">Thomas Tew's Flag |
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Image:Pirate Flag Of Stede Bonnetsvg
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Stede_Bonnet" class="copylinks">Stede Bonnet's Flag |
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Image:Flag Of Edward Englandsvg Flag Of
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Edward_England" class="copylinks">Edward England |
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Image:Flag Of Christopher Moodysvg Flag Of
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Christopher_Moody" class="copylinks">Christopher Moody |
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Image: Bartholomew Roberts Flagsvg First Flag Of
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Bartholomew_Roberts" class="copylinks">Bartholomew Roberts |
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Image:Bartholomew Roberts Flag1svg Second Flag Of
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Bartholomew_Roberts" class="copylinks">Bartholomew Roberts |
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Image: Edward Low Flagsvg Flag Of
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Edward_Lowe" class="copylinks">Edward Lowe |
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Image:kennedy FlaggifFlag Of
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Walter_Kennedy_(pirate)" class="copylinks">Walter Kennedy |
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Image:Flag Of Christopher CondentsvgFlag Of
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Christopher_Condent" class="copylinks">Christopher Condent |
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Image:John Quelch FlagsvgFlag Of
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/John_Quelch_(pirate)" class="copylinks">John Quelch |
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Image:Richard Worley FlagsvgFlag Of
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Richard_Worley" class="copylinks">Richard Worley |
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