Pirate Flags

Pirate flags have been the flag to identify a ship as a pirate ship. One of the most common names for the various pirate flags used is the Jolly Roger. The most famous Jolly Roger pirate flag that is widely known in our modern world is the “Skull and Crossbones”. The flag displays a white skull superimposed over two long bones crossed in an X arrangement. The field of the “Skull and Crossbones” is black and the white skull and bones create stark contrasts. The original meaning of pirate flags was to flow the flag and induce the victims to surrender. Nowadays the Jolly Roger is sometimes still in use.

Though it is not used as a piracy symbol but rather by some military units as an identification or victory flag. The thought behind using the flag is instilling a picture of ferocity and toughness in the soldiers, just like the pirates.

The famous name “Jolly Rogers” goes as far back as to the book written in 1724. Pirate’s flags of different designs adopted the name from then on. The name for the “Jolly Rogers” pirate flag comes theoretically from the word “rogue” meaning vagabond and Old Roger was a term for the devil back in the days of the pirates. Another possible theory is “Joli Rouge”, the French words for pretty red for flags that were red and as much or more feared than the black pirates flag but is a less likely theory. The term of the pirate flag Jolly Roger is a lot younger than the first flags of pirates used.

Famous pirate flags were the flags of Calico Jack Rackham and Thomas Tew used Jolly Roger variations with swords. Edward Teach or better known as Blackbeard used a skeleton holding an hourglass in one hand and a spear in the other hand while standing on top of a bleeding heart.

Pirate flags were not always flown. Usually a pirate ship would have more than one flag on board. Reasons for having more than the black flag was trying to get into firing range of the other vessel by displaying false flags or not being detected by bounty hunters and soldiers hunting for pirates.

If you are interested in more flag designs or history of pirate flags try pirate flag websites. Besides pirate flag pictures these websites also offer pirate clipart. Some of the clipart is free pirate clip art, others are for charge. The pages also sell pirate flags and if you really want to display it well, try a 4’x6’ pirate flags.