The Golden Age of Piracy

1. The iconic pirate image is largely a romanticized myth.

So what, then, does the pirate of the Golden Age, from 1655 to 1725, really look like?

Hollywood vs. Reality. The popular image of pirates with eye patches, peg legs, parrots, and saying "Arr!" is mostly a creation of fiction and film, not historical fact. Real pirates were seamen, often indistinguishable from other mariners of the era.

Appearance and Language. While some pirates might have had long hair tied back or worn hats like tricornes or knit caps, the skull and bones insignia on hats was absent. Eye patches were used for injury, not tactical vision. Peg legs were rare and impractical at sea. Parrots and monkeys were exotic pets, not standard pirate accessories. Their language was that of seamen, not the exaggerated "Arr!" or "Shiver me timbers!"

Origins of the Myth. The romanticized image evolved over centuries, influenced by literature and illustrations that imagined pirates rather than depicting them accurately. Figures like Robert Newton playing Long John Silver cemented the "Arr!" stereotype, while 19th-century illustrators popularized the eye patch and other visual tropes.

2. Pirate flags were symbols of terror and identity, not just decoration.

The flag meant they would give no quarter.

Red vs. Black. Pirates used flags strategically. The red flag, or "bloody flag," signaled "no quarter" – a warning that no mercy would be given if the target resisted. The black flag, often with a skull and crossbones, was typically flown first as a demand for surrender, implying that quarter might be given if the target yielded without a fight.

Evolution of Symbols. The skull and crossbones (death's head and marrow bones) was an ancient symbol of death, used on tombstones and in warfare ashore long before becoming associated with pirates. The first known instance of Golden Age pirates using it was on a red flag in 1688. The black flag with these symbols became synonymous with piracy later, around 1716, as pirates sought a unique identity distinct from national flags.

The Jolly Roger. The term "Jolly Roger" was not widely used and referred specifically to black flags featuring a full skeleton, not the skull and crossbones. Its origin is debated, possibly linked to "Old Roger" (the devil) or even a crude joke, but not the mythical "joli rouge." The association with the skull and crossbones came later, largely due to literature like Treasure Island.

3. Pirate violence was brutal and pragmatic, often relying on intimidation.

For the pirate’s victim, the image was terrifying.

Intimidation as a Weapon. Pirates preferred to capture ships without a fight, relying on their fearsome reputation and the sight of their flag and armed crew to induce surrender. This minimized risk to their lives and vessels.

Brutality and Torture. When intimidation failed or when pirates sought information or revenge, they employed brutal torture methods, many borrowed from common practices of the time or adapted from seafaring techniques. These included:

• Woolding (tightening a rope around the head)
• Strappado (hoisting by the wrists)
• Burning with slow match
• Staking out and torturing
• Mutilation and murder

Purpose of Cruelty. Such acts were not random madness but served pragmatic purposes: extracting information, punishing resistance, or terrorizing future victims into quick surrender. The violence against prisoners, often innocent, was a stark contrast to the courage sometimes shown in battle.

4. "Walking the plank" was not a common pirate practice.

However, in all of these journals, associated stories written at the time, and legal depositions of the pirates of the Golden Age, from 1655 to 1725, never is there even a hint that a plank “was run out over the gunwale, and lashed down,” as Rafael Sabatini described was done...

Lack of Historical Evidence. Despite its prevalence in popular culture, there is virtually no evidence that Golden Age pirates forced prisoners to walk the plank. This method of execution is absent from contemporary accounts, journals, and trial records.

Origins of the Myth. The idea likely stems from earlier practices of throwing prisoners overboard, sometimes tied up, but without a plank. The specific image of "walking the plank" appears to have gained traction in the early 19th century, notably mentioned in James Hackett's 1818 narrative and popularized by authors like Sir Walter Scott and Rafael Sabatini.

More Common Cruelties. Pirates had far more common and often more brutal ways of killing or disposing of prisoners, including:

• Shooting or stabbing them outright
• Tying them up and throwing them overboard
• Torturing them to death
• Abandoning them on desolate shores (marooning)

The dramatic visual of walking the plank, while compelling for storytelling, overshadows the grim reality of the diverse and often horrific violence pirates inflicted upon their captives.

5. Pirate ships varied greatly, and attacking galleons was rare.

Almost certainly, pirates never or almost never captured or sailed real galleons during the Golden Age, for the true galleon no longer existed as a type of ship construction after the 1640s...

Beyond the Galleon. The image of pirates sailing grand galleons or routinely attacking Spanish treasure galleons is largely inaccurate for the Golden Age (1655-1725). True galleons were becoming obsolete, and the heavily protected Spanish treasure fleets were rarely successfully targeted by pirates.

Common Pirate Vessels. Pirates used a variety of vessels, often smaller, faster, and more maneuverable than large warships or treasure ships. Common pirate craft included:

• Canoes and piraguas (for river raids)
• Barks and barcalongas
• Sloops (especially the swift Bermuda sloops)
• Captured merchant ships or small frigates (often refitted)

Targeting Prey. Pirates primarily preyed on less-defended merchant vessels. When they did target larger or armed ships, they often relied on speed, surprise, or specific tactics like boarding and fighting in "closed quarters" (below decks) rather than prolonged broadside cannon duels. The capture of a large, well-armed ship was a significant feat, not a routine occurrence.

6. Pirates were often skilled sea warriors, but not always the fiercest fighters.

At nearly even odds—and one account says the boarding pirates outnumbered their enemy—the defending naval seamen wiped out the pirate boarding party to a man, without a single loss of their own.

Image vs. Reality. While pirates cultivated a fearsome image and some, like Blackbeard, were known for their intimidating appearance, their actual fighting prowess in pitched battles could vary greatly. Their success often stemmed from intimidation and preying on weaker targets rather than consistently winning against determined, well-trained opponents.

Examples of Defeat. Accounts show instances where pirates, even notorious ones, were defeated by smaller or less numerous forces when those forces fought back fiercely.

• Blackbeard's final battle against Lieutenant Maynard's smaller force resulted in the pirate's death and the defeat of his boarding party.
• The buccaneers' costly attack on Arica showed their vulnerability against determined defenders, even when employing flanking tactics.
• Bartholomew Roberts's crew, despite their reputation, were decisively defeated by the HMS Swallow.

Naval Training. Opponents like English naval seamen were often better trained in close-quarters combat and ship-to-ship fighting than many pirates, who were often former merchant sailors or privateers less accustomed to sustained, brutal engagements against equals. While individual pirates could be formidable, their collective fighting skill was not always superior.

7. Pirates were democratic and egalitarian among themselves, but not necessarily rebels against all authority.

Pirates, after all, were rebels who stood against the tyranny of governments, or at least this is what we have been told in many tales and even by some scholars.

Internal Democracy. Golden Age pirate crews operated under democratic principles, electing their captains and officers (except in battle, where the captain had absolute authority) and voting on important decisions like where to cruise or whether to attack. Plunder was divided according to agreed-upon articles, with shares for officers and compensation for injuries.

Profit, Not Revolution. While some pirates expressed rebellious sentiments against cruel captains or unjust governments, their primary motivation was profit through plunder. They rarely sought to overthrow governments or aid political rebellions, unless it directly served their financial interests or provided protection.

The Myth of the Rebel Pirate. The idea of pirates as freedom-fighting rebels against tyranny is largely a romanticized notion, popularized by literature and film. While they lived outside the law, their "rebellion" was primarily criminal, focused on enriching themselves rather than enacting social or political change for others. The tale of Captain Blood, based on a real rebel's escape, significantly contributed to this myth.

8. The idea of pirates as anti-slavery is a modern myth; they actively participated in the slave trade.

For every slave whom Golden Age pirates freed and brought into their crews, they had surely sold at least ten, and perhaps even as many as a hundred.

Slavery as Plunder. Contrary to modern portrayals, Golden Age pirates were deeply involved in the slave trade. Captured humans, particularly Africans and Native Americans, were valuable commodities to be sold for profit.

Treatment of Slaves. While some pirates incorporated free men of color into their crews as equals, the majority of captured slaves were treated as property.

• They were sold to planters or slave traders.
• Slave ships were captured for their human cargo.
• Slaves were sometimes ransomed back to their owners.
• In extreme cases, slaves were killed or abandoned if they were inconvenient or unprofitable.

Limited Integration. While men of color, including former slaves, could achieve positions of rank within pirate crews, this did not signify a broader anti-slavery stance. The inclusion of men of color was often pragmatic, driven by the need for recruits, rather than ideological. The choice offered to captured men of color was often between joining the pirate crew (with the risk of hanging) or being sold into slavery.

9. Famous female pirates were rare, and the "she-captain" is mostly fiction.

However, the fact that we do not have much evidence for women pirates should not discourage us from looking for them.

Rarity of Female Pirates. While a few women did engage in piracy during the Golden Age, they were exceptionally rare. The vast majority of pirates were male, and seafaring was overwhelmingly a male profession.

Anne Bonny and Mary Read. The most famous female pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read, were notable exceptions. They sailed with Calico Jack Rackam, disguised as men at times, and fought alongside the crew. However, neither woman ever commanded a pirate vessel.

The Myth of the She-Captain. The image of a female pirate captain is largely a creation of fiction and film, appealing to modern sensibilities about female empowerment and adventure. While women like Grace O'Malley (16th century) and Cheng I Sao (19th century) were real female pirate leaders outside the Golden Age, there is no evidence of women commanding pirate ships in the Caribbean or Indian Ocean during the 1655-1725 period.

10. Pirate "utopias" were primarily pragmatic trading posts, not ideological havens.

Libertalia never existed. Nor did its two principal founders, Misson and Caraccioli. Pirate author Charles Johnson made up the entire story.

The Myth of Libertalia. The story of Libertalia, a supposed pirate utopia on Madagascar founded on principles of liberty and equality, is a fictional invention by pirate chronicler Charles Johnson. It was likely intended as an allegory or hoax, incorporating elements from travel literature and philosophical ideas of the time.

Real Pirate Settlements. While Libertalia was a myth, small pirate settlements did exist, particularly on Madagascar. These were primarily pragmatic bases for:

• Refitting and repairing ships
• Trading stolen goods for supplies and provisions
• Resting and recuperating
• Engaging in local politics and warfare for profit (e.g., slave trading)

Profit Motive. Figures like Adam Baldridge and John Plantain established themselves as "factors" or petty rulers, facilitating trade between pirates and merchants (often illicitly) and engaging in local conflicts for slaves and cattle. These settlements were driven by the pursuit of wealth and security, not by utopian ideals of freedom and equality for all.

11. Buried treasure is a pervasive myth; pirates sought sunken treasure or spent their loot quickly.

Of course, this is all arrant nonsense. With only a rare exception or two discussed next, pirates had no reason to hide—or necessarily bury—their plunder.

Spending, Not Burying. Pirates typically divided their plunder soon after capturing it and spent it quickly on revelry, gambling, and supplies. There was little reason to bury treasure, which risked loss, theft by crewmates, or being unable to retrieve it later.

Origin of the Myth. The myth of pirates burying treasure largely stems from the actions of Captain William Kidd. Facing arrest, Kidd hid some of his personal wealth on Gardiner's Island for safekeeping, not as a long-term burial of a crew's shared treasure. This incident, combined with rumors and later fictional accounts, fueled the legend.

Real Treasure Hunting. While pirates didn't bury treasure, they did seek it in other ways, most notably by salvaging sunken Spanish treasure ships. Wrecks like the Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas were targeted, and pirates sometimes kidnapped or hired divers to recover silver and gold from the seabed. This underwater salvage was the real "treasure hunting" of the Golden Age.

Last updated: June 1, 2025