Pirate Flags

Weathered Pirate Flag

Even centuries after the pirates who originally flew them are long gone, pirate flags are still a popular fashion statement which have never really gone out of style. Today these most often come all in black, although the original such flags were red. Understanding the history of them helps to appreciate the differing styles still present in the oh so impressive looking pirate flags on offer.

It is true that the very first pirate flags, in the early days of piracy in the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, were actually red and not black. Red symbolized blood and bloodshed, two key ideas that pirates everywhere, from the Caribbean to the South China Seas, were eager to convey. They also signified the warning that no quarter, or mercy, would be given to those who did not surrender. Fear and intimidation were the goals here.

The far more common black pirate flags seen everywhere and offered for sale here as well replaced the red ones fairly quickly. Black symbolized death, and the pirates meant to sail under this banner of the King of Death. Besides the background, the flags were commonly emblazoned with one or more of a variety of symbols.

Today, by far and away the most common symbols found on pirates’ flags is the Jolly Roger, or the skull and crossbones. Originally though, this was but one of many different such designs, and not necessarily the most popular one. Pirates, like modern day people, wished to distinguish themselves from the next guy and group. As a result of this timeless human characteristic, real pirates’ flags actually were customized for individual pirate crews and their captains.

Naturally, whomever the pirate captain may have been, he generally preferred symbols of graphic destruction and death. Among these were the skull, a skeleton, crossed bones, swords, spears, an hourglass (warning an enemy that his time had expired), a cutlass buy cialis online sword, and clothing particular to pirates along with the Pirate captain’s initials. The skull and crossbones were in fact flown by Edward England along with Edward Teach, better known by his dreaded pirate moniker of “Blackbeard.”

These pirates’ flags today are meant to impress and dazzle the audience of any person flying them. In the golden age of piracy, which lasted until the late seventeenth buy Kamagra Oral Jelly – Strawberry online and early eighteenth centuries, such flags were utilized to wage a potent psychological warfare on the pirates’ enemies. These flags were symbolically designed to intimidate, threaten, and spread dread and fear in the ranks of anyone who encountered and considered resisting the pirate.

This history of pirates’ flags proved to be a critical element in creating the much deserved, fearsome reputation which the pirate ships achieved. They were so effective in impressing a popular image of fear and danger with these symbols and flags, that today the world still employs the symbols of a skull and crossbones as a warning for an item which is deadly or dangerous, such as poison.

Black Pirate Flag 5ft

So now you understand how the various elements of pirates’ flags came to be.

A variety of the previously discussed, common pirate symbols are available.

These flags are a wonderful feature for any college dorm room, party atmosphere, and can even be draped around the individual at Halloween time to create an intimidating accessory for the must have pirate outfit.

Sail ho me hearties. No quarter!

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