We know a lot about medieval pirates: they were cruel, violent and brave to the point of insanity. But if you still think that pirates are just a bunch of uncivilized and dangerous thieves, then you are probably wrong. The point is that they were very disciplined, followed strict rules and regulations. Moreover, they can be called progressive: many things that remained taboo for the whole world until the last century were openly recognized by pirates, for example, democracy or same-sex marriage. Below you will find some myths and facts about pirates that will surely interest you.
1. Earrings worn by pirates served a strange purpose
Ironically, the pirates believed that earrings in their ears helped protect hearing. They had good reason to worry about this, as they often found themselves near firing cannons. The dangling parts of the earrings were used to cover up the ears during shots. As you can see, the pirates were quite logical in their reasoning.
2. The pirates wore blindfolds, even if their vision was not impaired
Do you think that every pirate who wore a blindfold didn't have one eye? In fact, most pirates used blindfolds not to hide the absence of one eye, but to improve night vision, which was very important for their "work". During the raid, the pirates had to run on and under the deck. An eye patch made it possible to see clearly both in the bright light on deck and in the darkness below.
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3. Another secret of pirate earrings
Pirates often wore large, round, heavy precious metal earrings. But this was hardly a tribute to fashion. They were needed for other purposes. If the pirate died in an accident, whoever found him could use these earrings to cover the cost of the burial. Some pirates even engraved the name of their home port on earrings in the hope that some kind soul would send the body home (of course, covering the costs after the jewelry was sold).
Many superstitions have been associated with earrings. For example, pirates believed that wearing them could prevent motion sickness, improve eyesight, and help when they drown.
4. Pirates entered into same-sex marriage
Centuries before society recognized the very existence of homosexuality, pirates engaged in same-sex marriage. The couple shared their property and loot, and the men were each other's legal heirs.
This practice was most likely led by the fact that there were mostly only men on deck. Some historians claim that they gradually developed romantic relationships, while others suggest that they were simply sharing women with each other.
5. The real horror was inspired by the red flag, not the black
If you sailed on a ship in the Middle Ages and saw a black flag, you wouldn't have to worry. But if it were red, it would indicate a great danger. The red flag on the pirate ship was nothing more than a warning of death: it meant that all the people on the ship that the pirates were about to capture would be killed immediately.
Although the origin of the term "Jolly Roger" has not been clarified, it is believed to be related to these red flags on pirate ships. Most likely, this was the name of the pirate flags on ships that were ready to attack.
6. The pirates were very disciplined
The pirates had strict rules regarding any action, be it the division of duties or the division of loot. In addition, the pirates held democratic elections and followed the rules of combat on board, and anyone who violated them was severely punished. It seems they were more civilized than many of the common people of that time.
The pirates also had a kind of "health insurance". Crew members were compensated according to the severity of their injury. A pirate who lost his dominant hand, for example, was paid more. Moreover, pirates who became disabled during the raids were never disposed of. They were called veterans and were left on the ship.
7. Pirates created a secret drink to cure disease
British sailors created grog by mixing water with rum. However, later a pirated version of this drink appeared, which served as a cure for diseases. The pirates added sugar and lemon juice to the new drink, which actually helped prevent scurvy.
8. The pirates had medical insurance
Pirates were in some ways much more modern than some people living today. Hundreds of years ago, when no one heard of health insurance, pirates already had it. It is interesting to note that in the days when medicine was not overly developed, pirates paid benefits to all injured members of their crew.
For example, 600 Spanish dollars (the prevailing currency at the time) was paid for the loss of a limb. The loss of an eye was compensated by 200 Spanish dollars, and total blindness - 2,000 (today it is almost 153,000 dollars). Crew members could receive compensation in the form of money or slaves.
9. Burning beard of the most ferocious pirate
Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, was considered one of the most terrible pirates of all time. Before attacking the ship, he weaved hemp into his beard and set it on fire. The smoke coming straight from his beard gave him a demonic appearance, which no doubt frightened his enemies. Although this act seems insane to us, it was a sign of courage for the pirates.
10. Most of the pirates' booty consisted of booze and weapons
If you are still hoping to find a buried treasure, you may be disappointed. Despite popular belief, pirates rarely took away cash or gold, and even less often hid them. They loved booze and always needed a gun, which is why these things were on the priority list. For the same reason, they took away food and clothing.
11. Women pirates
Women could be pirates too. An excellent example of this is Ann Bonnie and Mary Reed, who went on a pirate ship together in 1720. In addition, some women preferred to wear men's clothes and hide their identity.
12. Julius Caesar was once captured by pirates
The famous Julius Caesar was once a prisoner of a group of pirates who had no idea of his strength and value. When they demanded a ransom in the amount of 20 talents (about 600 thousand dollars) for his release, the Roman emperor laughed and said that he was worth at least 50. All the time Caesar was on the ship, he read poetry to the pirates.
Known as the most influential politician in history, Caesar was known for his fair play in war. But, despite the "friendly" relationship during the captivity, he later ordered to kill each of them.
13. The captives did not walk on the plank
Many believe that pirates forced their captives to walk on a plank as torture, but this myth was actually invented by writers. Real pirates immediately killed their hostages. But even when they decided to torture them, other methods were used for this. For example, they could leave a prisoner on a deserted island, tie him to the back of the ship while sailing, or beat him with a leather whip.
14. Pirates were the first "authors" of nautical jargon
Yes, pirates had their own jargon, and many of these phrases are still widely used. For example, the phrase "Three sheets to the wind" was coined by pirates and is still used today. It translates as "drunk as a lord." The pirates used this phrase to say that the ship could get out of control.
Author: Anna Pismenna