What appears to us first of all when the word "pirate"? Perhaps some hefty bearded fellow, scorching recklessly from a huge pistol, "fifteen men for a dead man's chest", one-legged Silver, Caribbean Jack Sparrow … But all this is mainly inspired by romantic books and movies. True pirates, if they were, were far from all and not always. Judge for yourself: how long would they have to sail on the seas, on the waves, if they only did that cut the throats of anyone and each other? No, most often pirate communities were organized more complexly and even more just than other states.
The Jolly Roger winds its way …
Everyone probably knows what the Jolly Roger is. It is a black pirate flag with a skull and crossbones underneath. So why is he funny, because there is, in fact, little joyful here, and why Roger and not John or Stephen?
This is a rather complicated story. There is no unambiguous view of the origin of the name and the flag itself. And he was not always black. The most common version says that the name is the Old French Jolie Rouge, which literally means "beautiful red", which was changed into English. Yes, the pirate flag was originally red, although there were both green and yellow ones. The red flag since the 1700s meant a warning to any oncoming ship: do not resist, otherwise it will be worse. And if this ship did not listen to the voice of reason, the pirates raised a black pennant, which meant "I am coming to you." This black pennant eventually turned into a flag.
However, there are other versions as well. For example, for a long time in England the name Roger has become synonymous with a not entirely law-abiding person, although it is not known in honor of which particular Roger. And in Ireland, the old Roger was generally called the devil … But we are more interested not in the flag itself, but in the manners and customs of the people who walked under it.
Billy Bones and the ledger
Remember how at the beginning of the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson "Treasure Island" the heroes study the notebook found in Billy Bons' chest? “Everything is clear as day! exclaimed the squire. - Before us is the receipt book of this vile dog. The numbers indicate the share of this murderer in the total booty."
So, not just "Bons share", but also a special ledger. It would seem, what are the debits and credits? Grab what you have stolen - that's all the accounting. But it was not there! Let's open the famous book of the French (according to other sources, Dutch or Greek) pirate, ship's doctor and writer Alexander Exquemelin (1645-1707). This extensive encyclopedia called "Pirates of America" is still considered the main treasure trove of information about pirates. Such writers as Raphael Sabatini, Fenimore Cooper, Frederick Marriet, Henry Haggard were inspired by her, drew plots from her. If Exquemelin is not to be believed, who then? And he narrates, among other things, this is what. According to custom, all the booty taken was divided according to the "contribution to the common cause," and each had to swear on the Bible that he did not take a penny for himself in excess of what was supposed to. Those who took a false oathexpelled from the ship at best. And at worst? Well, it used to be different here, depending on the captain's temper. Could stretch under the keel on a rope. Considering that the bottom of the ship was dotted with sharp shells of various mollusks, one can imagine the state in which the punished returned aboard. Or they could have pulled up on the yard. "Nothing elevates a pirate like a nok-ray," writes Viktor Gubarev, author of a number of encyclopedias, scientific, popular science and fiction books on the history of sea piracy. Let us add from ourselves that the nok is the end of the yard, and the yard is a movable cross-beam on the mast, which serves to fasten the sails.one can imagine the state in which the punished returned on board. Or they could have pulled up on the yard. “Nothing elevates a pirate like a nok-ray,” writes Viktor Gubarev, author of a number of encyclopedias, scientific, popular science and fiction books on the history of sea piracy. Let us add from ourselves that the nok is the end of the yard, and the yard is a movable cross-beam on the mast, which serves to fasten the sails.one can imagine the state in which the punished returned on board. Or they could have pulled up on the yard. "Nothing elevates a pirate like a nok-ray," writes Viktor Gubarev, author of a number of encyclopedias, scientific, popular science and fiction books on the history of sea piracy. Let us add from ourselves that the nok is the end of the yard, and the yard is a movable cross-beam on the mast, which serves to fasten the sails.
However, it rarely came to this. The pirates honored their code of honor. “If a newcomer enters the ship,” writes Exquemelin, “some property is immediately allocated to him, and they wait with payment until he has money. Those who have nothing can count on the support of their comrades."
When one of the pirates died, the rest tried to transfer his share to his relatives or his wife, and woe to the one who encroaches on this share! For women, pirates (for all, of course, we will not vouch) were chivalrous. The rape of captives was considered one of the gravest crimes and, as a rule, was punishable by death.
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Bright future
And here is the story of the idealistic pirate. How is it, you say, are there such pirates? Surely we will not undertake to assert. Maybe there are, maybe not. Let's tell this story in order, and then decide for yourself.
Map of Madagascar. The possible location of the Republic of Libertalia is marked in red.
In 1724 a book by a certain Charles Johnson was published in London under a very long title. If we cite it in full, the volume of the article will not be enough, so we will reduce to the most important thing: "The general history of robberies and murders committed by famous pirates." But here we are not interested in robberies and even more so in murders, but in one person to whom a fair part of this fundamental work is devoted.
According to Johnson (who calls himself "Captain Johnson", without specifying, however, which ship), the man's name was Misson. Now Misson was a Frenchman from Provence. As they say in old novels, "although his parents were not rich, they gave him a fair education," but the young man dreamed of the sea. He entered the ship "Victoire" as a sailor, showed himself from the best side and quickly rose to the rank of lieutenant. And the captain had to reward him with a vacation to Rome … And then it all started. Misson met the Dominican monk Caraccioli (again without a name). The monk made a huge impression on the French lieutenant with his rebellious speeches. He opposed the foundations of the state, argued that God does not approve of moneybags and tyrants, that all people are brothers, and money is the main evil. Inspired, Misson invited his new friend to join the Victoire as a sailor and begin rebuilding the world by promoting his teachings among the crew. Caraccioli agreed so readily, as if all his life he had been waiting for this. But try to promote the rude sailor! Chance helped to gain authority. The Victoire met a pirate ship, which was quick to attack the peaceful ship. Misson and Caraccioli fought with such desperate courage that, after the victory, the whole team listened to their sermons without previous distrust. And soon, in a heavy battle with the English corsair, all the officers of the Victoire were killed. Only Misson survived, thus being promoted to captain by fate. He appealed to the sailors to become free adventurers, and whoever disagrees can go ashore. Everyone agreed.
Misson and his men have become real pirate gentlemen. Their flag was not black, but white, decorated with the motto of the ideologist Caraccioli "For God and Freedom." They did not kill anyone on the captured ships, they took only the most necessary things. But if they came across a ship of slave traders, they did not stand on ceremony - they robbed cleanly, and the slaves were released.
After long wanderings, Misson and Caraccioli founded the Republic of Libertalia on the island of Madagascar, a country of justice and equality. There was no private property in Libertalia, the death penalty did not exist, the free labor of everyone for the good of everyone was considered an honorable duty. Later, the "Lieber", as they called themselves, was joined by the Caribbean pirate Thomas Tew with his ship.
Pirate ships off the Galapagos Islands. Ecuador stamp, 2006.
Alas, the longed-for paradise turned out to be short-lived. Libertalia was attacked by Malgash tribes, who sensed a living in a prosperous settlement of Europeans. Many residents died in the fighting, and Caraccioli was also killed. Misson and Tew went out into the ocean in two ships, taking away the survivors. In the thick fog, the ships lost sight of each other. What happened next to Misson is unknown, and Thomas Tew, who returned to the pirate raids, was captured by the British and was hanged. Thus ended the first, apparently in history, attempt to translate utopia into reality.
The pirate who wasn't there?
But how could it happen that only Johnson's book told about such unusual people and events? And is there really nothing else? Here, oddly enough, it has not been possible to bring clarity to this day. American historian John Moore argued that Misson's story is a hoax, and its author is none other than Daniel Defoe, who spoke under the pseudonym Charles Johnson. It may be so, but let us turn to the testimony of the Swedish Vice-Admiral Jacob Wilster, dating back to 1721 (three years before the publication of Johnson's book). According to him, Madagascar pirates twice received an audience with the King of Sweden Charles XII - in 1713 and 1718. Karl even allegedly gave them a certificate of protection, but this did not go further. Sweden lost the Northern War, and Wilster was in the service of Peter I. Peter I, according to the same Wilster,also showed a keen interest in establishing contacts with Mada-Gascar pirates. But were they "Liebers"? During those days, Madagascar served as a base for many pirate communities.
So, is it Defoe's invention or was it Libertalia? Both points of view have a right to exist. For example, unlike the dubious Misson, Thomas Tew is an unquestionably historical person. His stay in Madagascar has also been documented, as the chronicler of piracy, Adam Buldridge, writes about. He was known for his scrupulousness, he did not miss a single pirate captain in his notes, but he does not mention Misson. And about Libertalia too. Like this. In a word, think for yourself, decide for yourself …
But even if there was nothing. The very fact of the publication of the book "Captain Johnson" and the high confidence in it shows that these same pirates were not all that bad guys.
Source: "Secrets of the XX century"