Despite the great success of Pirates of the Caribbean, in reality the corsairs were not at all what they were portrayed in the film. They plundered ships in the Caribbean between 1640 and 1680, and the main purpose of their raids was gold, which the Spaniards exported in large quantities from Latin America.
The pirates, namely the French, English and Dutch, were not, as described in literature and cinema, a disorganized gang of alcoholics. In fact, they obeyed a code of honor, which provided for the distribution of loot by rank. Sea robbers had a much better chance of becoming rich than men who served in the navy, so the "pirate business" was very popular.
In the 18th century, piracy as a phenomenon disappeared as a result of many, including economic, reasons. Most believe that the pirate flag is the "Jolly Roger" (a black cloth with a skull and crossbones). However, in fact, many famous pirates had their own unique flags. They were most often black, but they could depict a red rooster, crossed swords, an hourglass and even a lamb.
In many cases, pirate ships flew under the official flag of a state, and the victim learned too late that the ship was actually far from friendly. For a long time this occupation was not at all considered shameful, but even commendable. And this is quite understandable, because it was fraught with great risk, demanded great courage and courage from people. Epic poems are replete with stories of sea robberies, the attitude to which is highly sympathetic. For example, the campaign of the Argonauts is, in essence, a real robber expedition, but it is praised as a heroic feat. As for the "classic Jolly Roger", then such a flag was first seen at the French pirate Emmanuel Wayne in the early 18th century.
Many pirates who actually lived later became heroes of books and films. Here are just the most famous ones:
Blackbeard
His real name is Edward Teach, he became famous for his large beard, excessive cruelty and a buried treasure that was never found. It was first mentioned in Spanish chronicles in 1716. He took on board ships that were many times more powerful than his fleet. Modern psychologists assess him as a psychopath. Eyewitnesses say that he only killed his relative because the sailors said he treated them badly. He never parted with a pistol, a knife and a sword. I used this trick: I set myself on fire. But the appointed person put it out in time, and the enemy was already demoralized.
Promotional video:
Bartolomeo Roberts
Considered the most successful pirate of all this "activity". He was born in 1621 and had strange habits. He dressed in a red tuxedo, which was decorated with a herbarium of dried flowers around the perimeter. Roberts was a very religious person and wore a cross adorned with diamonds. From drinks he preferred tea (and not rum). Roberts sank over 400 ships. He died in 1722.
Edward Love
This corsair had the habit of cutting off the noses, ears, lips of the prisoners, which he then boiled and forced the victims themselves to eat. He was caught and executed by the French in 1724.
Henry Morgan
Born in 1635 in England into a family of a wealthy farmer. Having no inclination to continue his father's business, he hired a cabin boy on a ship and upon arrival on the island of Barbados was sold into slavery - for that time it was a common thing. However, slavery was not indefinite - after working for several years and paying the owner a ransom, Morgan moved to Jamaica and there joined the company of English filibusters. For several successful raids, he amassed a small capital and, multiplying it with a successful dice game, bought a ship. Morgan, distinguished for his courage and cunning, was unanimously elected captain. His ship joined the fleet of the old Dutch pirate Mensfeld, who soon noted the red-haired Englishman's abilities and made him his "vice admiral." Morgan chose a new strategy - an attack on the coastal cities. In the past, pirates have sometimes attacked weakly defended settlements, where Spanish soldiers readily raised the white flag at the very first shots. Morgan wanted more. He often said: “Where the Spaniards resist, there is something to profit from. The most fortified cities are the richest."
EKATERINA SHEVCHENKO