Pirate Flags are not something created for the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ films, or a figment of the imagination. They are REAL! And the actual flag used on ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movies is of Calico Jack Rackham with a skull and crossed cutlasses. Each Pirate ship carried its own version of the flag, created for the ships Captain and Crew.
During the years of exploration, it was important to know the difference between friendly ships and enemy ones. Flags were used as a way of intimidating anyone who encountered these ships, and played a big part in creating a reputation for the ship.
Pirate flags are not always black, because the original ones flown by early Pirates were actually RED!
Both black and red carried a strong message. The red flags early pirates sailed under represented Bloodshed and a warning, and indicated no quarter would be given to those who crossed its path. The Pirates hoped that the sight of this flag would lead to speedy surrender and an easy victory. Black flags were mostly used on Plague ships as a warning, so the progression to Black flags was natural as it already represented Death. The Pirates called this the ‘Banner of King Death’.
The flags became more elaborate and unique by using symbols of death or violence, eg as Skull and Crossbones, a Cutlass or an Hourglass suggesting the enemies time was up! Probably the most well-known Pirate of them all, Blackbeard was thought to have flown under a black flag that featured a skeleton standing next to a bleeding heart, holding an hourglass in one hand and a spear in the other!
Most pirate flags are referred to as ‘Jolly Roger’s’ or ‘Skull and Crossbones’. It is easy to see where the name Skull and Crossbones comes from but there are several possibilities for the name Jolly Roger. The most probable are; the English pronunciation of the French term ‘Jolie Rouge’ (Red Flag). It is also possibly from the word Rouge, meaning thief or vagabond. The final theory is that it came from the phrase ‘Old Roger’ which was an English slang term for the Devil. The pirate costume tradition is therefore steeped in history.