Aug 18, 2021 · The Jolly Roger with its white skull and crossbones set against a black background has become a rather jovial part of pirate folklore but, in its day, this flag and others with similar blood-curdling designs, had a single and terrifying purpose.

Oct 29, 2023 · The classic pirate flag is a white skull over crossed bones on a black background. The use of this flag by pirates dates back to the early 18th century Golden Age of Piracy. Though associated with all pirates, the design was particularly used by …

Jolly Roger is the traditional English name for the ensign flown to identify a pirate ship preceding or during an attack, during the early 18th century (the latter part of the Golden Age of Piracy).

Feb 25, 2025 · The Jolly Roger is a flag design that was used by pirates and privateers to frighten the crews of other ships into submission. It is most recognizable by its white skull-and-crossbones design on a black background.

In the following list, we take a look at 10 famous pirate flags whose sight would strike fear into the hearts of sailors from the Caribbean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.

Nov 2, 2018 · The earliest use of a black flag with a white skull and crossbones is credited to the French pirate captain Emanuel Wynn in 1700. Wynn’s flag also used an hourglass image to symbolize that whoever saw it was running out of time.

Aug 23, 2022 · With its black and white design featuring a skull and crossbones, the 18th-century pirate flag known as the Jolly Roger signaled that a bloody attack was imminent. Not every version of the Jolly Roger looked the same — and some even swapped the skull and crossbones for a simple, blood-red skeleton.

Jul 15, 2015 · Why do pirates display a flag? to tell ships “don’t mess with us” or “surrender now”? Did a pirate ship put up many different flags – sometimes black, sometimes red – and sometimes non-pirate flags (to trick people)?

May 6, 2022 · Black Bart was associated with the black flag with a white skeleton, a white pirate, and an hourglass between them. In historical pirate flags, he was the first to signal that the time was running out for his victims.

Pirates used their flags to let ships know that they were dangerous. Early on in piracy history, pirates flew simple red flags or black flags. You can trace the origin of the red flag back to the late 1600s.