12 True Pirate Facts

There was a “Golden Age of Piracy,” but piracy dates back to ancient times

For as long as there have been ships, there have been criminals who have taken to the sea. For example, historians have found evidence of pirates in the Mediterranean as far back as 1353 B.C. During that time, the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten complained of pirates who had raided his coastal cities and ports. The tyrants also threatened the trading routes of ancient Greece and looted cargoes of grain and olive oil from Roman ships, according to Royal Museums Greenwich.

However, there is a certain time span that is most famously associated with piracy. Usually referred to as the “Golden Age of Piracy,” the period between 1650 and 1720 is when these seafaring lawbreakers saw the height of their fame, according to National Geographic. During this time, infamous pirates such as Blackbeard, Calico Jack Rackham and Henry Morgan made names for themselves, according to Royal Museums Greenwich.

There were many women pirates

While men have definitely dominated the world of piracy, there have been several notorious women pirates, including France’s Jeanne de Clisson, England’s Mary Read, and Ireland’s Grace O’Malley and Anne Bonny. America’s first female pirate was Rachel Wall, who was eventually arrested for robbery and hanged at the age of 29.

Maps were just as precious as gold and silver to pirates

Pirates may have been searching for gold, silver, jewels, and rum while plundering ships, but they were also on the lookout for something that was just as valuable: maps. For instance, National Geographic describes one particular stolen Spanish atlas from 1680 as “extremely valuable pirate booty” that overjoyed pirates when they seized it, according to their detailed journals.

The manuscript was filled with precious navigational information including maps, charts, and descriptions of different places. It was so valuable that pirate Bartholomew Sharpe printed a colorful English version of it and presented it to the King of England - a gift that may have save him from execution.

Pirate Ship Captains were elected

According to the Smithsonian Institute, Captains were elected by popular vote and could be removed if their performance fell short.

Pirates abided by strict rules  - and even had a curfew

While pirates are known to be a raucous bunch, they did follow a strict set of rules - namely, the pirate code. While the exact details of the pirate code varied from ship to ship, most included an outline for disciplinary practices and how they would divide their stolen goods.

The codes also included some surprising rules of conduct. For example, in 1722, Captain Bartholomew “Black Bart” Roberts drafted a code that established the “the lights and candles are to be put out at eight o’clock at night; if any of the crew, after that hour still remained inclined for drinking, they were to do it on the open deck.” In other words, no staying up past 8 pm.

Pirate ships often had bands and theaters

Pirates often spent months and even years at sea with only occasional stops at ports that offered entertainment. But the sailors still needed to keep themselves occupied on their ships, which is why they often had bands onboard to play shanties and perform theater. 

Black Bart Roberts code included the following rule regarding the band: :The musicians shall have rest on the Sabbath Day only, by right, on all other days, by favor only.”

Pirates really did keep parrots

Because pirates lived on ships, keeping a large pet like a dog or a monkey could be difficult. A much more sensible and strategic option was a parrot. “Back home, people would pay good money for parrots and other exotic creatures, and sailors could easily buy them in many Caribbean ports,” stated Angus Konstam, historian and author of the History of Pirates. “Some were kept, but most were sold when the ship reached home. They were colorful, they could be taught to talk - always entertaining - and they fetched a good price in the bird markets of London.

Pirates slept on hammocks

When they weren’t attacking other ships or keeping watch, pirates needed to get some sleep. And while higher-ranking officers were usually lucky enough to enjoy private quarters, the rest of the crew slept in hammocks below decks. Hammocks were ideal since they would rock and sway with the ship, making for an easier night’s rest.

Pirates would maroon troublesome crewmembers on a deserted island

One of the most notoriously chilling acts associated with pirates is the fact that they would maroon troublesome crewmembers on a deserted island. Unfortunately, it’s fairly accurate. If someone on board was causing issues, they would be deposited on an uninhabited island and left to die, according to National Geographic. And just like in the movies, they would often be given a gun with a single shot so that they could end things quickly.

Julius Caesar was captured by pirates

Julius Caesar didn’t become Emperor of Rome without surviving a few dicey situations. In fact, when he was 25 years old, he was taken prisoner by pirates and held captive for 38 days. The pirates demanded ransom for Caesar’s release and, according to Britannica, “when they told him that they had set his ransom at the sum of 20 talents, he laughed at them for not knowing who it was they had captured and suggested 50 talents would be a more appropriate amount.”

On top of that, “Caesar made himself at home among the pirates, bossing them around and shushing them when he wanted to sleep. He made them listen to the speeches and poems that he was composing in his unanticipated down time and berated them as illiterates if they weren’t sufficiently impressed.” 

When the pirates were eventually paid, they kept true to their word and let him go. However, Caesar wasn’t about to forgive and forget. When he got home, he had his forces find and kill his captors.

A pirate crew once stole the equivalent of $200 million in a single plunder

Some plunders were more successful than others - that includes one score by Captain Henry Avery and his crew, who once made off with a haul of money, jewels, gold, silver, and ivory that would be worth more than $200 million today. It was the equivalent of what they would have made over the course of 20 years if they worked on a typical merchant vessel.

Blackbeard shot one of his own men just to make a point  

Blackbeard, who sailed the seas in the 1700’s, was notoriously vicious and apparently didn’t hesitate to use extreme violence when he deemed it necessary. According to National Geographic, “Tales of his cruelty were legendary…Blackbeard even shot one of his lieutenants so that he wouldn’t forget who he was.”