Pirates refer to criminals who specialize in robbing other ships at sea. It's a very old criminal industry. Pirates have been around for as long as ships have been sailing. Especially after the 16th century when navigation developed, pirates existed in coastal areas with developed commerce. What is unique about this criminal industry is that most pirates are not individual criminals, but often rob in the form of criminal groups.
The history of piracy can be traced back to 3,000 years ago, but the precise definition of piracy must be related to the word "pirate". In English, the word piracy has many different meanings, and some of the meanings of the word itself are almost useless today. The earliest use of the word piracy was before the 17th century. The word pirate (peirato) was first used by the ancient Roman historian Polybius in about 140 BC. The Greek historian Brodak gave the earliest clear definition of piracy around 100 AD. He described pirates as those who illegally attack ships and coastal cities. Piracy first appeared in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, and for many years the word remained without a unified definition. The Norwegian raiders from the 9th to the 11th century AD were not called pirates. People called them "Danes" or "Vikings." Another popular meaning of the word in medieval England was "pirates." The definition of pirate most closely associated with the modern word emerged in the 18th century as "outlaw"; this meant that you could kill them at any time even if you were not a soldier. The earliest international law also included laws against piracy. This is due to the fact that most pirates operate outside the borders of all countries.
Sometimes governments gave pirates the right to fight on behalf of their country. The most popular form was to grant a license to the owners of private ships to attack enemy ships on behalf of the king - known as privateers. But in fact many privateers who were captured by enemy forces ignored the permits they had and were tried as illegal outlaws.
There are quite a few classics in the world recording the deeds of pirates. Therefore, there are many ancient words specifically referring to pirates of a certain period, such as the Chinese word "buccaneer", and the English word "buccaneer" especially refers to the pirates who plundered Spanish ships in the West Indies in the 17th and 18th centuries (generally translated as "buccaneer pirates"). ").
During the period from 1691 to 1723, it was called the 30-year "golden age" of piracy. Thousands of pirates were active on commercial routes. The end of this era ended with Basalo Marked by the death of Mew Roberts.
In addition, many great politicians and explorers also came from pirate families. For example, the father of Zheng Chenggong of the Zheng Dynasty in Taiwan, Zheng Zhilong, was originally a pirate, the British explorer Francis Drake, the Danish King Harald Gormsson in the 10th century, etc.
The famous modern pirate nation is the Moros of the Philippines. The Strait of Malacca in the Malaysian area of ??the Indian Ocean is the sea area most visited by pirates.
Symbols and Flags
In all ages and countries, ships have hung various signs on their masts that indicate their country or other attributes - small flags , pennant, banner, military flag.
Pirates are no exception in this regard. They have hoisted flags on the masts of their ships throughout the ages. There are many kinds of flags, but they do not have strictly defined functions, so they cannot be clearly classified. Nor can we say with any certainty what flags the pirates of the Caribbean flew on their masts, and what flags the pirates of the Mediterranean flew. Anyone who attempts to determine which pirates fly which flags (as if he knows) will be thoroughly disappointed.
For example, it is generally believed that the so-called "Jolly Roger" - a flag with a skull and skeleton - is a "pirate" of Caribbean pirates or pirates operating in other seas in the late Middle Ages. "Business House" flag. However, the latest scientific work casts doubt on this seemingly well-established fact.
Now, based on ancient documents, it has been established that the pirates of Cilicia hoisted flags on their ships' masts with skulls and skeletons - symbols of death - to frighten their enemies. In this way, it turns out that the "Jolly Roger" that has been eulogized more than once has far-reaching origins.
However, this symbol is not the only mark of pirates of all ages and peoples. For example, Roman pirates were happy to decorate their sails with the scepter of the god Mercury. Among the polytheistic symbols of the era was a scepter entwined with two snakes. The scepter is the symbol of Mercury, the Roman god of trade, who also protects clever people, liars and thieves. Therefore, the Roman pirates did not choose Mercury as their patron god for no reason. But they did this without forgetting the other gods - used as pirate icons were Athena's owl, Zeus' eagle, Diana's deer.
In the 11th century, Danish pirates used embroidery to decorate their flags. The embroidered pattern was a black crow with spread wings and an open beak. William the Conqueror's flagship, the Mora, had a coat of arms with a cross on the mast and an image of an angel blowing a trumpet on the stern post.
The flags of the Normans (referring to warships) usually depict dragons; the patterns used on merchant ships are lambs. In both ships, the flag is mounted on the bow from the right.
However, the most famous pirate symbol is the so-called "Jolly Roger" - a black flag with a skull and skeleton that pirates hoisted to their masts before attacking enemy ships. The flag's history is long and complex, with many ambiguities, but it can be summarized as follows.
Historians assert that the white skull wrapped in a turban painted on a large red canvas originated from the famous Valvari pirate Barbarossa II in the 19th century. It was on his ship that this flag began to fly.
As for the later era, according to the king's order, starting from 1694, in addition to the national flag, the British armed civilian ships must raise their masts before engaging in boarding battles. A red flag. It seems to be a warning to the attacked: If you resist, you will not be forgiven.
But as time went on, the red Jolly Roger began to give way more and more frequently to the black Jolly Roger—“Jolly Roger.” The origin of this name is not clear. Some believe that it appeared in the late 17th and early 18th centuries and was none other than a pidgin version of the French term "Joli Ronge" used by French pirates.
The second speculation is that this name originated from the Eastern Sea and means the title "Ali Raja, (Ali Raja) - the "King of the Sea". The British named these two The word is pronounced "Olly Roger"
There is also the following explanation: This statement comes from the word "roger" - a begging tramp. Published in England in 1725. There is a phrase in the dictionary of "Old Roger," which means the devil.
As we have seen, at the beginning, the pirates raised either red flags or black flags, and there were no patterns on the flags. Some people believe that skulls and skeletons, as the exclusive symbols of pirates, appeared on the flag of the French pirate Emmanuel Way in 1700. In addition to the skull and bones, the flag also has an hourglass that tells time. It also has a clear meaning: to suggest to the person being attacked that before the hourglass clears, they still have time to consider their situation and make a decision to surrender.
There is also a flag that depicts a skeleton holding an hourglass in one hand and a still-bloody dart pierced by a spear in the other hand. Heart.
There is evidence that some pirates use white flags with black skulls and skeletons, and an inscription below the pattern: "For God and Freedom."
Pirates would also often raise two flags - first the "Jolly Roger" and then the red flag. The first flag seemed to invite the other side to surrender voluntarily.
If the invitation is rejected, a red flag will fly from the pirate ship's mast. It proves that enemies will not be forgiven.
But what conclusion should be drawn from all the above? There is undoubtedly only one conclusion: no matter what flag the pirates fly on their ships - black flag, white flag or red flag, they Always the same flag of death.
Historians assert that the white skull wrapped in a turban painted on a large red canvas originated from the famous Valvari pirate Barbarossa II in the 19th century. It was on his ship that this flag began to fly.
As for the later era, according to the king's order, starting from 1694, in addition to the national flag, the British armed civilian ships must raise their masts before engaging in boarding battles. A red flag. It seems to be a warning to the attacked: If you resist, you will not be forgiven.
But as time went on, the red Jolly Roger began to give way more and more frequently to the black Jolly Roger—“Jolly Roger.” The origin of this name is not clear. Some believe that it appeared in the late 17th and early 18th centuries and was none other than a pidgin version of the French term "Joli Ronge" used by French pirates.
The second speculation is that this name originated from the Eastern Sea and means the title "Ali Raja, (Ali Raja) - the "King of the Sea". The British named these two The word is pronounced "Olly Roger"
There is also the following explanation: This statement comes from the word "roger" - a begging tramp. Published in England in 1725. There is a phrase in the dictionary of "Old Roger," which means the devil.
As we have seen, at the beginning, the pirates raised either red flags or black flags, and there were no patterns on the flags. Some people believe that skulls and skeletons, as the exclusive symbols of pirates, appeared on the flag of the French pirate Emmanuel Way in 1700. In addition to the skull and bones, the flag also has an hourglass that tells time. It also has a clear meaning: to suggest to the person being attacked that before the hourglass clears, they still have time to consider their situation and make a decision to surrender.
There is also a flag that depicts a skeleton holding an hourglass in one hand and a still-bloody dart pierced by a spear in the other hand. Heart.
There is evidence that some pirates use white flags with black skulls and skeletons, and an inscription below the pattern: "For God and Freedom."
Pirates would also often raise two flags - first the "Jolly Roger" and then the red flag. The first flag seemed to invite the other side to surrender voluntarily. If the invitation is rejected, a red flag will fly from the pirate ship's mast. It proves that enemies will not be forgiven.
But what conclusion should be drawn from all the above? There is undoubtedly only one conclusion: no matter what flag the pirates fly on their ships - black flag, white flag or red flag, they Always the same flag of death.
The earliest record of pirates was in 1350 BC. The Nordic Vikings and the Mediterranean Phoenicians were both renowned pirates. The Middle Ages was a period of development of pirates. From 800 to 1100 AD, the ancestors of the Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes fought on the coast of Europe and earned the title of so-called "Vikings."
History of the evolution of pirates:
The earliest record of pirates appeared in 1350 BC, which was recorded on a clay inscription. Greek merchants were occasionally attacked by pirates while trading in Mediterranean ports like Phoenicia and Anatolia.
During the ancient Roman period, piracy activities in the Eastern Mediterranean were rampant. The Roman military commander Pompey once built a fleet specifically to fight against pirates. The once-lost Yuri Caesar was even captured by pirates. After that, he carried out brutal revenge and mobilized his fleet to completely destroy the pirates' lair in Farmakuz.
The Roman Senate was unwilling to suppress the pirates, however, because their presence was in their interest: to provide thousands of slaves and disrupt the grain trade so that they could drive up prices and profit from it. In the ancient Roman period and before, piracy was limited to the Mediterranean, but after entering the Middle Ages, it became popular in Northern Europe.
The Middle Ages
The Middle Ages were the period of development of pirates and the period when the Vikings became famous. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records an attack in 787 BC: three Viking ships attacked the monastery of Lindisfarne on the coast of England, where they "plundered and ravaged everything inhumanely, dug up the altar and All the treasures in this holy church were looted."
From 800 to 1100 AD, pirates became an important social role in Northern Europe. The ancestors of the Danes, like the ancestors of the Norwegians and Swedes, fought on the coasts of Europe and earned the so-called "Vikings" title. When archaeologists excavated a pirate tomb in Sweden, they discovered silver coins from Spain, Egypt, Syria, Baghdad, and the Central Asian city of Tashkent. At his side were axes, spears and daggers, several knives, a shield and a belt buckle.
Pirates have also begun to appear on the southeastern coast of Asia, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. With the decline of central power in the 13th century, pirates became rampant along the coast of China. They often drove ships that could carry 300 people to the shore at will and looted a village.
Discovering the New World
At the beginning of the 16th century, pirates began to become more famous, and their ships became larger and faster. With the discovery of the New World and the expansion of colonies, various ships loaded with gold and other cargo sailed around the world. The competing interests of various countries and their ambitions for colonies made sailors find it very easy to legalize cruel piracy. At that time, British privateers could attack and rob Spanish cargo ships with impunity.
Private license sounds a bit gangster logic. For example, a Dutch merchant whose goods were stolen in Germany and who could not obtain compensation for his loss through legal or diplomatic means could obtain a privateering license from the Dutch government, which allowed him to capture German merchant ships came to make up for the losses. In fact, governments later used these licenses as national tools to strengthen their navies, allowing their countries to create an additional maritime force capable of attacking enemy merchant ships out of thin air without increasing their budgets. Captured ships had to be taken to the Admiralty to confirm that they were legal game and not the property of a neutral nation. The use of privateering licenses ended in 1856, when a number of countries signed a declaration in Paris. The United States and several other countries were late to sign the treaty. At that time, the United States mainly relied on privateering to expand their maritime power because they lacked a strong navy. According to records, Turkish pirates hijacked 466 merchant ships in the Mediterranean from 1609 to 1616; and in 1625, 27 merchant ships were hijacked within ten days. After the discovery of the New World, maritime transportation in the Caribbean was extremely prosperous, and piracy in this area became unprecedentedly rampant, pointing the finger at the "exclusive plunderers" Spanish cargo ships in this area.
Golden Age
The golden age of piracy was from 1691 to 1723. During this period, a group of very famous pirate leaders emerged. The famous "Blackbeard" Edward Teach, Captain Kidd, and "Black Baronet" Roberts have all become legends in the history of pirates.
Roberts was born in Wales in 1682. When "Blackbeard" became famous along the American coast, he was the first mate of a Barbadian merchant ship. After being an ordinary sailor for nearly 20 years, he finally realized: "Anyway, if you steal a shilling, you will be hanged, why not steal a larger fortune!" Therefore, he joined Captain Davis's pirate ship. Davis was killed in a battle with the Portuguese, and Roberts was elected captain. In September 1719, the "Royal Wanderer" under his command robbed a fleet of 42 Portuguese merchant ships.
In June 1720, the "Royal Wanderer" hung the skull and crossbones flag high, swaggered into Trebasi Port, plundered more than 150 ships moored here, and selected the best clipper ship among them. His new flagship, Roberts named it Royal Bliss. Later, in three days in October, they captured 15 British and French ships in the Dominican area and sank a Dutch warship with 42 cannons...
On the morning of February 10, 1722, in Africa At Cape Lopez, the "Royal Bliss" encountered the Royal Navy cruiser "Royal Swallow". A piece of shrapnel exploded Roberts' throat, killing him on the spot. During his pirate career, Roberts robbed more than 400 ships. He had a very complex personality and was also a person who paid great attention to rules. There is a ship rule formulated by Roberts that stipulates: 1. Everyone has to deal with daily affairs. Have equal voting rights; 2. Stealing a friend's property will result in being abandoned on a desert island; 3. Gambling on the ship is strictly prohibited; 4. Turn off the lights at 8 o'clock in the evening; 5. Do not wear unclean weapons, and you must always clean your guns and knives; 6. Children are not allowed on board, and those who seduce women will die; 7. Those who escape from the battle will die; 8. Private fights are strictly prohibited, but duels are allowed in the presence of a notary. Those who kill their companions must be tied with the deceased and thrown into the sea. ; 9. Those who are disabled during the battle can stay on the ship and receive 800 Spanish silver coins from the "public savings"; 10. When dividing the spoils, the captain and helmsman will get two shares of the spoils, the gunner will get one and a half shares, and everyone else will. Got 1 and 1/4 servings.
The suspense of "Treasure Island"
The largest "deal" in the history of pirates, the so-called "Lima Treasure" case, occurred in 1821. At that time, the army led by Simon Bolivar, the famous leader against Spanish colonial rule in South America, approached Lima, the capital of Peru. Lima was considered the richest city in South America, with countless gold ingots, gold coins, Inca gold ornaments, religious Temple valuables, necklaces, rings, gem-encrusted weapons, gold statues, etc. These treasures were loaded onto a British two-masted sailing ship, the "Mary Keel", which came from Bristol, England and was commanded by Dutch captain Viljam Thomson, who was known for his loyalty and reliability at the time. One night after the "Mary Gere" set sail, Thomson led the sailors into the cabin and killed the Governor and Archbishop of Lima who were escorting the ship. The pirate flag was raised on the ship.
Since then, the whereabouts of this huge wealth has been cast a shadow of unknown. There is a local rumor that the treasure was buried on Kokosov Island, a small island in the Pacific. This island is not far from the southwest coast of Costa Rica. Interestingly, it is this island described in Stevenson's famous book "Treasure Island".
Resurgence
With the development of technology, especially the use of steam engines, and the strengthening of coastal patrols by various countries’ naval strength, pirates almost disappeared for a long time from the end of the 18th century to the beginning of the 19th century. disappeared, and people only know pirate stories and legends from novels, plays, and paintings.
In the summer of 1981, a Cuban ship discovered a "ghost ship" near the Bahamas. It was traveling with full sail and did not answer any signals. The sides were covered with bullet holes, and the deck was full of bloodstains... It was later found out that the sailing ship was called "Kalia-III". It had sent a distress telegram two days ago, saying that it was attacked by four unmarked speedboats. .
Previously, on the sea only 70 nautical miles away from Havana, several unmarked motorboats tracked and fired machine guns at a Spanish dry cargo ship "Sinara Aranzasu". The ship was bound for Cuba, carrying provisions, cloth and children's toys. Soon a fire broke out on the ship, and the crew had to abandon the ship and jump into the sea. However, the pirates had already arranged a "hunting activity". They searched for those who fell into the water and shot them one by one. This is where modern pirates come into play.
Pirates have a long history. It can be said that as long as there are sea ships, there are also pirates. The Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire both tried to establish their rule in the Mediterranean, but in the end they failed to eradicate piracy in the Mediterranean. Pirates raged throughout the Middle Ages, expanding their scope from the Mediterranean to the English Channel and the Atlantic.
Pirates: A tough itch for the Roman Empire
Since the 5th century BC, the Romans had to painstakingly deal with pirates on the islands of Corsica and Sasa. Although the establishment of Roman colonial rule curbed the increasing momentum of piracy to a certain extent, the biggest threat still came from these two inaccessible islands. Since the Romans could not catch the elusive pirate ships, they wanted to wipe out the pirates by eradicating their rear bases.
On the northern shore of the Apennine Peninsula, Ligurians frequently attacked small boats. After several years of hard work, Rome finally gained a foothold here and exiled some Ligurians to central Italy. But the many small islands scattered along the Illyrian coast of the Adriatic Sea are still home to "barbarian peoples" who rob passing ships. They were good at building ships and often harassed the Italian coast. The kingdom ruled by Queen Teta became a real "country of plunderers". It was not until Rome sent troops in 219 BC that her rule ended.
The Romans themselves were also harassed by Crete pirates. In 189 BC, more than 4,000 Romans were taken captive to the island. However, Rome at that time had been at war with the Seleucid Kingdom ruled by King Antiochus for many years and did not want to get involved in the matter anymore. Italian merchants also saw business opportunities from piracy, because pirates brought them a tamed labor force. Delos became a stronghold for human trafficking with pirates from Cilesia, Crete and Aetolia. Beginning in the 2nd century BC, pirates landed on Sicily. They plundered the Roman fleet and caused unrest in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In Silesia, south of Asia Minor, there are several gangs of rampant pirates hiding on maze-like islands. They also built two strong castles to challenge Roman territory. They formed an alliance with Mithridates VI, the most powerful king in Asia Minor. Angry Rome sent troops to attack the pirates many times, but they were not thorough enough.
In the 1st century BC, pirate activities became more rampant. They attacked cargo ships transporting grain, and even dared to rob the ships of Roman provincial governors. This time, Rome took serious action: in 67 BC, Rome decided to send General Pompey to eliminate pirates. Pompey led 5,000 warships and 120,000 soldiers to the Mediterranean, destroying the pirates' nest. The remaining pirates were either incorporated into the Roman army or moved to some agricultural areas to start farming. The Mediterranean Sea has returned to its former calm.
Later, the peace of Roman maritime territory was broken by pirates again, this time in the form of an uprising against Roman rule. The most unsafe were the waters that bordered Rome: the Atlantic, Black and Red Seas. Although there are troops stationed in the ports here, they are beyond their reach and unable to monitor the vast waters, so pirates are able to breed again. After the 3rd century AD, frequent wars were accompanied by serious economic and political crises, which provided fertile soil for the prosperity of pirates. The peaceful days of the Roman Empire were gone forever, and the shadow of piracy once again enveloped the Mediterranean region.