The "golden age of pirates" is considered by historians ro run from 1700 to about 1725. "During this time, thousands of men (and women, yess women) turned to piracy as a way to make a living." It is known as the “Golden Age” because conditions were perfect for pirates to flourish, and many of the individuals we associate with piracy, such as Blackbeard, “Calico Jack” Rackham, or “Black Bart” Roberts, were active during this time.
1, Not all pirates buried treasure. Captain William Kidd did, but most pirates did not. And here's why. First of all, most of the loot gathered after a raid or attack was quickly divided up among the crew, who would rather spend it than bury it. Secondly, much of the “treasure” consisted of perishable goods like fabric, cocoa, food or other things that would quickly become ruined if buried. The popularity of the novel, Treasure Island, helped perpetuate the myth of buried treasure.
2. A pirate's career didn't last very long. "Most pirates didn’t last very long. It was a tough line of work: many were killed or injured in battle or in fights amongst themselves, and medical facilities were usually non-existent. Even the most famous pirates, such as Blackbeard or Bartholomew Roberts, only were active in piracy for a couple of years. Roberts, who had a very long and successful career for a pirate, was only active for about three years from 1719 to 1722."
3. Pirating had rules and regulations. If you're a fan of pirate movies then you might believe that being a pirate was pretty easy. For example, it appears they didn't have rules other than to attack rich Spanish galleons, drink rum and swing around in the rigging. In reality, most pirate crews had a code which all members were required to acknowledge or sign. These rules included punishments for lying, stealing or fighting on board (fighting on shore was OK). Pirates took these articles very seriously and punishments could be severe. For its day, the pirate industry was fairly well regulated. Who knew?
4. Pirates didn't really walk the plank. Yep. Sorry to disillusion you but this is just another myth. A few pirates did walk the plank but after the Golden Age. During their heyday, though, it was not a common punishment. "Not that pirates didn’t have effective punishments, mind you. Pirates who committed an infraction could be marooned on an island, whipped, or even “keel-hauled,” a vicious punishment in which a pirate was tied to a rope and then thrown overboard: he was then dragged down one side of the ship, under the vessel, over the keel and then back up the other side. This doesn’t sound too bad until you remember that ship bottoms were usually covered with barnacles, often resulting in very serious injuries."
5. A good pirate ship had good officers. Really? It appears that this is true. A pirate ship was much more than a boatload of outlaws, thieves, and killers. In fact, most pirate ships were well-oiled machines. Each ship had clear officers and a division of labor that was strictly adhered to. "The captain decided where to go and when, and which enemy ships to attack. He also had absolute command during battle. The quartermaster oversaw the ship’s operation and divided up the loot. There were other positions, including boatswain, carpenter, cooper, gunner, and navigator. Success as a pirate ship depended on these men carrying out their tasks efficiently and supervising the men under their command."
6. Pirates didn't just limit themselves to the Caribbean. The Caribbean was a great place for pirates: there was little or no law, there were plenty of uninhabited islands for hideouts, and many merchant vessels passed through. But the pirates of the “Golden Age” did not only work there. Many crossed the ocean to stage raids off the west coast of Africa, including the legendary “Black Bart” Roberts. Others sailed as far as the Indian Ocean to work the shipping lanes of southern Asia: it was in the Indian Ocean that Henry “Long Ben” Avery made one of the biggest scores ever: the rich treasure ship Ganj-i-Sawai.
7. There were women pirates. It was indeed pretty rare but there were a few women pirates. "The most famous examples were Anne Bonny and Mary Read, who sailed with “Calico Jack” Rackham in 1719. Bonny and Read dressed as men and reportedly fought just as well (or better than) their male counterparts. When Rackham and his crew were captured, Bonny and Read announced that they were both pregnant and thus avoided being hanged along with the others."
8. Piracy was often better than the alternatives. We often think of pirates as men who couldn't find any other way of supporting themselves. But wasn't always the case. "Many pirates chose the life, and whenever a pirate stopped a merchant ship, it was not uncommon for a handful of merchant crewmen to join the pirates. This was because “honest” work at sea consisted of either merchant or military service, both of which featured abominable conditions. Sailors were underpaid, routinely cheated of their wages, beaten at the slightest provocation and often forced to serve. It should surprise no one that many would willingly choose the more humane and democratic life on board a pirate vessel."
9. Pirates came from all social classes. This was probably the most surprising fact for me. it turns out that not all pirates were uneducated thugs and hoodlums. "Some of them came from higher social classes as well. William Kidd was a decorated sailor and very wealthy man when he set out in 1696 on a pirate-hunting mission: he turned pirate shortly thereafter. Another example is Major Stede Bonnet, who was a wealthy plantation owner in Barbados before he outfitted a ship and became a pirate in 1717: some say he did it to get away from a nagging wife!" And finally.
10. Not all pirates were criminals. But that depends on your point of view and what country you were working for. Case in point. "During wartime, nations would often issue Letters of Marque and Reprisal, which allowed ships to attack enemy ports and vessels. Usually, these ships kept the plunder or shared some of it with the government that had issued the letter. These men were called “privateers,” and the most famous examples were Sir Francis Drake and Captain Henry Morgan. These Englishmen never attacked English ships, ports or merchants and were considered great heroes by the common folk of England. The Spanish, however, considered them pirates."
That does it for me today. Don't forget, tomorrow is Wednesday and that means a visit from Dharma Frog. After he finishes my lesson tomorrow, I'm off for a few days of R & R with friends and family. It's usually around this time of year that little brother Quigley and I go on our annual camping trip. This is a tradition we started 3 or 4 years ago and I look forward to it every summer. Until we meet again, I wish you