Pretty Red Flags

The origin and antiquity of the pirate's infamous banner is an open question. The first reference to the "Jolly Roger'' as such appears in the Oxford English Dictionary dated 1724. But the use of similar flags undoubtedly dates back further. While the buccaneers like other privateers sailed under the colors of the nation which had issued their commission, they often flew a bright red pennant when they approached a ship. The red flag's color was symbolic, supposedly having been dipped in blood. Its meaning was simple enough, it was a command to surrender and a warning, that no quarter would be given if any resistance was offered.

When the age of the buccaneers came to an end in 1691 the red flag survived them. Captain Henry Every (1695) patriotic pirate that he was, generally flew the cross of St. George along with his own colors, a red field with four silver chevrons. If the ship resisted, Every hoisted a plain red flag indicating that his offer of quarter was withdrawn.

The first use of the now famous black flag was circa 1700 when Emanuel Wayne flew a flag with the famous "skull and crossed bones" emblem. His ensign also carried the silhouette of an hour glass to let his victims know that their time was running out. This flag soon became the common emblem of pirates the world over, with each of the great pirate chiefs having his own individual design. Emanuel Wayne and Richard Worley flew the most traditional pattern, that having the crossed bones behind the skull. Henry Every, Edward England, and Walter Kennedy's flags placed the bones just below the skull.

Christopher Moody also used this arrangement but he placed three death's heads in a line on a long narrow masthead pennant. Thomas Tew flew a flag showing a drawn sword, an obvious enough threat. "Calico" Jack Rackharn flew a skull and crossed swords, and Edward Low's flag had a full skeleton in red on the black field. Still other Captains created flags depicting scenes of violence, with obvious propaganda value. Blackbeard"s flag featured a horned skeleton holding in one hand an hourglass and in the other a spear about to pierce a bloody heart. Bartholomew Roberts had perhaps the most personal emblem of all. He showed himself standing astride two skulls, one bearing the legend "ABH" and the other "AMH" or "A Barbadian's Head" and "A Martiniqan's Head." Roberts made good on at least half his threat when in 1720 he hanged the governor of Martinique from a yardarm.

The curiously appropriate name of the Jolly Roger probably points to the immediate ancestors of the pirates, the buccaneers. Like many names of that period "Jolly Roger" is probably derived from the French, Joli Rouge or "Pretty Red" a gallows humor reference to the buccaneer's red war ensign.

It might also be that the title Ali Raja which meant "king of the sea" could have been, like "Joli Rouge'' just as easily corrupted into "Jolly Roger." The name might even be explained as an extension of the English word "roger" which meant vagabond, closely related to the word "rogue." Yet another possible derivation is hinted at by an entry in a dictionary of 1725 which defines "Old Roger" as a synonym for the devil. -

By DC SMITH


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