Pirates have long captured the imagination of people around the world. They were feared by commoners, merchants, aristocrats, and even sometimes befriended by kings. To many, pirates are seen as maritime bandits who plundered ships carrying various cargoes. Let’s embark on a journey through 22 fascinating facts about pirates, which might reveal some intriguing new insights.
- The earliest known pirates sailed the Mediterranean Sea in galleys, swift ships with numerous rowers. Modern pirates, like those off the coast of Somalia (Africa), use small motorboats.
- Pirate ships were typically faster and better equipped than the vessels they preyed upon, enabling surprise attacks.
- The first recorded pirates emerged near the coasts of Greece and Asia Minor (now Turkey) in the 8th century BCE.
- The largest slave market in the Mediterranean was on the Greek island of Delos, where up to 10,000 slaves could be sold in a day.
- In 75 BCE, the young Roman aristocrat Julius Caesar was captured by Cilician pirates, who demanded a ransom of 20 talents (650 kg) of silver.
- By 67 BCE, Cilician pirates had become such a nuisance to Rome that Pompey, a leading general, was granted special powers to wage war against them.
- From the 16th to 19th centuries, Muslim pirates from North Africa, known as Barbary corsairs, terrorized European coastlines.
- Pirate ships were fast, well-equipped, and capable of withstanding rough weather.
- Despite the dangers, the life of a pirate was often more alluring than that of a sailor on a military or merchant ship.
- With little discipline and plenty of free time, pirates frequently drank rum or other strong spirits for hours.
- Pirates often followed a set of rules known as a “code,“ which everyone was required to adhere to.
- Pirates enjoyed playing cards and dice.
- For desertion or stealing from fellow pirates, the perpetrator would be marooned on a deserted island or uninhabited coastline, left to starve.
- Pirate attacks began with a broadside volley, aiming all side-mounted cannons at the target to destroy its masts and perforate its sails and rigging.
- The skull and crossbones is the most famous variant of the pirate flag.
- Upon capturing a ship, pirates thoroughly searched it for treasures or anything useful for their own vessel.
- Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, was among the most feared pirates.
- Captured English pirates were often sent to London for trial.
- The most famous pirates, like Henry Morgan and Blackbeard, lived between 1650 and 1720, a period known as the “Golden Age of Piracy.“
- Blackbeard intentionally cultivated a fearsome appearance to encourage enemies to surrender without a fight.
- Pirates in the Mediterranean were known as corsairs.
- The Barbarossa brothers were among the most formidable Mediterranean corsairs.
These facts reveal the diverse and complex history of piracy, from ancient times to the present day, illustrating the enduring allure and fear associated with these maritime outlaws.
