Jolly Roger - the famous pirate black flag with a human skull and crossbones. This intimidating banner, along with dozens of others, was used by corsairs in XVII-XVIII centuries. And although a single pirate flag never existed, it was the Jolly Roger that became the most recognizable and most often associated in world culture with piracy.
The first ship symbols
For many centuries, it has been a rather difficult task for navigators around the world to determine the friendliness or hostility of oncoming ships. With the beginning of the intensive development of naval artillery in the 16th century, the need to identify ships became especially acute.
Historically, the first ships that carried the symbols of their native state were warships that were part of the royal flotillas. As a rule, sails were used to indicate belonging to a particular fleet, however, due to the considerable cost of their manufacture, stern flags began to be used.
Corsairs who were in the service of any country usually used generally accepted State symbols. But those sailors who robbed the sea on their own had to use signal pennants, which performed the task of intimidating a potential enemy.
The black flag meant an order for an immediate stop and surrender. If the ship did not respond to the warning, a red flag was raised, indicating the intention to board the ship and the impossibility of showing mercy. But then these flags began to get more complex and individual…
Terminology controversy
According to one version, the "Jolly Roger" comes from the French "Joyeux Rouge" (bright red). It was a blood-red flag, the colors of war. Perhaps later the British remade "Rouge" into the more familiar word "Roger", and "Joyeux" into "Jolly", that is, "Merry".
Another version looks no less plausible. During an epidemic of plague, cholera or other deadly disease, a special flag was raised on ships - two diagonal white stripes on a black background. This was a signal to other ships to stay away, and was often used as a deterrent by pirates to avoid being attacked by powerful warships. Over time, the white stripes could transform into crossbones.
The third version of the origin of the Jolly Roger is associated with the Tamil pirates. They hunted in the waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans and called themselves "ali raja" - the rulers of the sea. This phrase is also consonant with the English "Jolly Roger".
The fourth version says that the pirate flag got its name from the phrase "Old Roger", which was one of the names of the devil. In the future, the word "Old" could turn into "Jolly", or the grin of the skull's teeth was perceived as an ominous smile.
According to the fifth version, this name comes from the name of King Roger II of Sicily (1095-1154), who became famous for his numerous victories on land and at sea. The flag of Roger II of Sicily was an image of two crossed bones on a red background.
famous flags
One way or another, the first mention associated with the famous image concerns the famous French pirate Emmanuel Wien. It was he who in 1700 first used the flag in the form of a skull with bones crossed under it on a black background. His banner also included an hourglass, meaning "your time is running out."
The English corsair Steed Bonnet, also known by the pseudonym "pirate gentleman", used a modification of this flag: in his version there was one bone, and a heart and a dagger were added to the sides of the skull. The flag of the rebellious adventurer Henry Evry looked approximately the same, but the skull on it was turned in profile, which meant that the owner of the ship belonged to free pirates. Similar emblems began to appear on many pirate ships of that time with some differences, but one common meaning - hostility to the enemy.
In the event of a meeting with a stronger or more numerous enemy, the pirates did not use the Jolly Roger. They simply raised the flags of those countries that they sympathized with or whose presence was appropriate in this situation. For example, attacking the "Spaniard", the pirates could raise the sea flag of England. And to evade meticulous English warships, one could raise the flag of Holland, which was loyal to the British crown.
Jolly Roger in the 20th century
In the spring of 1907, Sir Arthur Wilson, an arrogant and, as it turned out, incompetent aristocrat, became Admiral of the British Navy. He stayed in this post for only four years, but managed to "distinguish himself" with funny statements. For example, that submarines (which were just beginning to be used) are a scam and not worthy of the British, and that captives from enemy submarines should be hanged like pirates.
With these words in mind, the commander of the English submarine E9, after the sinking of the German cruiser in the outbreak of the First World War, raised the Jolly Roger pirate flag and entered the port. This tradition was picked up by other commanders - in both world wars, in the military conflict with Argentina in 1982 and even the recent war with Iraq, English submarines, returning to base after a successful attack, raised the Jolly Roger.
In our time, the Jolly Roger is still popular - such flags are used by modern pirates in the Caribbean, off the coast of Somalia, in the Indian Ocean and Indonesian waters. Despite the fact that the sea territorial waters of each country are carefully guarded, the situation at sea is becoming more tense and dangerous every year, and the robbers are getting better armed and prepared.
And the oldest pirate flag that has survived to this day is kept in the British national museum navy located in Portsmouth. This Jolly Roger was captured in 1780 off the coast of Africa. It has well-preserved traces of gunpowder and small bullet holes, charred around the edges. Thanks to the Winchester Textile Art Conservation Center, this rare piece was restored in 2007 and the flag now looks exactly like it did 300 years ago.
A bottle of rum, an eye patch, a wooden leg, a parrot on his shoulder, treasure maps, chests full of gold and, of course, a flag with a Jolly Roger - we all associate this with pirates. Pirate romance is not alien to modern adventurers. This is due to adventure literature and many films showing the life of sea robbers as interesting, full of risk and exciting adventures. The Jolly Roger has become a kind of symbol of pirates and everything connected with them. Not surprisingly, it is also found in tattoos. Therefore, today we will take a closer look at the meaning of the Jolly Roger tattoo, the origin of this symbol and the most suitable styles for it.
Why exactly Roger?
In fact, there was no single flag for all pirates. The flag with the image of a skull and crossbones was indeed used by pirates of the 17th-18th centuries, but not all of them. The ships of the sea robbers sailed under different flags. For example, if pirates wanted to attack a Spanish ship, they could raise the English flag, and in order to avoid a battle with an English warship, they hung out the Dutch flag, because England had relatively warm relations with Holland. Everything depended on specific situation or from the sympathy of pirates for a particular state.
So where did the Jolly Roger come from then? It is believed that a certain Emmanuel Vine depicted the first Jolly Roger on his flag. An hourglass was also adorned next to the skull, hinting that the enemy had little time left.
The name itself has several versions of its origin. According to the first one, English name"Jolly Roger" comes from the French "Joyeux Rouge" which means bright red. The fact is that corsairs raised red flags when the enemy surrendered. The English were uncomfortable pronouncing French words, so bright red and transformed into a consonant Jolly Roger.
The second version says that the flag got its name thanks to King Roger II of Sicily, who won many victories in naval battles. Its flag featured crossbones on a red background.
The third version also sounds very plausible. If any contagious disease began to rage on the ship, a black flag with two intersecting diagonal lines was usually raised. white color. For other ships, this served as a signal not to approach, so as not to endanger their crew. Pirates often used this to avoid battles with warships.
In any case, the Jolly Roger is a clear symbol of piracy and the romance of sea travel.
What does the Jolly Roger say about you?
The Jolly Roger does not care at all whether he will show off on female body or on the male, because the spirit of adventurism can be close to each of us. So, what does the Jolly Roger tattoo mean?
- Freedom. Pirates are almost the only ones free people of that era. Yes, their life was connected with constant risk, dangers lay in wait for them at every step, but this did not prevent them from being free and obeying only their own will. A person who chooses a tattoo with a pirate symbol longs for the same freedom. Perhaps he has even already freed himself from the shackles that society puts on us with its conventions and formalities, and now he wants to declare this to everyone around him.
- Disregard for the rules. Pirates are alien to the laws that apply to ordinary citizens, they have their own rules. The Jolly Roger tattoo indicates that a person is his own master and his own law. Within reason, of course.
- Life for your pleasure. If a person is close to the symbolism of the Jolly Roger, this suggests that he does not want to take on additional responsibility, he simply enjoys life and does not burden himself with too serious thoughts.
What styles are close to the Jolly Roger?
Talented realistic work always looks cool. Realism allows you to depict the smallest details as they really are, to convey emotions, for example, an aggressive grin of a skull or a malevolent smirk. This style of execution is very complex, so carefully study the portfolio of the master before contacting him, because not everyone can do such work with high quality.
Another style that suits the Jolly Roger is old school. This style originated among sailors and is closely related to the nautical theme. Bright, contrasting colors and sharp, wide edges make the image stand out and eye-catching.
If you view a photo of a Jolly Roger tattoo, you can learn a lot interesting ideas. The main pirate symbol may be depicted, for example, with pistols or sabers instead of bones. A bandanna or cocked hat, an eye patch, or an earring is often put on a non-existent ear on the skull. Meet at all unusual ideas, for example, instead of a skull, the helmet of an imperial stormtrooper from “ star wars” or the skull of an animal instead of a human.
The Jolly Roger will look great on any part of the body, from the neck to the ankles. Most often, forearm, shoulder, chest or back are chosen for a tattoo.
After the Red Army invaded Finland, volunteers from many countries of the world came to the aid of this country. Among the more than 8,000 Swedish volunteers were several dozen aviators who served primarily in the F19 fighter-bomber wing.
On November 30, 1939, units of the Red Army crossed the Finnish border, and already on December 8, the headquarters of the Swedish Air Force began to form a volunteer flight unit to help a neighbor in trouble. On December 14, the Swedish government gave permission for the creation of this flying unit. On December 20-30, volunteers were recruited, equipment and materials were received, and a supposed air base in Northern Finland was examined. In total, the air unit received 12 Gloster Gladiator aircraft and 4 Hawker Hart aircraft at its disposal. Gloucester Gladiator fighters were British-made (1937-38) and accounted for 1/3 of total number Swedish Air Force fighters. Hawker Hart light bombers were licensed aircraft assembled in Sweden.
From time to time, this miracle comes up at different sites, and only this photo, from other angles, I have not seen such a giant machine .. We already had it on our website, but with other information, let's talk about this giant machine.
The flag that is now called the "Jolly Roger" actually existed four centuries ago. True, he was far from the only one. Pirates hung a variety of things on their masts. Who exactly was the first to hang out the Jolly Roger, historians argue to this day. In any case, just such a flag flew on the mast of the ship of the famous pirate Emmanuel Vine.The skull and crossbones were also on Stead Bonnet's flag. True, on the ship pennants of those times, along with the skull, there were others - an hourglass, a heart and a dagger. The colors were not chosen by chance. Black color in the heraldic tradition symbolized freedom, and during the battle - the presentation of an ultimatum. The white image on it was visible better than others. However, the flag with a skull and crossbones could be red - this color symbolizes war.
Where did the name come from?
There are several versions of the origin of the name "Jolly Roger". It sounds like Jolly Roger. Some historians of the "coastal brotherhood" believe that this name is French. The bright red flag was called Joyeux Rouge in French. During the attack, a black flag was first raised, then, if the enemy did not pay attention to the ultimatum, a red one. The British changed the French name, which was difficult for them, into a more familiar one to their ears.However, there is another legend about the name. If an epidemic of some deadly disease at that time began on the ship, a black flag with two white diagonals appeared on the mast. Other ships were not to approach, as it was dangerous for the crews. Pirates took advantage of this circumstance - the ban on other ships to approach guaranteed some security. The white diagonals eventually turned into dice.
From the eastern seas
There is also an "eastern" version of the origin of the flag and name. Natives of many countries, including on the banks of the indian ocean. Tamil pirates called their "clan" "Ali Raja", which, according to legend, the British changed into Jolly Roger. However, none of the versions is completely proven. It is possible that the famous pirate emblem got its name from Roger of Sicily, on whose scarlet two crossed bones flaunted. Despite the fact that there were many pirate flags, the Jolly Roger gained the most popularity. He became especially famous at the beginning of the last century, after the publication of R. Stevenson's novel Treasure Island.Related videos
The well-known pirate flag, also called the Jolly Roger, is a panel with a skull and crossbones on a black background. The origin of the pirate flag goes back to the so-called golden age of piracy.
The first frightening image was used by Emmanuel Wynn, a pirate, in 1700. The mention of this event is found in the records of the British Admiralty of that era. A report by Captain John Cranby dated July 18, 1700, tells how the ships of the British fleet pursued the pirate ship Winn near the islands of Cape Verde. The description of the flag contains , bones, an hourglass and a black background. Hourglass on the flag meant that only a quick surrender would save the victims of the pirates from death.
Symbolism of the flag
Bones and symbolized death since the time ancient rome. They were laid out in the catacombs, graves, crypts of the Middle Ages. Initially, the symbolism of bones meant the extension of life, life, since the skeleton of a deceased person lasts much longer than other tissues. Later, the skull and bones and their images became a living reminder that everyone will someday die. Thus, they came to symbolize death.
Why are the bones on the flag crossed? One of the explanations for this is the connection with the image of the Christian. Another variant refers to the image of the crucifixion of Christ, which very often included a skull and crossed bones, immediately at the feet of the crucified Jesus. It was a symbol of triumph over death and, at the same time, a reminder of the excavation of the crucifixion site - Golgotha, which means "skull" in Greek.
Precisely because the symbol was often used by pirates, it gradually disappeared from the crucifixion by 1800. The idea of the coexistence of the cruel behavior of pirates and the Christian crucifixion in one symbol became unacceptable.
"Jolly Roger" or "beautiful red"
The name of the famous pirate flag is covered with a halo of mystery. According to one version, the English Jolly Roger (which translates as "jolly Roger") came from the French joli rouge. But the French phrase is very different in meaning from English: it means "beautiful red." This is because even before the Jolly Roger came into vogue, some pirate flags were red as blood. This color meant that the pirates would not spare anyone they attacked. But this is only one of the versions.
In the era of Queen Elizabeth, which came from French rouge became in English name Roger. This name in slang meant "tramp" and referred to all asocial elements of society, and in particular to pirates who plied the waters of the English Channel on ships.
Another version claims that the pirates called the Devil Old Roger. Hence the name of the flag. He was called merry because the skull on the flag seemed to be smiling.
Various interpretations and the Pirate Flag's Hollywood fame contemporary culture make it difficult to reveal its true origin. It should be taken into account that the history jolly roger» is quite short: this flag design was popular with pirates for about the first 20 years of the 18th century.
