Emily Flores
Hollywood built an entire mythology around pirates that feels larger than life. Audiences assume most pirate tales are pure fiction designed to sell tickets. The historical record tells a different story entirely. Pirates lived extraordinary lives that matched their outrageous reputations in surprising ways. Documentation from the golden age of piracy reveals authentic practices that sound impossible. Want to know what really happened? The truth about pirates proves just as fascinating as any movie script.
They Wore Earrings For Superstitious Reasons
The pirate earring wasn’t just a decorative swagger. Sailors kept gold studs as emergency funds, specifically reserved for funeral expenses if they perished abroad. Beyond this grim practicality, widespread superstition led crews to believe that wearing earrings could enhance eyesight. Others believed the metal warded off supernatural threats and reduced nausea during rough seas.
Pirates Offered Compensation For Injuries
The idea of pirates paying “insurance” feels too civilized to be true, but it happened. Crew members injured in battle received compensation from shared loot, ensuring loyalty and fairness. This practice is documented in several pirate articles of agreement.
Pirates Practiced Democracy Onboard
Crews often elected their captains and voted on major decisions, including battle plans and destinations. This democratic practice gave pirates more voice than sailors in official navies, where hierarchy was rigid and dissent was punished harshly.
Pirate Ships Had Strict Codes Of Conduct
Written codes governed pirate ships with clear rules about behavior, treasure splits, and discipline. When someone broke these rules, they faced severe penalties, such as being left alone on deserted islands. These criminals actually cared about fairness and order more than their wild reputation suggests.
Pirates Did Keep Parrots (And Other Exotic Pets)
Yes, pirates actually kept parrots aboard their ships. Exotic birds from tropical ports fetched impressive prices in Europe, which made them profitable cargo. Bright, talkative parrots became symbolic of pirate life, while some captains also kept monkeys or rarer creatures as displays of wealth and status.
Pirates Did Use Treasure As Bribes
Pirates regularly used stolen treasure to bribe officials or purchase protection. Such payments helped them avoid arrest or secure safe harbor in certain ports. Corrupt authorities often grew wealthy from these bribes, and some governors willingly overlooked pirate activity as long as the gold continued to flow.
Pirates Talked In Strange Dialects
Sailing ships operated as a floating United Nations, cramming together crew members who barely understood each other’s native tongues. This environment gave rise to a unique set of slang and jargon used for communication at sea. Words like “Avast!” and “Ahoy!” endure today.
Pirates Really Did Fly The Jolly Roger
Turns out, those skull-and-crossbones flags actually sailed the Caribbean. Smart captains knew intimidation cost less than ammunition, so they designed personalized Jolly Rogers to strike fear before battles began. A black flag signaled that prisoners might be spared, while a red flag promised no mercy.
“Walking The Plank” Wasn’t Pure Fiction
Walking the plank did happen, though it was far rarer than stories suggest. Documented cases from 1769 to 1829 show that it was sometimes used as an instrument of execution. During the actual Golden Age of Piracy, quicker methods—like throwing victims overboard—were more common. Later literature exaggerated the practice into a signature pirate ritual.
Pirates Used Music To Boost Morale
The idea of pirates singing sea shanties isn’t just folklore. Music helped crews synchronize their labor and maintain energy levels. Fiddles and drums provided the soundtrack to life at sea. These songs became powerful symbols of pirate culture and collective identity among sailors who spent months away from land.