Here's a look at six of the more famous pirate ships in history. Pirates commonly lived from day to day, not knowing if they would survive the next day, or eat the next day. All enjoyed a specific period, usually short-lived, of success in their respective waters. At about the age of 30, he suddenly decided to become a pirate. Though there have been more successful pirates, Blackbeard is one of the best-known and widely-feared of his time. Pirate “facts” cover the Internet, but many of these are unsubstantiated and come from tall tales and modern movies. Pirates did not fly the Jolly Roger at all times. Yet to first join a crew, many women had to crossdress. I love the idea of some random recently acquired deckhand convincing his captain to rename the ship to a SQL injection. PiratesAhoy! As soon people had ships big enough to sail and move goods, there were pirates who used this said ships to visit unlucky or ambush trade routes. Pirates did not have the luxury of building their ships; they were "acquired". but if you have to: write the soon-to-be-exorcised name on a piece of paper, … This was in the really old days. What makes pirates a danger to trade ships is weight. Stede Bonnet became a pirate from a most unlikely background. The Christian Corsairs were known as the Maltese corsairs and they took their orders from the Knights of St. John to attack the Turks. So, in some cases, the ships would come already named. Common Tactics on How Pirates Took Merchant Ships. He commanded four ships and had a pirate army of 300 at the height of his career, and defeated the famous warship, HMS “Scarborough” in sea-battle. But generally they gave preference to those with the greatest speed as it would do no good to spot a potential target only to have it out-sail you. Pirates did their job well before guns. If so, where, o the sides or the back? Also pirates wanted a quick escape if needed. Brandon on February 14, 2018 7:40 am. Where Did Pirates Get Their Ships? ... and enemy French ships and steal their treasure and goods. This, in addition to their cannons' inherent dangerousness, made ship-to-ship battles risky. Unless your name is Johnny Depp, that is; then you're obligated to assume the intonation of Johnny Depp in every Johnny Depp movie ever. The surrounding water was ridden with microbes and algae, so pirates did as British Navy sailors did before them and mixed a little rum in their water to sanitize it. Since no one was making ships exclusively for piracy, pirates had to somehow capture existing ships. On the sea, you could freely cross culturally and historically constructed gender boundaries, and a great many female pirates fought on ships. This was just as vital in defending themselves as in gaining their plunder. They didn’t think of it. Pirate Weapons The Pirates of the Golden Age carried a large number of assorted weapons. Contrary to popular fiction, pirates usually did not have "pirate names", they were known by their birth name.To survive harsh sea life, even pirates needed strict discipline on the ship. Common Tactics on How Pirates Took Merchant Ships. I realize that once the pirates capture a ship for their own use they rename them. Some pirates were crewmen on board naval or merchant vessels who took over by mutiny: George Lowther and Henry Avery … Of course there were those pirates … 6 Famous Pirate Strongholds. Pirates and their Victims . Pirates wanted to plunder ships before sinking them. Did the CIA secretly dose people with LSD? When the pirates' intended victim was within range, the Jolly Roger would be raised, often simultaneously with a … In the Caribbean and beyond, pirates will live in history upon the waves of bravado - whether for renown, misplaced fame, or cruelty. Myths and Superstitions of Pirates and Sailors. During the so-called Golden Age of piracy, which lasted roughly from 1700 to 1725, hundreds of pirate ships plagued the waters of the world.