10 facts about pirates, bringing terror to the good people

Many writers and filmmakers romanticize piracy as an occupation, full of adventure, big binge-drinking and hunting for untold wealth on the Lost Isles. Real life pirates were not as attractive as the heroes of novels and Hollywood movies. < Website publishes a selection of facts from the publication Hotshowlife, which tells what actually were pirates, terrifying decent Mariners.

Antique piratstvo

Pirates were known in antiquity, they were called "leystes". Antique pirates, unlike robbers modern times, robbed a small coastal village, attacked lone travelers and sold them into slavery. The heyday of piracy falls on the XVI-XVIII century, when trade flourished, and provide decent protection has not yet been possible.

Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!

Despite entrenched glory of spirits lovers, many pirate ships operated Prohibition, most pirates allowed themselves to drink only on land. The myth that the pirates instead of blood flowing through the veins of rum, spread thanks to the popularity of the novel of Stevenson's "Treasure Island».

History Armband for glaza

The bandage on the eye injury is not always masked. The sailors often had to go down to the poorly lit holds, to adapt to the dark to the human eye it takes some time. But if the pirate wore a bandage, then removing it in the dark, just could see with one eye.

Pirate flag "Jolly Roger"

Jolly Roger - flag with human bones on a black background is strongly associated with predatory vessel. It is believed that the pirates went under him constantly, but it is not true. It was a signal, a warning that the epidemic on the ship. Being outside the law, the pirates hid and camouflaged their ships, posting the flags of different countries. For example, attacking the Spaniards, the robbers raised the English flag, as while Spain and England were at war.

Privateers and Korsary

A very interesting fact - is the existence of legal piracy. Some countries with a developed maritime trade partially legalized pirate activity, receiving income from predatory fishing. Kaper - an individual who has received letters of marque letter. Such a person has the right to seize and destroy the ships of hostile and neutral countries in exchange for a certain percentage of the loot, which the employer deducts. Corsair - synonymous with the marque

How to divide production

.? Pirates had their own system of distribution of the loot. Quartermaster gave a tenth of the captain, the rest of the booty was divided into equal parts. Wound each team member had the right to receive compensation. received members of the team less likely, who did not participate in the battles.

Francis Dreyk

The famous explorer and privateer Francis Drake was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. He was famous for the fact that discovered the strait between the island of Tierra del Fuego and Antarctica, as well as the defeat of the Spanish fleet in 1578. For his contribution in the field of geography and service to the crown was awarded a knighthood.

Distsiplina

In the movie pirates are ruthless barbarians, undisciplined, with a complete lack of manners. Is it so? Their discipline could be envied even the military. For violation of the order of the perpetrators severely punished. Guilty might leave one on a desert island, beaten or tied to the mast. Many captains of pirate ships were well-read and well-educated people, because they had control of the ship navigation and ensure the serviceability of all mechanisms.

Why pirates earrings and where a parrot?

On the screens we often see depicted pirates have pierced ears and a parrot on his shoulder. The earring actually allowed to wear only the most experienced thugs when they got over the equator or overcame Cape Horn, Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Of course, there could be no question of training exotic birds thugs team.

Where buried treasure?

The most common misconception about pirates - it is their wealth, but also the fact that the loot on the islands they were buried. Most often pirated vessel did not have an impressive gunshot power, and their sizes were not as too large. With such an arsenal to attack large ships and well-armed Spanish galleons did not make sense. Loot from private merchants small consignments were sold at the price of piracy is much less of their value. Sea robbery was a very dangerous occupation, and age of the pirate was not great, so bury the treasure did not make sense.

via hotshowlife.com/top-10-interesnyh-faktov-o-piratah/