10 Myths About Pirates That Aren’t True and 10 Historical Facts

Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island, published in 1883, gave us the iconic image of treasure maps marked with an “X,” but this is pure fiction. In reality, most pirates of the Golden Age immediately divided their loot among the crew and quickly spent it in port cities.

Here’s another fact. The Jolly Roger, with its skull and crossbones, was not a universal requirement among pirates. In fact, many crews used plain black flags, red “no-quarter” flags, or no flag at all to deceive their targets. 

The famous myth of the plank first appeared in 19th-century literature, long after the end of the Golden Age. Today, it has become a popular trope at pirate-themed birthday parties and in video games, even though it has no historical basis.

Evidence from logbooks and court records shows that it was not common for pirates to keep parrots perched on their shoulders. While parrots were sometimes captured as cargo on ships, they were rarely kept as pets on board. 

Victorian illustrations and 20th-century films created the stereotype of pirates with wooden legs, hooks instead of hands, and eye patches. The survival rate for serious injuries was extremely low due to limited medical care aboard ships, which meant that prosthetics—when they existed at all—were rare and rudimentary. 

The famous pirate expressions “Arrr!”, “Ahoy matey!”, and “Shiver me timbers” have absolutely no basis in 17th- and 18th-century archives or court transcripts. Pirates spoke in the dialects of their home regions, often mixed with sailors’ slang.

Court records and crew lists from the Golden Age reveal that the average pirate was between 20 and 25 years old. Many were young sailors who had recently turned to piracy after serving in the navy or on merchant ships, in search of adventure and better food. 

Despite their reputation for violence, pirates rarely fought among themselves. Crew unity was essential to their survival, their profits, and their safety at sea. Most pirate ships operated according to agreed-upon rules, shared the spoils fairly, and settled disputes through voting or compensation.

Pirates were far more strategic than their bloodthirsty reputation would suggest. They carefully targeted vulnerable merchant ships and relied on intimidation to force them to surrender quickly. Furthermore, they avoided heavily armed warships, as the risk was too high.

The crews of pirates during the Golden Age were remarkably diverse and multinational, comprising sailors from Africa, the Caribbean, and many other regions beyond Europe. Historians such as Marcus Rediker estimate that 25 to 33 percent of pirates were Black, and that many former slaves received equal shares.

Now that we’ve dispelled some common myths, here’s what really went on aboard those ships that plied the Caribbean.

Most crews were led by elected captains who could be removed from office at any time by a majority vote, which stood in stark contrast to the rigid hierarchy on warships and merchant vessels. The quartermasters exercised significant control over the captain’s authority, representing the interests of the crew.

Before each voyage, all crew members signed or swore to abide by their own code of conduct. This code specified the exact amount of compensation in the event of injury (800 pieces of eight for the loss of a leg, for example), thereby guaranteeing injured pirates fair compensation for their sacrifice. 

Merchant ships carried valuable cargo and were poorly defended. This made them obvious targets for profit-hungry pirates who were not interested in certain missions. Warships, on the other hand, were faster, better armed, and posed an existential threat that could end a pirate’s career.

Anne Bonny and Mary Read fought while disguised as men until their dramatic capture in 1720, while they were sailing with Calico Jack Rackham’s crew. During their trial in Jamaica, the two women reportedly revealed their true gender in court in order to avoid immediate execution.

Scurvy, caused by a vitamin C deficiency, was rampant on pirate ships that had no access to fresh fruit, leading to tooth loss and the horrific reopening of wounds. The overcrowded ships also spread dysentery and tropical fevers at an alarming rate.

The Treaty of Utrecht of 1713 brought an end to the major European conflicts and left thousands of privateers suddenly out of work, prompting many experienced sailors to turn to piracy. Living conditions for merchants and sailors were brutal: poor food, low wages, and harsh punishments made legitimate seafaring a miserable existence. 

Nassau served as a pirate republic from about 1715 to 1718, operating under the leadership of figures such as Benjamin Hornigold as a semi-autonomous outlaw colony. Tortuga had been a former refuge for buccaneers in the mid-17th century, establishing the model for these lawless ports. 

A single warning shot was often enough to persuade merchant crews to surrender without resistance. Black flags signaled that the attackers were prepared to show mercy if the target surrendered immediately, while red flags meant that no mercy would be shown. 

Before each raid, the shares were distributed equally, with 1.5 to 2 shares for the captain, 1.5 for the quartermaster, 1.25 for the surgeon, and one share for the ordinary crew members. This equitable system boosted the crew’s morale and loyalty.

Between 1715 and 1725—the height of the era—hundreds of active pirates spread terror along the trade routes of the Caribbean and the Atlantic following the end of the War of the Spanish Succession. More than 5,000 pirates were active at the height of this era.