12 surprises about pirates

Although they are outlawed, pirates are very devoted to democracy. They are also pioneers in applying the labor insurance regime.

The work is attractive to some people

People living on the sea always face a high risk of casualties. This fact is even more evident in the era when ships move by sail and without electricity. So why do so many people still want to become pirates?

Artwork: IMDB

Many people think that pirates are criminals on ships since they enter life. But in fact, countless pirates used to practice honesty before their hands dipped. They joined the pirate world because it was a lucrative job. After each mission, the captain will share the spoils for each member. In addition, pirates' living conditions are much better than sailors on merchant ships and naval vessels.

Sailors on merchant ships have the opportunity to become pirates when pirates hijack their ships. Traditionally, pirates have always offered people they captured their forces.

Conduct according to democratic rules

Contrary to many people's beliefs, pirates are very much against the democracy, even against society. We can even call pirates as passionate admirers. To maintain a stable life on the sea for months, pirates realized that democracy is the best way to accomplish that goal. The captain is the one most pirates choose in elections. The election of captains ensures that the ship commander receives the support of the majority of the members on board, thus reducing the risk of rebellion. Despite absolute power in some situations - such as conflict or division of property - the captain only had limited rights to the ship.

Pirate leaders' elections are always open and democratic.(Artwork: Listverse)

Compensation and insurance regime

Pirates have compensation for all members of the gang. The level of compensation depends on the victim's injury. As a rule, loss of one leg is more severe than a two-finger amputation, and a loss of the right arm is more severe than a loss of the other arm. If you are knowledgeable about the history of the insurance industry, you will know that pirates are the first to apply the labor insurance regime. They also provide 'accessories' for disabled members - such as bandages covering eyes, wooden legs, iron hooks (replacing the dead hand). The gang always encourages disabled members to continue to contribute. The pirates live according to the collective regime so the loss of their legs, hands or disabilities does not reduce the status and role of each member of the organization.

Many pirates practice

If you get into a pirate ship, you can meet a lot of women on it. To join the pirate world, the first thing a woman needs to do is wear like a man. One of the most famous female pirates in history is Mary Lacy, a British citizen. She left home in the city of Portsmouth, England at the age of 19 and disguised as a man with the name William Chandler to become a pirate. Even Mary has an affair with a woman on a pirate ship. Later Mary gave up the pirate's life due to her stamina.

Many honest people voluntarily become pirates

Volunteers make up a large proportion of pirate teams. This is a dangerous, unpredictable profession so a lot of dead pirates or fugitives. So pirates groups always need new people. Like every other profession, to recruit new people, pirates must 'lure' them with attractive prospects. They asked their subordinates to dress so luxuriously that others felt their life was very prosperous. If there were not enough volunteers, the pirates would use force to force honest people to join their group.

The number of people wanting to do piracy skyrocketed after 1713, when many sailors hunted merchant ships into pirates. When European countries clashed across the sea, sailors hunting merchant ships made a lot of money. Even in 1708, the British government allowed them to keep everything they took from merchant ships of hostile countries. But only five years later, the Utrecht Treaty brought peace on the ocean and several thousand sailors hunted out for merchant ships. Instead of returning to the mainland, most of them joined pirate ships - where they could continue to use their old skills to live.

Pirate life associated with alcohol and gambling

Everyone knows pirates regularly eat. Drinking alcohol becomes an important part of pirate culture, and alcoholism has become a basic standard for them. For many pirates, the prospect of unlimited drinking is much more attractive than the wealth they will receive.

Wine acts as a rope connecting the pirates. Therefore, if a person does not drink alcohol, others will look at him with suspicious eyes. Pirates consider alcohol to help them treat many diseases - from food poisoning to 'inferior' disease. Rum is a very important commodity for the Caribbean pirates. Every time the pirate ship attacked the merchant ship, they always took all the rum.

Gambling is another popular form of piracy. Although some captains forbid gambling when the ship was floating on the sea, the pirates always punished each other when ashore. Alcohol and gambling pushed many pirates into miserable circumstances.

A Philippine pirate team operates in the South China Sea.(Photo: blogspot.com)

Code of conduct of pirates

The film Pirates of the Caribbean begins with one of the main characters citing negotiations. That is a practical term. Although pirates don't use that word, they do have rules. The pirates' morality comes from the collective culture and diversity, influenced by the average life on the sea. The basic rules of conduct include: equal distribution of wealth, making decisions in the form of democratic voting, honesty with the fellow, loyal to the captain.

Retaliation is also a rule of conduct for pirates. Under this rule, pirates must avenge those who touch them with violence.

Pirates welcome same-sex marriage

Pirates do not follow social norms so they live very freely. They welcome gay syndrome openly and even form their own homosexual marriage. For example, matelotage is a term that pirates spend on marital relations between two male pirates. Such "lovebirds" will own the property. If a dead man, his homosexual partner will inherit the property.

Sometimes pirates also have sex with both girls and boys. When the French troops brought hundreds of prostitutes to Tortuga in the mid-17th century, they wanted to suppress the gay marriages of male pirates here. But the results are not as expected. The pirates greet prostitutes, but they still have sex with the same sex partners.

The truth about pirate earrings

Real-life pirates wear a pair of large earrings. However, the presence of this accessory goes beyond fashion sense, but aims for a much longer term. With this life in the future and being able to face death at any time, pirates always try to accumulate a pair of valuable earrings, usually in gold or precious metal. Because, unfortunately, anyone who finds the body can sell the earrings and use it to bury them, or send their bodies home. Therefore, there are many pirates also carving their names and hometowns on this jewelry.

Pirates of the red flag are really nightmares for boats

With the red flag, the pirates want to warn that they are bloodthirsty and will kill the crew of any boat.

For merchant ships in the previous period, meeting a boat that appeared far away, carrying a black skull and crossbones would worry them. However, the outcome is even worse than many times, if the flag still bears the symbol but the background color changes from black to red. According to historical accounts, black-flagged pirates often only attack to plunder money. In contrast, with the red flag, pirates want to warn that they are bloodthirsty and will kill the crew of any boat they attack.

Special pirate medicine

Because of constant fighting, pirates are very concerned about health and health issues. They even make a special drink that can cure diseases. It is known that this type of water is an improved version of Grog, a drink of British sailors, including a mixture of rum and water. By adding sugar and lemon to Grog, pirates have helped turn it into a medicine to prevent Scurvy, a disease that is caused by a shortage of vitamin C common in sailors.

Roman emperor Julius Caesar was captured by pirates

The famous Roman emperor Julius Caesar once had time to be captured by pirates.

The famous Roman emperor Julius Caesar once had time to be captured by pirates. Interestingly, these pirates did not know Caesar's true identity and only asked for 20 talents (approximately $ 600,000) in ransom. After setting this price, Julius Caesar even laughed and said that he was worth at least 50 talents. It is known that during the hostage, the emperor regularly read poetry to the pirates. As soon as they were rescued, all of the crew members were fined to crucify.