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Jolly Roger

Jolly Roger is the traditional English name for the naval ensign flown to identify a pirate ship preceding or during an attack, during the early 18th century (the latter part of the Golden Age of Piracy). The vast majority of such flags flew the motif of a human skull, or “Death's Head”, often accompanied by other elements, on a black, dark brown or dark blue field, sometimes called the “Death's Head flag” or just the “black flag”.

For other uses, see Jolly Roger (disambiguation).

The flag most commonly identified as the Jolly Roger today – the skull and crossbones symbol on a black flag – was used during the 1710s by a number of pirate captains, including Black Sam Bellamy, Edward England, and John Taylor. It became the most commonly used pirate flag during the 1720s, although other designs were also in use.

– The skull, historically called "death's head" (compare with German: totenkopf),[12] represents death and danger, emphasizing the pirates' ruthless and deadly reputation. The crossbones are often positioned behind or beneath the skull and create an "X" shape. They symbolize crossed swords or bones, signifying violence and conflict.

Skull and crossbones

– the period depiction of the personification of death, sometimes carrying out symbolic gestures of suffering and death, such as stabbing a heart with a spear, wielding weapons and even signal instruments.[12]

Human skeleton

– symbolizing that the life of the attacked is running out.[12]

Hourglass

Bundle of arrows – an older regal or state symbol alluding to the proverb that arrows can be easily broken one by one but are unbreakable if tied together, however, in the case of the Jolly Roger, more likely to symbolize implements of death.

[12]

Sword or sword arm – symbolizing implements of death.

[12]

Pistol – symbolizing implements of death.

[12]

Cannon – symbolizing implements of death.

[12]

or signal horn – symbolizing implements of death.[12]

Powder horn

Emanuel Wynn's flag.[23]

Emanuel Wynn's flag.[23]

A pirate flag used by Edward Low.[24]

A pirate flag used by Edward Low.[24]

Another flag used by Edward Low.

Another flag used by Edward Low.

A flag often attributed to Blackbeard. Similar to flags reportedly flown by Edward Low, Charles Harris and Francis Spriggs.

A flag often attributed to Blackbeard. Similar to flags reportedly flown by Edward Low, Charles Harris and Francis Spriggs.

Although referred to as the "John Quelch" flag, it is in fact closer to the description of pirate flag of John Phillips.

Although referred to as the "John Quelch" flag, it is in fact closer to the description of pirate flag of John Phillips.

The flag of England used by John Quelch.

The flag of England used by John Quelch.

A flag often associated with John Phillips.

A flag often associated with John Phillips.

Bartholomew Roberts' first flag shows him and Death holding an hourglass.[25]

Bartholomew Roberts' first flag shows him and Death holding an hourglass.[25]

Roberts' new flag showed him holding a flaming sword and standing on two skulls, representing "a Barbadian's head" (ABH) and "a Martinican's head" (AMH) - two islands against whom he held a grudge.[25]

Roberts' new flag showed him holding a flaming sword and standing on two skulls, representing "a Barbadian's head" (ABH) and "a Martinican's head" (AMH) - two islands against whom he held a grudge.[25]

One of Roberts' several flags described in Johnson's General History, depicting a skeleton holding an hour glass and two bones standing next to a dart stabbing a bleeding heart.

One of Roberts' several flags described in Johnson's General History, depicting a skeleton holding an hour glass and two bones standing next to a dart stabbing a bleeding heart.

One of Roberts' several flags described in the Boston Gazette, depicting a skull and a sword.

One of Roberts' several flags described in the Boston Gazette, depicting a skull and a sword.

One of Roberts' several flags described in Johnson's General History, depicting an image of Roberts holding a flaming sword and intimidating Death.

One of Roberts' several flags described in Johnson's General History, depicting an image of Roberts holding a flaming sword and intimidating Death.

Jolly Roger erroneously associated with Calico Jack Rackham.[26]

Jolly Roger erroneously associated with Calico Jack Rackham.[26]

Flag flown by "Black Sam" Bellamy[27] and Edward England's mainmast flag.
[28] Although it is unconfirmed, it is possible that it may have been flown by Blackbeard.[16]

Flag flown by "Black Sam" Bellamy and Edward England's mainmast flag. Although it is unconfirmed, it is possible that it may have been flown by Blackbeard.

Traditional depiction of Stede Bonnet's flag, though Bonnet was only described in trial documents as having flown a "death's head".[29]

Traditional depiction of Stede Bonnet's flag, though Bonnet was only described in trial documents as having flown a "death's head".[29]

Flag of pirate Christopher Condent.[30]

Flag of pirate Christopher Condent.[30]

Popular version of Henry Every's Jolly Roger. Reportedly, Every also flew a version with a black background.[31]

Popular version of Henry Every's Jolly Roger. Reportedly, Every also flew a version with a black background.[31]

Claes Gerritszoon Compaen's pirate flag.

Claes Gerritszoon Compaen's pirate flag.

Flag of Christopher Moody; described in the mid-1700s, though not attributed to Moody until 1933; Moody was a sailor under Bartholomew Roberts, not a captain, and would not have had his "own" flag.[27]

Flag of Christopher Moody; described in the mid-1700s, though not attributed to Moody until 1933; Moody was a sailor under Bartholomew Roberts, not a captain, and would not have had his "own" flag.[27]

Possible flag of Thomas Tew.[32]

Possible flag of Thomas Tew.[32]

Richard Worley's flag.[33]

Richard Worley's flag.[33]

Jean Thomas Dulaien's Jolly Roger ensign (which was identical to the flag of Walter Kennedy).[34]

Jean Thomas Dulaien's Jolly Roger ensign (which was identical to the flag of Walter Kennedy).[34]

Other flag of Jean Thomas Dulaien.

Other flag of Jean Thomas Dulaien.

Flag of Philip Lyne.

Flag of Philip Lyne.

Flag of Captain Napin.

Flag of Captain Napin.

Flag of Olivier Levasseur.

Flag of Olivier Levasseur.

Another flag of Olivier Levasseur.

Another flag of Olivier Levasseur.

The flag of New Granada used by Jean Laffite.

The flag of New Granada used by Jean Laffite.

Flag of pirates captured from the Florida Straits.

Flag of pirates captured from the Florida Straits.

Flag of Dutch pirates known as the "Bloedvlag".

Flag of Dutch pirates known as the "Bloedvlag".

The "Prinsenvlag" used by Dutch pirates.

The "Prinsenvlag" used by Dutch pirates.

The "Statenvlag" used by Dutch pirates.

The "Statenvlag" used by Dutch pirates.

The flag of the Netherlands used by Dutch pirates.

The flag of the Netherlands used by Dutch pirates.

The gallery below showing pirate flags in use from 1693 (Thomas Tew's) to 1724 (Edward Low's) appears in multiple extant works on the history of piracy.[22] All the secondary sources cited in the gallery below are in agreement except as to the background colour of Every's flag.


Sources exist describing the Jolly Rogers of other pirates than the ones above; also, the pirates described above sometimes used other Jolly Rogers than those shown above. However, no pictures of these alternate Jolly Rogers are easily located.

Burgee of Penzance Sailing Club since the 1990s

Burgee of Penzance Sailing Club since the 1990s

Original burgee of Penzance Sailing Club, replaced with the current version in the 1990s

Original burgee of Penzance Sailing Club, replaced with the current version in the 1990s

Anarchist flag

Black Standard

Flag of Blackbeard

Flag of the Netherlands

Flags of the Makhnovshchina

Maritime flag

Ossuary

(CCC)

Pesthörnchen

Raven banner

Totenkopf

VF-84 and VF-103, US Navy fighter squadrons nicknamed "Jolly Rogers"

VF-61

Allaway, Jim (2004). . Periscope Publishing. ISBN 1-904381-23-5.

Hero of the Upholder

Admiralty (1997). His Majesty's Submarines. World War II Monographs. Vol. 401 (3rd ed.). Merriam Press.

Compton-Hall, Richard (2004). . Periscope Publishing. ISBN 1-904381-22-7.

Submarines at War 1939–45

Mackay, Richard (September 2003). . Periscope Publishing. ISBN 1-904381-17-0.

A Precarious Existence: British Submarines in World War I

Simpson, Andy (3 January 2014). Why Would Anyone Want to Swing a Cat?: ... and 499 other questions. London: Constable & Robinson Ltd. pp. 163–64.  978-1849019477.

ISBN

Sumner, Ian (2001-10-25). . Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-195-8.

The Royal Navy 1939–45

(2007). U-Boats Vs Destroyer Escorts: The Battle of the Atlantic. Duel Series. Vol. 3. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-133-5.

Williamson, Gordon