THE PIRATE FLAG

Hoist Up The Jolly Roger

The pirate flag was designed to strike fear into victims and encourage a hasty surrender, however, the black Jolly Roger, commonly associated with pirates, was not as greatly feared as the red flag which meant that no mercy would be shown in battle.

The Jolly Roger often depicted symbols of death (a skull and crossbones was commonly seen on grave stones) and may have got its name from the devil -Old Roger - but is more likely derived from the French name for the red flag - Jolie Rouge.