Pirate Historian Rates 8 Pirate Battles In Movies And TV | How Real Is It? | Insider
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Pirate battles in movies and TV are often exaggerated, focusing on quick attacks and minimal casualties, while real pirates faced common injuries leading to amputations. Negotiations with civilians were common, and pirates targeted merchant ships for goods, using flintlock pistols to threaten victims and grappling hooks to capture ships.
Insights
- Pirate battles depicted in media are often exaggerated, portraying quick, organized attacks with minimal casualties, while historical pirates faced injuries, amputations, and infections due to the harsh reality of life at sea.
- Privateers, distinct from pirates, were sanctioned by governments to capture designated ships, highlighting a complex system where hired pirates could operate legally, keeping a significant portion of their loot, showcasing a nuanced relationship between piracy and state interests.
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Recent questions
How did pirates typically acquire goods?
They targeted merchant ships for goods.
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Summary
00:00
"Pirate Battles: Reality vs. Hollywood Myths"
- Pirate battles in movies and TV are often overdramatized, with attacks being quick and almost orderly, aiming to steal and get out with minimal casualties.
- Pirates typically did not have sword fighting backgrounds; they used cutlasses, which were smaller and easier to handle.
- Injuries were common on pirate ships, often leading to amputations due to severe injuries or infections.
- Steve Bonnet, a pirate, was initially a planter from Barbados who decided to become a pirate without much success.
- Negotiations with civilians were common among pirates, with the pirate code serving as guidelines rather than strict rules.
- Pirates usually targeted merchant ships for goods rather than large naval ships, as shown in movies.
- Pirates often used flintlock pistols, which required reloading between shots, to threaten their victims into submission.
- Grappling hooks were used to capture ships, preventing them from sailing away and allowing pirates to board.
- Pirates did not typically go after buried treasure; they sold goods for cash and spent money on land.
- The Jolly Roger or Black Flag was used by pirates to signal an attack after luring ships closer with a distress signal.
15:26
Real pirates, privateers, and pirate battles explained.
- Anne Bonnie, Jack Rackam, and Blackbeard were real pirates during the Golden Age of piracy, with Bonnie and Rackam sailing together but not with Blackbeard.
- Bonnie and other pirates divided into crews to attack a Navy ship, with survivors testifying that Bonnie and Mary Reed fought alongside men in battle.
- Manhunts for pirates were rare, with only two notable cases during the Golden Age, one for Henry Avery and one for Captain Kid, who operated in the Indian Ocean.
- Privateers were hired pirates who worked for specific governments, allowed to keep 80% of stolen goods, and could go anywhere as long as they captured designated ships.
- Pirate battles often involved smaller, more maneuverable pirate ships defeating larger, more powerful ships due to their ability to navigate dangerous areas effectively.
