Flags

Pirate flags

Pirate ships flew flags to warn other ships that they were about to be attacked and that they should surrender, flags were used to strike fear in the crew of ships about to be attacked, some flags carried scarier messages than other. For example, an all-red flag signaled certain death.

The best-know pirate flag was the Jolly Roger, it was decorates with a skull and two crossed swords, or crossbones.