Pirate empowerment: historical perspectives and modern implications

Pirate Empowerment

The life of pirates: Pirate empowerment

The myths of pirates and piracy abound in literature in film. It is often difficult to disentangle myth from fact and there are numerous points-of-view about the actual event and the rationale behind piracy. Commentators often note that, "...the fictional accounts of the common sea robbers have created a romantic illusion of pirate's life." (Piracy, Then and Now.)

However, this paper will attempt to distinguish between these diverse and often fictional accounts and the actual facts of life among pirates at sea. The paper will focus on the importance of the pirate code of conduct and the way that this influenced and in fact determined the power structure of the pirate hierarchy. The paper will also attempt to provide insight into the actual lives of pirates at sea.

Brief definition of pirates and piracy

In order to understand pirate empowerment is important to briefly discuss the definition of pirates and piracy, as there are many different " types" of pirates which are commonly subsumed under the general term pirate. One definition of piracy is, pirate is any person committing a criminal acts against public authority, on the high seas outside the normal jurisdiction and laws of any state (country). By law, they can be arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced by any state that captures them. Also, by definition, the criminal act is of a private nature, that is personal gain, and not for political reasons. "

What's a Privateer, Pirate, Buccaneer, and/or Marooner?)

Piracy is therefore even today acknowledged as crime against the laws of nations and "...the public vessels of any state have been permitted to seize a pirate ship, to bring it into port, to try the crew (regardless of their nationality or domicile), and, if found guilty, to punish them and to confiscate the ship." (What's a Privateer, Pirate, Buccaneer, and/or Marooner?)

Piracy is in fact as old as civilization itself. "In the ancient Mediterranean, piracy was often closely related to maritime commerce, and the Phoenicians appear to have engaged in both, as did the Greeks, Romans, and Carthaginians." (What's a Privateer, Pirate, Buccaneer, and/or Marooner?) There were also types of piracy that were sanctioned by some governments. An example of this was the privateer; which is defined as "...a privately owned and armed ship commissioned by a government to make reprisals, to gain reparation for specified offenses in time of peace, or to prey upon the enemy in time of war, with the right of the officers and crew to share in prize money from captured vessels." (What's a Privateer, Pirate, Buccaneer, and/or Marooner?)

Buccaneers referred originally to French pirates in the Caribbean but was a term later used to refer to pirates in general.

2. The real life Pirates

Contrary to the romanticized view that pirates led an 'action filled' and eventful daily life often portrayed in contemporary film and novels, the lives of pirate would rather have been relatively uneventful for long periods of time. As one commentator on the subject notes: "...sailing meant weeks of boredom searching for prey, with only intermittent bursts of excitement as victims were sighted boarded and then plundered..." (Wilczy-ski) The captain was a figure of authority and respect and would usually be able to quell any dissent and deal with any friction that would enviably result from long periods at sea. However, as will be explored in more depth in following section, the captain was commonly elected by democratic methods and was not usually the tyrannical and autocratic figures that are depicted in popular fiction. "The captain did not have the last word, as in many cases the pirate vessel was run democratically." (Wilczy-ski)

The long sea voyage that constituted most of the life of a pirate was also beset by many daily problems and requirements necessarily for survival. One of the major challenges that faced the pirate and much affected their daily lives, was the problem of food preservation and fresh food for their long sea voyages. They would, for example, have to ensure that they had adequate stocks of alternatives to water, such as beer, on board as there was no way to ensure drinkable water for long periods of time. Their food was often unattractive but was chosen for the nutritional value. "The pirates primarily ate hard tack (long-lasting biscuits); although for longer voyages limes would be provided as a source of vitamin c" (Wilczy-ski)

However, this food source was very basic, with only the barest nutritional value. " One staple of most ships was www.nmm.ac.uk/searchbin/searchs.pl?exhibit=it0881g&axis=992536660&flash=false&dev=hard tack, which seaman often ate in the dark to avoid seeing the weevils that infested the square biscuits. To soften hard tack and make it more palatable, cooks might soak and boil them in rum and brown sugar to create a porridge-like mixture. "(Vallar)

Pirates would also have to live off the wild life in the areas in which they operated; such as turtles in the Caribbean. Pirates also ate local fruit and food such as yams, plantains, pineapples, papayas.

In essence, the above points to the fact that most pirates experienced a daily life of hardship and privation. However the rewards for piracy were often worth the effort - although the movie images of mounds of buried treasure are largely fictitious. "Pirates were able to acquire amazing riches, and goods, through their campaigns." (Wilczy-ski)

It should also be noted that very often their rewards were very much more mundane. "...the actual pirate booty, was acquired from looted merchant ships which usually included items such as linens, cloths, food, anchors, rope, and sometimes medical supplies." (Wilczy-ski K.)

An important aspect is the way that this "booty" was distributed among themselves. "The pirate code, stated that, any loot plundered, had to be shared out equally." (Wilczy-ski)

This aspect is central to the way that the power structure and the social divisions were organized within the pirate community.

4.1. Codes of conduct

The crew of any pirate ship adhered to a strict code of conduct that was outlined by the captain. There was usually very little room in the lives of pirates for variations or ambiguities in this rule of conduct. Punishment for the transgressions of the rules and laws on a typical pirate ship were often harsh and swift. "When a rule was breached, the crew was often without pity or remorse in punishing a guilty crew member. Although in cases of particularly useful pirates such as skillful fighters, exceptions were inevitably made." (Wilczy-ski)

These rule and laws were encapsulated in what was as known as the Pirate Code of Conduct. This was in essence an agreement between the captain and the crew. These agreements, which were essential for the discipline the orderly running of the ship, were referred to as articles.

It is noted in many studies that the pirates in general were very democratic and that the captain of any ship was elected by the crew and in fact they could "... lose their position for abuse of their authority." (Pirate Code of Conduct) In reality the typical pirate captain had very few privileges

The pirate code of conduct and the articles of this code were therefore an essential set of rules which formalized and clarified the relationship between the captain and the crew and also made clear what was and was not allowed on board a pirate ship. A typical code of conduct included the following central aspects.

Equal voting rights

Fair share of the loot and pirates punishments for those who cheated

Gambling was banned

Each pirate was responsible for the upkeep of their weapons

No women allowed on board penalty for desertion

Pension according to the severity of wounds

Shares of the loot or booty

Pirate Code of Conduct)

These and other articles of the code of conduct were designed to ensure not only that authority was maintained through mutual agreement about standards of behavior but, most importantly, they were essential to ensure that the ship was well - run.

An actual example of a pirate code of conduct is Bartholomew Roberts Shipboard Articles, 1721.

Bartholomew Roberts or "Black Bart" was one of the most notorious and a successful pirate of his day and his name often appears in popular fiction about piracy. It should be noted that the code of conduct is also an indication of the fact that an essential part of the success of a pirate captain was that the rules that he administered were democratically agreed on by the crew. This again emphasizes the view that pirates were much more democratic than is often believed to be the case. This central trait is not often portrayed in popular depictions of pirates. The code of conduct was therefore, "...an important element of the success of this particular Pirate." (Pirate Code of Conduct)

The following are a few selected articles of Black Bart's code of conduct that serves to illustrate some of the points already made.

ARTICLE I - Every man shall have an equal vote in affairs of moment. He shall have an equal title to the fresh provisions or strong liquors at any time seized, and shall use them at pleasure unless a scarcity may make it necessary for the common good that a retrenchment may be voted.

ARTICLE III - None shall game for money either with dice or cards.

ARTICLE VI - No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man shall be found seducing any of the latter sex and carrying her to sea in disguise he shall suffer death.

ARTICLE VII - He that shall desert the ship or his quarters in time of battle shall be punished by death or marooning.

ARTICLE VIII - None shall strike another on board the ship, but every man's quarrel shall be ended on shore by sword or pistol in this manner. At the word of command from the quartermaster, each man being previously placed back to back, shall turn and fire immediately. If any man do not, the quartermaster shall knock the piece out of his hand. If both miss their aim they shall take to their cutlasses, and he that draweth first blood shall be declared the victor.

Pirate Code of Conduct)

The democratic regime of the successful pirate ship is also illustrated by the following article. "ARTICLE IX - No man shall talk of breaking up their way of living till each has a share of l,000. Every man who shall become a cripple or lose a limb in the service shall have 800 pieces of eight from the common stock and for lesser hurts proportionately." (Pirate Code of Conduct)

This shows that there was a clear sense of sharing and equality among the pirates that was not only essential for the ordered running of the ship but also ensured that the pirate crew felt protected against misadventure and casualties.

Punishments, as have already been mentioned, were often meted out in strict accordance with any breach of the code of conduct.

It was often swift and merciless, as the following article illustrates. "That Man that shall strike another whilst these Articles are in force shall receive Mose's Law (that is 40 stripes lacking one) on the bare Back." (Wilczy-ski)

4.3. The power structure in the pirate community.

The chain of command in the pirate hierarchy was more of a functional aspect than it as was a privilege. This is well illustrated in another article from the code of conduct. "Every man shall obey civil Command; the Captain shall have one full share and a half in all Prizes; the Master, Carpenter, Boatswain and Gunner shall have one Share and quarter. "(Wilczy-ski) This shows that there was a chain of command with certain difference and privileges.

However, the point is also reiterated in many studies on piracy that the captain and the pirate power structure were essentially democratic and could be changed at any time. The captain was elected and led because of his abilities and not merely because he held the position of captain of the ship. Power was therefore heavily dependent on ability.