Perhaps you never believed that pirates actually existed, which is why nautical image flags were also equally fabricated in the minds of Hollywood experts and professionals. You will be proved wrong because both pirates and pirate flags are true. The pirate flags have been used for many centuries. If you watch the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean”, Captain Jack Sparrow’s ship, the “Black Pearl” was actually showcasing the very same flag used by the real Calico Jack Rackham. A skull with crossed cutlasses was seen on the flag. All pirate ships in the past had a unique design which represented the captain and crew.
When sea travel was the only method of traveling between countries, flags were used by ships to identify between friend and foe. Pirate ships would naturally display their emblem to scare and intimidate approaching vessels. Over time, the pirate ship would be known in many areas depending on how vicious the crew and captain were.
Traditionally, nautical image flags weren’t always black. The first flags used by pirates came in the color red.
Even then, both black and red flags were highly feared by other vessels because these symbolize blood and death. The pirate flags would alert the approaching vessel to surrender immediately or face death. Many pirates designed their flags with very dark designs to strike fear in the hearts of anyone they cross paths with. Black flags were displayed by plagued ships. Pirates liked the idea of plague ships also being feared so they began using the “Banner of King Death”.