The pirate flag was born as a symbol of terror, intended to force surrenders without a fight by signaling that death was imminent.

Its most iconic design is a skull with two crossed bones on a black background, known as the Jolly Roger.

The name “Jolly Roger” may have originated from the French joli rouge, referring to the early red flags used by privateers.

A red flag meant “no quarter”: it warned that no prisoners would be taken if the enemy offered resistance.

When the flag had a black background, it signaled that surrender could be negotiated—though this offer was not always honored.

The skull and crossbones symbol was already in use in cemeteries and as a warning of death in the 17th century.

Henry Avery, nicknamed “the King of the Pirates,” was one of the first to use a flag featuring a skull and crossbones around 1695.

Jack Rackham, also known as Calico Jack, made the design featuring a skull and crossed swords famous—a highly recognizable variation of the Jolly Roger.

Other pirates, such as Blackbeard and “Black Sam” Bellamy, also used versions of the Jolly Roger with their own distinctive symbols.

Although it disappeared with the end of piracy, the Jolly Roger lives on as a symbol of rebellion and adventure.