I’m just waiting for a pirate crew to attack a ship and then surrender.

I have a correction on Vikings I’d like to add here! Vikings did NOT wear those ugly horned helmets. (Just adding to the title)

Here’s an interesting fact, only 3 pirates flew the “official skull and crossed bones” we all think of when we think of pirate flags – Sam Bellamy, his first mate and later a captain himself, Edward “Blackbeard” Teach, and another of his protegees – Edward England.  Each pirate, for a while, tended to come up with their own design, with common themes, bones or skeletons and swords or blood, in various combinations.

Great article here:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jolly_Roger

I personally like the one flown by Calico Jack Rackham best, the skull with the two crossed swords.

Also read the part about the red flags and the difference, hence the term, “raising a red flag” came about. (although that also may have its history from the era of trains, some debate there).

Anyhow, that’s it.  I like this thread, lets keep it going!  Hoist the Jolly Roger!  oh, and there is some other information about the truth behind that phrase, one not mentioned in the wiki, but mentioned in a valid historical book “Villains of all Nations” by Marcus Rediker – ask me about it some time 😉