Pirate code

A Pirate Code was a treaty or code of conduct and for pirates. Normally, each ship had its own code, which basic rules for behavior, discipline, rules for the division of the spoils and compensation of injured crew members firmly wrote. There was, however, partially also generally recognized principles that have been followed by many pirates; an example is the orderly and strictly hierarchical Pirate organization among the Chinese Zheng Yi and Zheng Yi Sao beginning of the 19th century.

Note, however, that these rules were not to be compared with a code of ethics or similar solid principles, as they are represented in popular culture - rather, it was mostly a kind of disciplinary law, or works that entered the crew to regulated expect to be able processes and a guaranteed pay. Not to be confused are pirates of conduct also with the Kaperbriefen issued by the government to privateers and about the commitment to comply with laws and rules of war.

History

Pirates often gave himself a set of rules - they were known under names such as Chasse -Partie, Charter Party, Custom of the Coast, or Jamaica Discipline; these were eventually combined under the terms Articles of Agreement or Pirate Code. Although these rules could vary from ship to ship, sometimes even from a trip to another, but usually they contained relatively similar provisions on discipline that must be met and the distribution of prey and compensation. The first recorded Pirate Code was introduced by the Portuguese Bartolomeu Português pirates in the 17th century.

Each member of the crew had the rules sign, and swear an oath of loyalty and honor. This act took the signatory formally in pirate crew, making him eligible to elect the officers and bear arms, and he secured a share of the spoils. The rules were (often the door of the cabin ) then suspended in a clearly visible location.

Often the crew of the captured ships was recruited - had to sign the rules - sometimes voluntarily, in other cases under threat of torture and death. In this particularly " useful " crew members, such as tradesman or navigators preferred. It also happened that the crew was recruited voluntarily, in retrospect, however, could claim to have been forced to. Still had people who did not sign the rules, better chances in a process than those who did.

Even Sir Henry Morgan, a privateer from Wales, introduced in the 17th century so-called " Articles of Agreement ". These were by Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin, who probably resided as a physician at the privateers written: " you get for the loss of a right arm 600 piasters or six slaves, for the loss of a left arm 500 piasters or five slaves ... " ( " THUS They order for the loss of a right arm six hundred pieces of eight, or six slaves; for the loss of a left arm five hundred pieces of eight, or five slaves ... " ) For comparison could at that time already for two piastres a cow be purchased. When hiring a pirate of writing this Codex, who assured him democratic say in the choice of the captain and a fixed share of the spoils. Today, known as the " Pirate Code " records are in the Archivo General de Indias in Seville.

Parley

Parley [ pɑrli ] (from the French parler for " talk, talk " ), rarely also parlay is a meeting of warring parties to negotiate on the way forward. The term was made ​​famous by the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, in which Elizabeth Swann on the "right to speech" refers to escape death. Similarly, " Parley " is used in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, and the movies / series The Wire, The Office, Charmed and Django Unchained.

Although such a rule is not recorded under pirate in truth, however, the term was actually used to refer to formal negotiations between the state belligerents. The internationally recognized symbol, offer to Parley was the black flag.