Women in the Golden Age of Piracy

The Golden Age of Piracy is used for a number of time periods (including the buccaneering period of the mid 17th century) but most commonly refers to the years after the end of War of Spanish Succession in 1714 when European nations were relatively peaceful. Without the employment of their country’s navy, many sailors turned to piracy.

Pirates used different versions of the Jolly Roger. The designs typically incorporated symbols of death and most were black, white and red. This one was used by John “Calico Jack” Rackham.