Piraten

Pirates have been known as very dangerous men on the sea for centuries. The first pirates sailed on the mediterranean 2000 before Christ. From the 16th till the 18th centurie the piracy was on its highest point. It is said that the word ‘pirate’ came from the Greek word for attacker, but I couldn’t find the word itself, so I can’t show it to you. First I’m gonna tell something about: Pirates in the past Everybody thinks of pirates as rough men with an eyepatch, a wooden leg and a hook instead of a hand. Of course, this is more people’s fantasy than the reality. There were many kinds of pirates in the past, from very rich till very poor. Many pirates were normal seamen at first, but they soon discovered that they could make much more money with piracy than with a honest life! Sometimes they had only one little ship, sometimes a big fleet. Everybody could be a pirate, even women. There were also pirates who had a lettre that said a king had given them permission to rob ships and plunder cities at harbours. Only ships from that king and his allies they wouldn’t attack. Of course, the pirates had to give the king a part of the capture. But that was also positive, because they could easily get rid of the stolen goods. And if they got catched, their punishment would be lighter. If you didn’t had such a lettre, your punishment would be very hard. For example, they cut the head off, or the pirate was dragged through the city. Mostly the men were hanged. The bodies hung in the city centre till all the flesh was rotten away. An iron cage around the body made it impossible for family to take the body and bury it. Sometimes they hung the body at a place at the coast where it could be easily seen by other pirates, as a warning.
About robbing ships Pirate-ships were usually very small, and because of that they were very quick and rotating. Pirates never built or let build ships, they just took from others, so the ships looked very normal. Sometimes the pirates changed something on the boat which they didn’t like, or they painted it in the colors of the land where they were sailing nearby, so it wouldn’t seem suspicious. They could hide the small ships in little rivers which were flowing towards the sea. There they could repare it, if needed. Sometimes pirates used three-masters, which were bigger but also better armed. But with the smaller ships they could easily pass the ships of the victims. Those ships oftenly didn’t notice it was a pirate-ship, untill it attacked them. Of course you all know the classic black pirateflag with the skull and the bones. This flag really existed, although pirate-ships also had other flags, often red, the color of blood. But that sign was just hoisted up at the last moment, surprising the opponents. So, if they were close enough, the pirates hitched on the ship with long robes with hooks at the end, called grappling-irons. They threw them over the rail and pulled the ship towards their own. Then they could enter the ship and rob it. At the coast they built secret harbours where they hid the capture. But there were also other ways to rob ships. For exemple, there were also many pirates at the coast of Turkey. They didn’t even had boats! They robbed ships like this: When it got dark, they packed a donkey with oil-lamps. They let it walk along the coast, and if ships saw the lights, they would think there was a harbour and sail towards it. When the ship got stuck on the rocks, the pirates would come running and enter the ship. Very useful! On the ship It sure wasn’t a pretty life on board! The food on the ship was terrible, only ship’s biscuit and dried flesh. Water would go bad, so the pirates drunk beer. Obviously, the men had many diseases, and few medicins. To keep the men under control, punishments and rules were also used on the ships. Some important rules: - Everybody has to obey - No women on board (except of course female pirates) - The capture is divided on a certain way which is already agreed - Gambling with money and playing cards is forbidden
There’s also a story I want to tell you about pirates who once kept someone as a hostage. That wasn’t very regular, but this man was not just somebody, it was Caesar! This Roman emperor once planned to go on vacantion on a Greek island. But on the way they got attacked by pirates. One of them recogneised Caesar and they decided to keep him as a hostage and ask money for him. When Caesar himself heard the amount, he was very dissapointed about how little it was. He said he was worth at least 50 gold pieces. The pirates did what he said and 40 days later the gold was paid. When Caesar was freed, he went after the pirates with some men and killed them with his own hands. Well of course, that’s how the story goes... Pirates now Within the 18th century there came an end to the most piracy, because of the activity of organised marines. Halfway the 19th century it was thought piracy was really over. But they were wrong. Even these days there are lots of pirates, although they’re more often called raiders. Especially around Asia, it can be dangerous. Tiny thieves are attacking ships with little fishing-boats and a knife. They’re looking for quick money, leaving with cash and valuable things. But you dó have pro’s. Théy have speed boats and guns. With 20 heavily armed people they take over big tankers. The professionals really know what they’re doing and what the ship transports. They put the crew of the ship in rowingboats and keep the captain as a hostage. They’re also not afraid to kill them. Then they sell the ship and it’s load as soon as possible. This piracy is seen more and more, but the police is also more and more fighting against it. Sometimes ships are protected by marines on board. And there’s one other sort of piracy. On the radio. This can be a hobby, but also a real illegal radiostation. This kind of piracy is that radio is sent out when no frequence is officially given to the sender. Other stations are hassled by this, cause they can be less well received. That’s why this also isn’t allowed. And... there’s also another place where you can see pirates. No filthy, unshaved men anymore. These days there are also movies with hándsome pirates, very handsome pirates!