Captain
Only a few captains, such as Blackbeard, were distinguished by the cruelty and brutality that was more often present in the navy. Usually the captain was chosen by a majority vote and remained on the bridge only as long as he deserved it. As Johnson writes in his book A General History of Piracy, the captain's position was secure only when "there was a cutting going on, when you were hunting for someone or being hunted for." At any other time, a captain who failed to provide provisions or good loot for the crew, or otherwise lost the confidence of the crew, could be quickly removed from his post by a simple vote.
The captain of the pirate ship received the largest share of the spoils, but in all other respects he was no different from the other crew members. The captain, of course, had the best cabin on the ship, but it was believed that any sailor could enter it at any time, eat from his plate and sleep on his bunk.
The captains, who were always lucky, had a reputation as a "trusty gun", which guaranteed the team a constant constant supply of skilled recruits and rich booty.
Pirate nicknames and nicknames
Nothing sounds better to the ear than a firm, stern, and quickly memorable pirate name.
When people became sea robbers, they often changed their names in order to make it difficult for the authorities to identify them. For others, the name change was purely symbolic: the newly minted pirates were mastering not only a new activity, but also a completely new life, which some preferred to enter with a new name. In addition to the many pirate names, there are also many recognizable pirate nicknames. Nicknames have always been an integral part of gangster culture, and pirates were no exception in this regard. We will talk about the most common pirate nicknames, analyze their origins and provide a list of the most popular ones.
- Blackbeard . The origin of the nickname is very trivial. Edward Teach had a thick black beard, and, according to legend, before battle he wove burning wicks into it, the smoke of which made him look like the devil himself from the underworld.
- Calico Jack . The nickname of the pirate Jack Rackham, he was dubbed so for his love for various decorations made of chintz fabric.
- Killer of the Spaniards . This is exactly what they called the famous Francois Olone, cruel and ruthless towards the Spaniards.
- Red, Bloody Henry . Two nicknames that belonged to the famous pirate Henry Morgan. The first nickname has a direct relation to the color of his hair, and the second - to his far from merciful deeds.
- Pirate Gentleman . Steed Bonnet's nickname, given to him due to his aristocratic origins.
- Vulture . Nickname of the French pirate Olivier Levasseur. It is not entirely clear why this nickname stuck to him; apparently, it somehow better reflected his character and temper.
- Lanky John . Pirate nickname of the fictional pirate John Silver. In addition to this nickname, he had another one - Ham .
- Black Corsair . Nickname of the main character in the novel of the same name by Emilio Salgari.
These were the nicknames of the most famous real and fictional pirates. If you need unique thematic names, then in the Corsairs Online game, when creating a character, you have at your disposal a pirate nickname generator, you can try to pick up something interesting for yourself.
Navigator
A good navigator was a rarity, and the navigator's maps were his greatest treasure. A skilled navigator could guide the ship to a point several miles to windward of its destination, so that it could then drift with the wind straight to port. If the ship approached the shore from the leeward side, it could result in a shipwreck. In 1720, Bartholomew Roberts was only a few miles off the coast of West Africa, but was unable to cope with the prevailing winds and was forced to turn around and sail again across the Atlantic to South America for a second attempt.
Greeting guests
The holiday itself begins with the greeting of each guest at the entrance.
In order to immediately immerse teenagers in the right atmosphere, you need to meet them in a pirate outfit and ask them to give the password that was indicated in the invitation. For example, the password could be:
- Thousand devils;
- An anchor down your throat;
- Strike me with thunder;
- Lair of the Sea Devils;
- Lords of the Seas;
- Followers of Francis Drake and much more.
Immediately upon entering, you need to decide on a pirate name for each guest and the guild to which he will belong. This can be done using an unusual lottery. It is necessary to prepare in advance leaves with pirate names for guests according to their number. These could be names like:
- Lanky Jack;
- Dirty Claw;
- Bloody Mary;
- Blackbeard;
- Ugly Betty;
- Bob Bootstrap;
- Kat "Thunderstorm of the Seas";
- Mad George.
If there are a lot of guests, then to unite them into teams, the name of the pirate guild should also be indicated on the pieces of paper. These could be guilds:
- Sly Gear Cartel;
- Rum lovers;
- Vultures;
- Sea Rippers;
- Sea Devils.
Quartermaster
He, like the captain, was chosen by the team. Essentially, as the ship's second-in-command, the quartermaster exercised overall direction over daily life on board. Since it was he who had to settle minor quarrels and ensure that the captain’s orders were carried out unquestioningly, he inevitably had to be one of the cruelest, or, as they say today, “tough” people on the ship. He was also assigned the role of a judge when it came to punishment for minor offenses of team members. If a serious offense was committed, the crew and captain served as a jury, and the judge was again the quartermaster. Usually it was he who was given the right by the crew to supervise the flogging of the sailors.
In battle, the quartermaster led the boarding party, and after a successful raid, he was engaged in the division of the spoils, ensuring that everyone received what was due to him, in accordance with the code of pirate honor - a duty that inevitably required a combination of diplomacy and unquestioned authority.
Pirate party in kindergarten. Celebration “Kindergarten was captured by pirates”
Svetlana Vasilchenko
Pirate party in kindergarten. Celebration “Kindergarten was captured by pirates”
Goal: to create a joyful, cheerful mood in children, improve motor skills, strengthen friendships between children, and take an active part in the holiday. Development of attention, thinking, memory. Development of fine and gross motor skills. Develop healthy lifestyle habits. Continue to develop children's ability to fantasize. Cultivate a friendly, positive attitude towards each other and the ability to cooperate.
Previous work: examination of paintings and illustrations on marine themes, images of pirates, preparation of pirate costumes for parents and children.
Attributes: a screen in the shape of a ship, music from the film “Pirates of the Caribbean”, pirate paraphernalia, costumes, a rope, a basket with balls according to the number of children, large and small parachutes, a rainbow veil, sticks with “anchors”, 2 large balls.
Course of the entertainment: (carried out on the playground in the kindergarten). Presenters - 2 pirates (Vasilchenko S.A. and Borzenkova L.I.).
1: Hello, teams of brave and cheerful pirates! Welcome to Jack Sparrow's Cave! We pirates have captured the kindergarten! And now let’s loudly shout three cheers!
Children: HURRAY HURRAY!
2: This is the first time I’ve seen so many pirates in one place! Let's get to know each other! I'll count to 3. When I say the number 3, say your name loudly! 1-2-3!
Game "Say Your Name"
1: Here’s another thing...what is this Vani, Dani, Tani? Are these really pirate names? Pirate names are “Black Shark”, “Captain Flint”, “Captain Hook”, “Filthy Ear”, “Barbossa”! And not Petya, Olya... When I say the number 3, say your pirate name together! 1-2-3! Well, that’s a completely different matter...
Game “Say a Pirate Name”
2: Now our pirate ship is setting off on a voyage in search of treasure! To be successful, teams must be friendly and fun. Now we will check it!
Fun pirate dance “Salad” (at the end of the song an octopus appears and tries to dance).
2: This is an octopus. Just creepy! Along the way, our team will face many dangers and obstacles. Are you ready, pirates? Before sailing, you need to name your ship. After all, as you know: whatever you name the boat, that’s how it will float! (teams alternately shout out the name of the ship in chorus).
Competition for the best pirate crew name.
1: Let's set sail! When I give the command “circle” - we all turn around, “right rudder” - right hand up, “left rudder” - left hand up, “raise sails” - both hands up, etc. (these commands are pronounced to the music mixed together).
All sailors must be able to listen to the captain and follow orders around the ship:
Left hand drive! - everyone runs to the left side
Right steering wheel! - everyone runs to the starboard side
Nose! - everyone runs forward.
Stern! - everyone runs back.
Raise the sails! - everyone stops and raises their hands up.
Scrub the deck! - everyone pretends to wash the floor.
Cannonball! - everyone crouches.
The captain is on board! - everyone freezes, stands at attention and salutes
2: I know another interesting sea game “Sea Figure Freeze!” called.
Game "Sea Figure"
At the command of the presenter “the sea worries once, the sea worries two, the sea worries three, the sea figure freeze,” the participants take turns demonstrating their frozen compositions.
1: Now it’s time for us to refresh ourselves. Competition “Choose a Coke.” The cook must be the most attentive to choose it - we play the game “Edible - Inedible”. Have you refreshed yourself?
Game "Edible - Inedible".
2: I announce the “Anchors” competition. To speed up, the guys in pairs must raise the “anchor” (“winder sticks” - tie ropes with small toys at the ends to two sticks. The winner is the one who winds the rope around the stick faster).
"Anchors."
1: Game “Salting watermelons”. We will need a large garbage bag, in the lower corners of which we make holes for the legs. One participant is selected from each team - he will be a barrel. This participant puts the bag on himself like pants, inserting his legs into the cut holes. Hands hold the edge of the package. The remaining participants must collect balls (watermelons) and put them in a barrel. The team that pickles the most watermelons wins.
“Salting watermelons.”
2: The "Navy Seals" competition is announced.
The teams perform the song:
Cats – “Two Cheerful Geese”
Piglets – “Grasshopper”
Horses - “I’m lying in the sun”
1: There is an island ahead! Let's dock! On this island we will find out whether our pirates are strong. There is a rope on the sand. The task is as follows: you need to pull the rope to your team’s side. And for this we will divide into two teams.
Game "Walk under the rope".
2: Pirate Friends! And our treasure is under a black mark! Where is she? Stop! This is an enchanted valley! Don't you know the legend about the evil witch? She does not sleep at night, and is just waiting to bewitch someone... You can cross the valley only during the day, when music is playing - we dance, when “night” is announced we freeze and do not move.
Dance-game “Enchanted Valley”.
1: Here comes the treasure chest! We found a treasure. Hooray! Let's open (candy, juice).
The holiday ends with a general dance. At the end, the pirates disperse in different directions to their “islands”. 1 – entertains children with soap bubbles, 2 – holds arm wrestling competitions among those interested. 1 – plays a game with parachutes (“Salute”, “Hit the enemy ship with a cannonball”). 2 – plays the outdoor game “Fish in the Sea”.
Carpenter/Surgeon
Pirate ships rarely had real surgeons, and in practice this duty was usually performed by the ship's carpenter, since he was the one who had the necessary tools, most notably the amputation saw. He always had a boatswain on hand with a red-hot ax to cauterize wounds, and a sailmaker applied the stitches. The carpenter was responsible for the serviceability of the hull and the fit of the ship. At the height of the battle, he and his assistants quickly eliminated leaks and sealed holes. After the battle, the carpenter inspected the captured ship to determine whether it was fit for further use.
How to prepare a party
The flavor and specific features of pirate life require some effort when preparing a pirate-themed party.
Decorating the hall for a pirate party
Since the crew is recruited on a pirate ship in port, the decor matches the furnishings of the cabins - plain canvas, rope tackle, signal flags. In the most prominent place is the flag of a pirate ship and a board with its name. For example, "Black Lightning".
The flag is the calling card of the ship.
The stern flag, as a mandatory identification mark of its corsairs, was introduced at the end of the 16th century in England (the name “red Jack”).
Such a flag signaled to the oncoming ship that resistance was futile. Pirates not in government service began to use the color black - an order to immediately stop and capitulate. Over time, skulls, bones, daggers and skeletons appeared on the black flag - symbols of death. And the flag was named "Jolly Roger".
A yellow flag was flown much less frequently - a signal of a fatal illness or insanity of the crew. For ease of design, you can use pirate flag templates.
In addition, torn nets with entangled fish on the walls, boxes, chests and barrels on the floor and other props for a pirate party greatly enliven the hall.
The table in the middle of the wardroom is large and made of wood. The benches are the same, only the captain's chair is more comfortable. At the entrance on the wall there is a ship's charter, next to it is a ship's log. Then new crew members put their signatures (or fingerprints, crosses - for the illiterate) and pirate nicknames into it.
Costumes and decorations
At the beginning of the 14th century, many European states introduced differences in clothing for ordinary people and the nobility, prohibiting the former from wearing clothes made of fine linen, colored fabrics, and jewelry. Violations could result in prison.
The pirates, naturally, did not comply with these prohibitions. Therefore, their clothes were very colorful - shirts with wide sleeves and lace cuffs, satin pants to the knees. Vests made of expensive fabrics, topped with a long caftan.
Headwear from scarves to wide-brimmed hats and cocked hats with feathers and precious stones. People wore soft shoes on the ship, only the captain could wear long leather boots.
Women, who, however, were few in number, also dressed in either short skirts and blouses made of thin fabric. And, naturally, there were more decorations.
Costumes for a pirate party are designed to highlight the variety of pirate tastes and the breadth of your imagination.
The decoration of any pirate was a weapon - a knife or saber, decorated with precious stones. In addition, massive gold earrings, bracelets and rings, various talismans and amulets were widespread. Precious stones - aquamarine, amethyst, garnet, rock crystal, chrysolite - helped during long sea voyages.
A flattened lead bullet set in gold protected against a treacherous shot; a bear tooth on a cord helped to return home... Exotic coins, shells with a scorched cross, and an image of an anchor with a trident were also valued. You can buy pirate paraphernalia for the party or make it yourself.
DIY costumes and jewelry
It's quite easy to find pirate-themed costumes. Lace cuffs and a frill collar are sewn onto a regular shirt - and the pirate shirt is ready. Making knee-length pants out of sweatpants is also not difficult.
Well, ladies will choose skirts of any length and width in their wardrobe (if it doesn’t work, copy the men, their clothes seem to be created for pirate business). After rummaging through old hats and a jewelry box, choose hats, jewelry for a pirate party, and accessories for yourself and your man.
Treat
The usual provisions on sea voyages are salted fish and meat, crackers, cheese... until they dry out and spoil. But the voyage has not yet started, and all the goodies on the pirate party menu - vegetables, fruits, meat and fish - are in large pieces, with a tempting crispy crust. Drinks – rum, beer, brandy, sherry. For every taste.
At sea, there is nothing to drink except rum - everything else will soon turn sour. And rum is made from black molasses and is not afraid of heat.
For ladies - sweets in chests and on dishes, soft drinks. The table is set.
Anne Bonney
The notorious pirate Anne Bonny was the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy Irish lawyer. Trying to hide the girl's dubious origins, her father dressed her in boys' clothes and introduced her to everyone as a clerk in his office. Anne later moved to America, where she married a sailor in 1718. Together with her husband, Anne went to the island of New Providence, which at that time was infested with pirates. It was there that she fell “under the spell” of the famous pirate Jack Rackham, who sailed between the countries of the Caribbean. She left her husband for him.
Bonnie has always been known for her fierce, courageous nature. According to one legend, she almost beat to death a man who tried to show himself as the boss. She also very quickly informed everyone that she could drink rum on an equal basis with men and wield pistols no worse than her lover. A little later, she became friends with another female pirate, Mary Read, and together they played a leading role in the boom in raids against small fishing boats and trading schooners that took place in the summer and fall of 1720. However, Bonnie's stay on the high seas was very short. Already in October of the same year, Jack Rackham's ship was captured by a gang of pirate hunters. Rackham and several other men were executed, but Bonnie and Reed escaped the noose when it was discovered that they were both pregnant.
Alvilda's successor was the French Countess Jeanne de Belleville-Cpassin
The following story is more like the truth; it is confirmed by historical chronicles. We are talking about a charming aristocrat from Brittany, perhaps she was one of the first women to take up the pirate craft. Jeanne de Belleville, who was famous for her beauty and intelligence, was driven to become a pirate by her thirst for revenge.
During the Hundred Years' War, her husband, the noble lord Maurice de Bellevoule, was slandered, accused of treason, and in 1430. executed, Zhanna was then 29 years old. When Jeanne de Belleville was returned to her husband's body, she and her sons (the youngest was seven, and the eldest was 14) vowed to take revenge on the treacherous French king.
Having sold all her estates, Jeanne purchased three brigantines, equipped a crew, put detachments of her vassals on ships and set off for the English Channel and Pas-de-Calais. Jeanne, having received a letter of marque from the English king - permission to attack the ships of France and its allies, named her ships the “Fleet of Retribution” and began her war at sea.
For four years, the Countess's squadron cruised in the straits, mercilessly sinking and burning all ships of the French flag. In addition to sea robbery, her flying detachments landed on the shore and attacked the castles and estates of those whom the countess considered guilty of the death of her husband. Jeanne transported all her loot to England. In France she was nicknamed the Lioness of Clisson, and Philip VI ordered: “Catch the witch dead or alive!
Several times her ships managed to elude the French fleet, but such luck could not last forever. One day, the flotilla of the Clisson Lioness was surrounded. When Jeanne had already lost two ships, she and her sons left the flagship and fled with several sailors on a small boat.
It is known that Jeanne was distinguished by her fearlessness; perhaps she was persuaded to flee by her comrades in arms remaining on the encircled ship, and their main argument was that Jeanne, captured or dead, would give great pleasure to the French king, but she did not want this.
Leaving the ship in a hurry, the fugitives did not take with them either water or provisions; six days later Jeanne’s youngest son died, then several sailors died. The survivors were carried out by the current to the French coast in the Brittany region. Jeanne de Belleville was lucky; she managed to find shelter in the possessions of Jean de Montfort, a friend of her executed husband.
The death of her son, the death of her fleet and friends made the thirst for revenge subside, and soon the female corsair accepted the courtship of the nobleman Gautier de Bentley and married him. Time passed and she began to appear in public again, and the fate of her eldest son turned out well - he became a constable, the highest dignitary of France.
A hundred years after Joan, a flotilla of another aristocrat, the mother of the British lord John Killigrew, who led the pirates until her death in 1550, appeared in the area of her pirate activities. Her exploits were continued by Lady Elizabeth Killigoe, her son's wife.
The pirate leader had a wide network of informants on shore who supplied her with information about the nature of the cargo on the ships and their weapons. So she would have pirated, but one day, when her thugs attacked a Spanish galleon, its captain managed to hide in a secret room on the ship and reveal her secret. The amazed Spaniard saw through a hole in the panel that the pirates destroying his crew were commanded by a charming woman.
At dusk, he managed to quietly leave the ship and swim to the shore. In the morning he hurried to the governor of Falmouth and in his house he saw a lovely young woman, whom, of course, he recognized. The prudent Spaniard did not reveal anything about himself; after greeting the governor, he quickly took his leave and headed straight to London. There, his message caused a real shock to the king, who ordered an immediate investigation.
During the investigation, it turned out that Elizabeth Killigrew was the daughter of the famous pirate Philip Wolverston. From her father, she not only learned to master weapons perfectly, but also went through a real school of robbery. Her husband, the governor of Falmouth, was aware of his wife’s hobby and did not oppose it, but on the contrary, supported her activities. My wife's hobby brought in excellent income.
When it smelled like something was cooking, the Killigrew couple decided to escape with the loot on one of the pirate ships, but some “well-wisher” betrayed the couple and they were captured. Lord Killigrew was sentenced to death and his wife to life imprisonment.
Mary Blood, the girlfriend of the famous filibuster Edward Teach, nicknamed “Blackbeard,” is a beautiful, very tall (more than 1 m 90 cm) Irish woman. While she was on her way to America, the ship she was on was captured by Edward Teach. He was so struck by the girl’s beauty and height that he immediately decided to marry her. Mary had no choice but to agree, because the pirates killed all the other passengers.
As a wedding gift, Mary received a pirate ship and its crew. She quickly got used to the sea robbers and began to take part in attacks on ships herself. Mary was madly in love with jewelry and especially diamonds, so she was nicknamed Diamond Mary. The pirate craft helped regularly replenish her collection of jewelry. However, passion for soulless stones defeated love.
In 1729, Mary's pirates captured a Spanish ship. When the prisoners were lined up on deck, she met the eyes of one of the tall Spaniards and disappeared. Mary fell madly in love with a handsome captive and soon ran away with him to Peru. Teach made a lot of efforts to find and punish the traitor, but he was never able to find the couple that had eluded him.
Adventure game "In Search of Treasures".
The bad pirate is the one who doesn't dream of finding the treasure. Therefore, the main entertainment of the evening can be a treasure hunt. Set up a quest for the children. This is a game where you need to find a hidden object based on clues. Having guessed the clue, participants will find out where the next one is. And so on until they reach the last one, which will lead to the treasured treasure. Preparation involves the following stages:
- Selecting hiding places - places where clues will be hidden. Choose wisely so that none of your guests stumble upon them by accident.
- Preparation of prompt tasks. The answers in them will be the selected caches. Use riddles from the Internet or come up with your own. For example, a microwave oven can be played out as “A wonderful box warmed our stew” or “Our ship will not be able to sail on its waves, but it will help warm up the meat!” Accordingly, the next clue will be waiting for the participants inside the microwave.
- Laying out clues in hiding places according to the invented route. At the end, the coveted prize should await the players. Doesn't have to be expensive. For more excitement, you can hide small gifts such as sweets in hiding places.
If you don’t have enough time to prepare the quest, use the ready-made script from www.zavodila.com
Scenario for a children's quest in a pirate style "In Search of Treasures."
Grace O'Malley
At a time when most women were denied education and forced to stay at home, pirate Grace O'Malley commanded a fleet of 20 ships that stood against the might of the British monarchy. Grace was also nicknamed "bald" for her habit of wearing short hair. O'Malley was the daughter of a powerful clan that ruled the west coast of Ireland. Taking the reins in the 1560s, she continued the family tradition of piracy, plundering Spanish and English ships and attacking rival chieftains. Her escapades were legendary. According to one legend, she led a naval battle the day after she gave birth to a child. But these same escapades became the reason for the anger of the authorities. In 1574 she fought off the siege of Rockfleet Castle and later spent 18 months behind bars after being captured during a raid. Immediately after her release, O'Malley resumed her plunder, but in the early 1590s new problems arose as her fleet was detained by British authorities. In the absence of support, O'Malley, who was already 63 years old, turned directly to Queen Elizabeth I for help. During a famous audience in London, Grace appeared before the queen as a tired and broken old woman and asked for the return of the ships and the release of one of her sons. , and also allow her to retire in peace. The show worked, but O'Malley didn't live up to her end of the deal. Records show that she continued to engage in piracy with her sons until her death in 1603.
