Did you know that the feared Jolly Roger flag often associated with pirates is believed to have been first used by Welsh pirate, Bartholomew Roberts? That’s according to the 1724 book, A General History of the Pyrates anyway.
Long before Welsh piracy was our mutual mate Dafydd sharing torrents of Pobol y Cwm with us, there was Bartholomew Roberts (17 May 1682 – 10 February 1722) – a Welshman born John Roberts from Casnewydd Bach, Sir Benfro (Pembrokeshire).
The pirate, nicknamed “Barti Ddu” (“Black Bart”), took over 470 prize ships from the coasts of America and West Africa during his piracy “career”. One of the keys to his success? The Welsh language. A speaker of Cymraeg, Barti was able to communicate to allies in the language, ensuring that enemies were unaware of his intentions.
Barti Ddu is also an early user of the Skull and Crossbones pirate flag; etching him into folklore and inspiring not just other pirates, but pop culture centuries after his death.
He would die at the hands of Captain Chaloner Ogle and his HMS Swallow on February 5th, 1722 – though his dream of being buried at sea in his finest clothes, his iconic red waistcoat with scarlet breeches and a scarlet flamingo plume (all of which he wore out of a lack of fear and disregard for anonymity), with his weapons and ornaments, was granted. A true pirate till the end.
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Niklas is the founder, owner, manager, editor, writer, video creator, voice over artist, and so forth, of Welsh Histories. He is passionate about the preservation of Welsh culture; the rejuvenation of the Welsh language and the promotion of Welsh history. Niklas currently resides in Pune, Maharashtra, with his beloved wife.
I enjoyed the article on Black Bart Bartholomew Roberts. I was trying to find history on Roberts name. I came across Black Barts name. He sailed from Flintshire. I found out, that Flintshire was where my Great Grandparents sailed from.