Pirates' Code: The Laws and Life Aboard Ship

Pirates have long captured our imaginations with images of cutlass-wielding swashbucklers, eye patches, and buried treasure. But what was life really like on a pirate ship? Piracy was a risky, sometimes deadly occupation, and strict orders were essential for everyone’s survival. These “Laws” were sets of rules that determined everything from how much each pirate earned from their plunder to compensation for injuries, punishments, and even the entertainment allowed on ships. These rules became known as the “Pirates’ Code,” which all pirates had to publicly swear by. Using primary sources like eyewitness accounts, trial proceedings, and maritime logs, this book explains how each one of the pirate codes was the key to pirates’ success in battle, on sea, and on land.

The Pirate King, Book by Sean Kingsley, Rex Cowan, Official Publisher Page

Dr. Rebecca PIRATES' CODE OUT NOW! Simon (@Beckalex) / X

The Pirate Code: The rules of the sea for the crew of Black Bart's ship in the 1700s - Click Americana

Unleash the Privateers! Proceedings - April 2020 Vol. 146/4/1,406

New Books in Law (podcast) - New Books Network

Dr. Rebecca Simon (@piratebeckalex)'s videos with original sound - Dr. Rebecca Simon

The Pirates' Code: Laws and Life Aboard Ship, 2023 – Rebecca Simon

The Chinese Female Pirate Who Commanded 80,000 Outlaws - Atlas Obscura

An A to Z of Pirate & Seafaring Expressions - World History Encyclopedia

Federal Piracy and Privateering

Real Pirates Salem