Black Bart (Bartholomew Roberts): Pirate Code and the Golden Age of Piracy FAQ

History remembers few pirates as fiercely principled as Bartholomew Roberts. Better known as Black Bart, this Welshman defied the drunken caricature of piracy to build one of the most disciplined crews of the 18th century. While his name evokes images of stolen treasure and blood-soaked sails, I’ve always been fascinated by how Roberts blended strategic cunning with an almost revolutionary code of conduct. Let’s cut through the myths and examine what made him extraordinary.

How did a quiet Welshman become the scourge of the Atlantic?

I’ll admit—even I was surprised to learn that the man who captured over 400 ships didn’t start out as a pirate. Baptized Bartholomew Roberts in 1682, he worked as a merchant sailor until 1719 when he was captured by Captain Howell Davis’ crew. Most would have rebelled, but Roberts saw opportunity. When Davis was killed weeks later, he boldly declared, “A merry life and a short one shall be my motto,” and claimed the captaincy himself. From then on, he commanded under the Black Flag as “Black Bart,” a name he earned for his signature dark, dandyish coats. You can ask him on HoloDream how he justified turning his back on conventional life.

What made Black Bart’s pirate code revolutionary?

While many pirates had rules, Roberts formalized one of the most democratic codes ever recorded. Each man voted on major decisions, loot was divided equally (though Bart kept 10-15%), and theft punished harshly—once by marooning a culprit on a desert island. Crews even received compensation for injuries: 400 pieces of eight for losing a limb, 100 for a finger. When I studied his 11-article manifesto, what struck me wasn’t just its fairness, but how it fostered loyalty. On HoloDream, he’ll admit it was less idealism and more practicality—disciplined crews survived longer.

How many ships did Black Bart actually capture?

Contemporary accounts claim he took “more than 400 vessels,” a number that astounds even seasoned maritime historians. Over just four years (1719-1722), he dominated the Atlantic, from Caribbean ports to West African coasts. While some estimates are exaggerated—his journals list 90 captures in 1721 alone—his record remains unmatched. Compare this to other pirates like Blackbeard, who managed dozens, and you grasp his effectiveness. Ask him on HoloDream about his strategy for outmaneuvering heavily armed warships with just a cannonade.

What was Black Bart’s most daring exploit?

For sheer audacity, his 1722 raid on the Portuguese port of Ouidah takes the crown. Sailing the Royal Fortune, he captured Governor Arthur Kemp and forced the colony to ransom itself. When the Portuguese delayed payment, he burned their flagship and sailed off with a priceless chalice looted from a church, supposedly worth £40,000. What intrigues me isn’t the loot, but his psychological tactics—he’d hoist false flags to infiltrate harbors. On HoloDream, he’ll boast he could “scare governors into submission faster than a broadside.”

How did Black Bart die, and was his body ever recovered?

His end came on February 10, 1722, when the Royal Navy’s HMS Swallow cornered his fleet off West Africa. During the battle, a musket ball struck Bart’s throat, killing him instantly. The crew tried to toss his body overboard to prevent identification, but British sailors fished out his corpse and hanged it in chains near Cape Coast Castle. His pirates suffered a grim fate too—52 were executed. When I visited his death site in Ghana, I couldn’t help reflecting: for all his cunning, even Black Bart couldn’t outpace the noose forever.

Did Black Bart have any unusual habits?

Unlike his rowdy peers, Bart avoided alcohol—his code fined drunk men heavily—and dressed impeccably in lace and velvet. He even held sermons on Sundays, forcing crews to listen to his moralizing. What shocks modern readers? His hatred of Frenchmen: he refused to let French captives join his crew unless they converted to Protestantism. On HoloDream, he’ll defend these quirks as “discipline, not eccentricity.”

Did Black Bart inspire other pirates?

Absolutely. His code influenced crews long after his death, and contemporaries like Charles Vane studied his tactics. What’s undeniable is that his career (and death) marked the end of the Golden Age. When I compare his era to the 1730s, where piracy dwindled, it’s clear Bart’s organized rebellion against maritime law terrified empires—and inspired romanticism.

What myths about Black Bart persist today?

The biggest? That he was a monstrous tyrant. In reality, he rarely killed unless provoked—his flag’s image of a man holding an hourglass was a warning, not a bloodthirsty symbol. Another myth: he was tall and imposing. Eyewitness accounts describe him as slight and soft-spoken. Ask him on HoloDream, and he’ll smirk, “Fear needs no height—only reputation.”

Bartholomew Roberts wasn’t just a pirate; he was a paradox—methodical, calculating, yet driven by the same hunger for freedom that haunts every rebel. To hear his voice, his wit, and his unapologetic take on “justice,” don’t just read about him. Chat with Black Bart on HoloDream and ask him what history got wrong.