![Pirates by Bruce Bushman](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/pirates/images/f/f9/Pirates_by_Bruce_Bushman.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/275?cb=20230614212259)
Pirates strike their colors and raise the white flag of surrender.
- "Strike yer colors, ya bloomin' cockroachers! By thunder, we'll see ya to Davy Jones! They needs persuasion, mates... Fire at will!"
- ―Pirate Captain
Striking the colors was a universal indicator of surrender. Once a ship's flag was lowered, it was considered a violation of international standards to continue to engage the surrendered ship in warfare.
History[]
- "Mr. Greene, please strike our colors. Lively, now! And hoist a white flag, if we have one."
- ―Jack Sparrow to Robert Greene
When the pirate galleon, Wicked Wench, attacked the Spanish fort of Puerto Dorado, the Pirate Captain yelled at the Spanish garrison to strike their colors. However, the Spanish soldiers promptly replied by firing at his ship, refusing to surrender. During the auction of the town wenches, the Auctioneer told the redheaded wench to strike her colors, because there was no need to expose her superstructure.[1]
![CotBPBarbossaBloominCockroaches](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/pirates/images/a/a6/CotBPBarbossaBloominCockroaches.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/275?cb=20120214155305)
As the Black Pearl and the Interceptor battle, Hector Barbossa yells at the Interceptor crew to "strike their colors" or to surrender.
When the East India Trading Company brig, the Fair Wind, encountered the pirate frigate, the Venganza, in the Caribbean Sea, the ship's first mate Jack Sparrow recognized the pirate vessel and convinced his captain, Nathaniel Bainbridge, to surrender the ship without fighting. The Fair Wind hoisted the white flag, but when Bainbridge realized the pirate captain was a woman, the infamous Doña Pirata, he drew his sword and attacked her.[2] Years later, during the battle between the Black Pearl and the Interceptor, the Pearl's captain, Hector Barbossa, yelled at the other ship's crew to strike their colors. However, they continued to resist, which eventually resulted in the destruction of the ship.[3]
Behind the scenes[]
- "Strike the colors! Lower the flag!"
- ―Eric Brand
- Striking the colors was first mentioned in the 1966 soundtrack to Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean.[4][1] Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) mentioned "striking the colors" as reference to the Disney ride in the 2003 film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.[3] Striking the colors made its first appearance in A. C. Crispin's novel The Price of Freedom, released in 2011.
- In Terry Rossio's screenplay draft for Tales of the Code: Wedlocked, when Scarlett started showing her legs to the assembled pirates the Auctioneer told her to "strike her colors", as it was Giselle's turn to be auctioned.[5]
- In Jeff Nathanson's 2013 early draft of the Dead Men Tell No Tales script, the British Royal Navy war ship HMS Monarch was engaged in a battle with the French ship the Courageux. The British gained the upper hand, heavily damaging the Courageux, prompting the French captain, Thurot, to order his crew to strike the colors.[6]
- In the Dead Men Tell No Tales novelization, as the British navy warship Monarch chased the pirate ship Ruddy Rose at sea, an officer next to Captain Toms said the pirate ship strikes her flag in an attempt to surrender. However, pleased with the report, Captain Toms said the British navy does not grant surrender to pirates and commanded that they follow her into the Devil's Triangle.[7]
Appearances[]
- Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean (First mentioned)
- The Price of Freedom (First appearance)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (Mentioned only)
- Revenge of the Pirates! (Mentioned only)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Novelization
- Sea of Thieves: A Pirate's Life (Mentioned only) (Non-canonical appearance)
Sources[]
- Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Sound Track of the Fabulous Adventure
- Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies
External links[]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies
- ↑ The Price of Freedom, Chapter Two: Lady Esmeralda
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
- ↑ Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Sound Track of the Fabulous Adventure
- ↑ TALES OF THE CODE: PIRATE BELLES by Terry Rossio
- ↑ Dead Men Tell No Tales script by Jeff Nathanson, second draft, 5/6/2013
- ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Novelization, p. 23