Did pirates use armor?

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The existance of armor during the pirate age does of course warrant the question: did pirates ever use armor? It is a question I receive on occasion, also regarding helmets and shields.
Modern sources:
A Most Fortunate Ship: A Narrative History of "Old Ironsides" - Tyrone G. Martin
Arms and armor in colonial America, 1526-1783 - Harold Peterson
Boarders Away: With Steel - William Gilkerson
Buccaneers and soldiers in the Americas - René Chartrand
Pillaging the Empire - Kris Lane
Soldiers of the English Civil War 2 Cavalry - John Tincey
The Sea-Rover's Practice - Benerson Little
The Spanish Army in North America - René Chartrand
Period sources:
The Expert Sword-man's companion - Donald McBane
The narrative of General Venables - Robert Venables
The Relation of Captain Pallano - From Spanish Narratives of the English Attack on Santo Domingo 1655
Traité Des Armes - Louis de Gaya
Two Voyages to Campechy - William Dampier
Timestamps:
0:00 A metal age
2:15 Colonial armor
15:06 Gorget
16:09 Shields
22:25 Helmut Kohl
25:21 Pirate Knights?
27:29 Ship armor
31:18 Conclusion
Music credits:
Cay by Jon Sayles of jsayles.com
Johann Fischer Musicalisches BlumenBueschlein Suite No2 in F major on KZbin
Johann CF Fischer Musikalisches Blumenbüschlein Suite N5 in E minor on KZbin
The Spanish Guitar in the Renaissance and Baroque Moreno on KZbin
#history #pirates #armor

[@GoldandGunpowder]

Related topics on pirate equipment: Swords: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h56uppKgrKyBmqc General melee weaponry: kzbin.info/www/bejne/laGWepKKqctriqM Improvised weaponry: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4CXpaaOf6yqeNk Artillery: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5DGeXmlfZiGaqs Cannon ammunition: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p57aq5-GaterbdU How cannons were aimed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYLPn418md2Mn7M Operating a cannon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5uyl4F-ocR4fNE

[@TaRAAASHBAGS]

This channel scratches my particular brand of historical warfare autism just right

[@jamesbuchanan3145]

#metoo

[@robertsaget6918]

Do you also watch this during your feeding period? My adult son is autistic & he loves watching this channel after I strap him into his feeding chair. He barely even noticed the tube hookup once he hears this nice narrator's voice (he used to fight me trying to insert the tube & he was quite strong). I wonder if the voice does something for the autistic types - either way no better way to get him ready for work!

[@level98bearhuntingarmor]

I mean Pirate Knights with armor and guns would genuinely be the coolest thing ever

[@Alemag_]

Well, the knights of Saint John, the Hospitallers, raided Turkish ships in the XVI century. At the time, they still wore plate armor and were considered pirates by the Ottomans. After losing Rhodes, they found a new base of operations in Malta from where they attacked muslims ships. Knight Romegas was a famous naval commander of that time and was present at the siege of Malta. So yeah, for a time the Hospitallers were pirates that wore plate armor. Edit: I replied to your comment before watching the whole video and now I see that my comment was, somewhat, redundant.

[@VarangianGuard13]

​@@Alemag_With deepest respect, good information is never truly redundant. Very good post.

[@Alemag_]

@@VarangianGuard13 thanks, man. I really appreciate your kind words.

[@dolsopolar]

​@Alemag_ the armored knights would be just a few commanders on the ship. the rest of the crew would've worn a generic sailor clothes maybe with saint john cross stitched somewhere.

[@Vicus_of_Utrecht]

​@@Alemag_good edit

[@kolinako6872]

The gorget still survives today in a more ceremonial role. I have worn it many days and nights on my shift as the "1st in charge" soldier for the company during my time in the military.

[@RachDarastric2]

Well if I had to choose between a chest plate and a gorget I'd take the gorget.

[@SwashbucklingToday]

What country?

[@dolsopolar]

​@@RachDarastric2 contrary to all soldiers in history that have always chose helmet and breastplate over gorgets.

[@RachDarastric2]

@@dolsopolar My apologies, I didn't know my choice meant I don't get a helmet.

[@PrinceOtter]

helmet doesn't mean that much in the age of gunpowder I'm gonna be honest, I'd rather be mobile and able to quickly take cover behind say an earthwork or in a trench

[@kolinako6872]

I'd imagine an iron breastplate would have offered great protection against wood splinters and the like on a ship in addition to musket balls.

[@lc1138]

Yep. But maybe enough clothing would have been sufficient. Like the napoleonic hussards' multiple layers of clothes. It can weaken a saber blow enough.

[@badart3204]

@@lc1138the clothes may be hotter though. Could be a plus or minus based on the environment

[@lc1138]

@@badart3204 you need to wear padding beneath the breastplate, otherwise you'd have no shock absorption. So it might be as warm :/ The ratio warmth/protection would obviously be in favor of the breastplate, but still. On other points : not bendable (you will be hindered in your movements) ; iron and salt water, well, I hope you've got maintenance tools and some time to spare ; and the weight being on your front only. Absolutely okay for a few hours. Tiring if all day long. It would have been a choice made between drawbacks and gains, and given the availability of the thing too. Oh, and you need someone to strap it in your back. Probably not the kind of attitude fashioned aboard a pirate ship. I don't know.

[@celticperspective5183]

There’s a video on KZbin of about a Targe deflecting black powder pistol bullets, and they test it out at various angles and distances, it seems at a steep angle the bullet skips over the metal facings or gets slowed down by the leather front and buries itself in the wood rather than fully penetrating.

[@GoldandGunpowder]

interesting!

[@shripperquats5872]

my first thought is it would be a terrible way to drown. but how well can you swim anyway with 2 wooden legs and 6 fingers

[@SwashbucklingToday]

You

[@Vicus_of_Utrecht]

😂😂

[@takeohtyme]

Very slowly, I presume.

[@jonhudson3568]

25:10 the slang term "Leatherneck" comes from a reinforced leather collar that US Marines would wear during a boarding action to protect against cutlass strikes, but I didn't know we had full helmets as well

[@SHDW-nf2ki]

given that how hard it is to get people to wear a helmet today. I doubt people back in pirate times would wear one

[@ZecaPinto1]

Piracy exists since the first shipbuilders had the idea to go pillageing the village on the other island. So I don't have any doubts that regardless of each age, there were surely pirates that used armour

[@killerkraut9179]

Scottish targes where tested succesfull againt flint look pistols ! The channel Fandabi Dozi tested it !

[@lanequick7451]

And muskets were often loaded with multiple balls or buck and ball, dropping the energy each projectile could achieve. These would likely be stoppable by a good targe.

[@frogman-ns7yb]

It's kind of funny to think about this I watched your videos on patreon and then I rewatch them when you upload them to KZbin

[@jacktribble5253]

I would pay to see someone climb a thirty" rig in full plate. I know...

[@erikthepirate8068]

You know, I have the Imaginext Pirate Deckhand and Canno and Imaginext Skeleton Deckhands by Fisher-Price. They used Armors too.

[@RachDarastric2]

The way I heard it said.... "If you could afford a cuirass why would you result to piracy?" .... I have thought of quite a few ways you can change the padding so you remain just buoyant enough to swim if you fall in the water.

[@gunsgunstiger5238]

I think padding could probably be even worse for swimming, if you think about it: multipple, thick, densly pressed layers of cotton or linen that will soak the water like a sponge...

[@RachDarastric2]

@@gunsgunstiger5238 Perhaps, but.... Sponges float.

[@Specter_1125]

Most pirates couldn’t even swim in the first place. Sailors in general, really.

[@RachDarastric2]

@@Specter_1125 What do you mean? Don't you figure out how to swim on your own after being tossed into the water and told "Just calm down, its your fear of the unknown that causes you to drown."

[@dolsopolar]

​​@@RachDarastric2 they're sailors, they stay on the boat. many sailors really never learned to swim. also: rich pirates exist, poverty isn't the only drive to do piracy. there are pirates throughout history wearing armor whether they bought one or just looted them.

[@spikerzombie]

Also I bet the wooden shields were favored for the ability to possibly catch the blade of a enemy in the wood to disarm them compared to bouncing off of a metal one

[@Fezezen]

This is the only other channel that does videos like this on the Golden Age of Piracy. The other was The Pirates Port, but Thomas sadly died a few months ago.

[@knightforlorn6731]

OH! I've been waiting for this!

[@ingold1470]

The diary of William Grant Stairs (a notoriously brutal commander who ventured through the Congo during the Scramble for Africa), mentions that the most dangerous natives were their archers, his only defense against them was to shoot on sight. I wonder why they didn't readopt the Spanish gambesons for such expeditions.

[@lc1138]

Hm, maybe they didn't want to die from dehydration. I don't know about this specific kind of gambeson, but I've worn some linen ones (stuffed with either horse hair or modern fabric scraps) and, well.... the only air flow you get is from the places where you don't wear it. I don't even want to imagine how hellish it would get in a moisted heat.

[@ingold1470]

@@lc1138 That would explain it! I assumed because the Spanish wore it in South America that it was suitable for hot weather.

[@lc1138]

@@ingold1470 take it as my humble 2 cents ! I've not been in either place, but Caribbeans have the sea, and continental south America has a lot of high, dry ground. Whereas Congo....

[@SHDW-nf2ki]

A target could definitely kill a man, just as sure as a 2x4 can

[@bigchungus4336]

Loving these more detailed vids. You'd be a great resource to any dev team or filmmakers doing a period game/show

[@unknowntrooper_2791]

Nice video. Intetesting as usual. Cheers!

[@mikloskoszegi]

I've just recently seen a video where they tested targe shields against pistol and musket. It was very interesting, long story short: the cheapest and simplest one had a fairly good chance to deflect a pistol bullet, but the musket mostly went through it (i thin there was one deflection). The two better ones performed extremely well, if i remember correctly they were more or less pistol proof and deflected a few musket shot too. Sadly they didn't test them against longbows, but i see a good chance that arrows would have penetrated the shields.

[@KingEdwardtheTurbulentNeill26]

My clan the MacNeils of Barra and other Scottish pirate's like the Macleods of Lewis would have used the targe shield in there raids as well as during battles as they were also used in the 1500s. They would have also wore a metal skull cap as well before the bonnet hat was made. The targe shield was also good in close range sword fights as well as from long range as you could easily use a concealed dagger in the same hand as your shield so you can easily kill the enemy when you have the advantage and a surprise attack, hence why during the jacobite rebellion the bayonets were made to counter the highland charge so the Scots couldn't get too close for a close qauter sword fight.

[@Locksley108]

Pirates of the 1500s have nothing to do with pirates of the golden age

[@KingEdwardtheTurbulentNeill26]

@@Locksley108 it is as the targe shield were used throughout Scottish history especially by Scottish clans who were pirates. If you watched the video it also talks about armour and shields that were both used before and during the golden age of piracy as some armours and shields that pirate's used in the golden age of piracy are the same or similar one's to what they used in the past.

[@Locksley108]

@@KingEdwardtheTurbulentNeill26 This channel covers the golden age of piracy not the 1500s And the targe was used across europe and was not restricted t othe highland clans lmao

[@AmazingJMS]

Jack coats have metal pieces in the inside, are a kind of bigantine.

[@Electriceye1984bySam]

Awesome informative vid once again! Thank you🥂

[@GoofyGoober7582]

I've tried to log this video to the WayBack machine, but turns out THREE people have already done it! (In a period of 6 days.) Faith in humanity restored.

[@lilalmonds4595]

I think the 17th century is both the most similar too and the better alternative too most ‘medieval’ fantasy, especially in the way they treat armour, like in the 15th century for example you’re really pulling hairs for a reason other than financial to not wear cover everything but maybe your face in metal

[@SB-qm5wg]

I was wondering if the Targe would make an appearance.

[@knutzzl]

On the question of leather and iron shields being arrow and or shot proof. A fast light lead bullet has more energy than a slow heavy arrow but the arrow has the mass and thus momentum to penetrate a wood and leader shield

[@alexanderb7721]

you should do some stuff on east asian and chinese piracy eventually. There's some really cool stuff there, like that one prostitute who became a pirate queen or the conflicts between pirates and the zheng he voyages

[@Crazyjedi2]

I also wonder if metal armor is more of a hinderance than a help with the prevalence of firearms. The bullets could cause the metal to spall increasing the injury that the wearer receives more than just a regular gunshot wound.

[@GoldandGunpowder]

this was usually the issue for mail, and for this reason you'd preferably wear thick layers of cloth beneath the armor, something like a buff coat, but yes armor potentially causing rather than preventing damage was a reason for its abandonment

[@jesusislord-ht1nj]

I would of not wore armour if I was a pirate because drowning isn't fun

[@rastusbojangles]

Gunna play Sid Meier's Pirates now

[@thatroonstboi6231]

oh boy!

[@comms9803]

Hell yeah!!!

[@Jazkal-V420]

Armoured pirates. Lolololololololololololololololololololol

[@skeletor6789]

Did Blackbeard have a figurehead on the Queen Annes Revenge? What did it look like? Media and videogames Illustrate a figurehead on every ship, it seems. So did pirateships have their own Figureheads on their ships. I like to think so. Since pirates put some thought into their pirate flags, it would make sense to have a figurehead to match the flag or the personality of the captain and crew. Or to send fear into their victims. Please cover this awesome topic. Everyone is waiting lol please 🙏 ☠️

[@monkstery]

Pirates razeed their ships, meaning they cut down all unnecessary structures and decorations to maximize speed, including removing figureheads

[@SHDW-nf2ki]

I feel like a gorget would be quite practical because it's small enough to be invisible and not ristrict movement but would definitely protect one of the most vital areas of your body

[@dolsopolar]

gorgets are among the least common piece among soldiers. neck generally have a very few attack angle to be threatened anyway so helmets and cuirass are the most popular armor for every part of the world.

[@skeletor6789]

Hello can you please cover the FIGUREHEAD of pirateships? Please!!!

[@merafirewing6591]

Pirates with iron armor and using pistols, muskets and such is the most metal that it's based.

[@strickefuernazis]

I stopped waiting for you videos, cos I now know: the longer I wait, the wilder it gets! 🖤

[@davidwong9230]

It’s all very well wearing armour into battle…until someone attacks you with a tin opener 😆

[@blakebailey22]

Fantastic video! I appreciate how in-depth you went as I learned a lot of new things! I have a preference for ancient and medieval history so it was really fascinating seeing how armor was used in the age prior to linear warfare as well as why it was ultimately abandoned. I also loved learning about those shields and those interesting U.S. navy helmets!

[@RuneChaosMarine]

@5:21 credit Malcom P. L. For the use of his recreation of the wooden armor. Please. In the description.

[@GoldandGunpowder]

are you the creator?

[@RuneChaosMarine]

@@GoldandGunpowder Malcolm P.L. on YT is the creator and has a video to prove this.

[@RuneChaosMarine]

@@GoldandGunpowder kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpLPoHpoqc6lq6c

[@Noah_Hattingh]

Make a Sea of Thieves analysis please!

[@Blakut]

Hey @goldandGunpowder did pirates talk like pirates? Did they really say yarrrggg?

[@GoldandGunpowder]

see this episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWjQm4OQft99pLc

[@Alex-cw3rz]

28:52 this is false, it wasn't proof against it's own guns let alone 32 pounders, USS Constitution was one of 6 frigates and that had the same thickness of wood construction as USS President and Chessapeake both were penertrated by 24 pounder and 18 pounder shot, in fact in both captures even though 24 pounder shot was being fired at maximium ranges it was going straight through Presidents hull, in both battles there is only one mention of a cannon ball bouncing off and that was off of HMS Shannons hull. It is also of note that apart from Guerriere which had 18 pounder cannons, there is never any mention again of shot bouncing off of any of the 6 friagtes including Constitutions hull. In addition, in terms of construction Ships of the line in general were built with thick hulls and were better able to shug off shot than these 6 frigates.

[@DIEGhostfish]

So it was Shannon thst had the bounce, not Connie?

[@merafirewing6591]

​@@DIEGhostfish although the Constitution could easily shred the Shannon since she too also has 24-pounders. So yeah, Connie is by the far the more heavily armed of the six Frigates.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

​@@DIEGhostfish no neither were proof against 18 pounders, it was just the shot hit the thickest part of Shannon's Hull when it was hauled over to one side

[@Alex-cw3rz]

​@@merafirewing6591 this is untrue on both accounts, USS President was the heaviest armed as it had 42 pounder carronades, whereas USS Constitution had 32 pounders. Even if you gave Chessapeake the same number of guns as Constitution and increased the shot weight, Shannon would still have hit Chessapeake with more weight of shot due to Captain's Brokes much better training and innovative designs to make the guns more accurate. In addition to all of this Shannon's tatic which had a cannon aimed that the helmsman would have disabled Constitutions helm just like Chessapeakes and the way they worked down the Chessapeakes deck by aiming all the cannon at specific spots would have devastated Constitution just as much.

[@jillatherton4660]

Ah Haahrr. 👍

[@Miraihi]

Ahrrrrmor

[@jillatherton4660]

@@Miraihi LOL

[@Toactwithoutthinking]

Reminds me of when Japanese "pirates" attacked Portuguese ships. I'd wager the big issue though is when point blank muskets are a think most armor isn't going to cut it.

[@SwashbucklingToday]

Ok good

[@jackrice2770]

Armor just isn't practical for ship-to-ship fighting. If one has spent any amount of time aboard a sailing vessel, it quickly becomes apparent that mobility is a prime requirement; the ship is moving, there's all kinds of rope and wood stuff moving around at high velocity (booms, sails, rigging, etc.) and handling the ship during combat would be far more important the the minimal protection armor might provide. Most important, probably, is the certain death if one fell overboard. Even heavy clothing and boots are dangerously heavy when wet, so strapping 30 or 40 pounds of iron on would be...uh...more or less suicidal. I can see that sometimes a land expedition might break out stored armor, but it's a high maintenance item and there's enough maintenance chores onboard ship already. Far more important to keep your sword sharp, your musket and pistol clean and have the maximum in mobility. Besides, pirates sneered at men who valued their lives too highly. After all, the vast majority of people at that time were lucky to see 40 years of age, so 'a short life..." was the standard, might as well make it '...a merry one."

[@DIEGhostfish]

There he goes again, including childhood and maternal mortality in averages where they don't fit

[@dolsopolar]

except there are thousand years of period of naval warfare where people fight in close combat... in heavy armor... also "average" lifespan of 30-40 years was because of mortality rates not that adults of the time would never reach old age.

[@Vicus_of_Utrecht]

I've been on a coast guard boat on a still lake. Even that's crazy. Now the fucking sea? I have watched even KZbin to go 😮

[@thatsoundslikeheresytomeyo4960]

Most people couldn't actually swim all that well before modern times, so your second reason isn't a large change. It's perfectly reasonable to assume that one wouldn't wear armor because they knew it wouldn't impede a skill they didn't possess.

[@tommeakin1732]

While you're likely not wrong that wearing a helm or breastplate will likely exaggerate the the felt-roll of the ship (not something I'd given a great amount of thought to), wearing heavy armour in fights at sea was clearly practical as it'd been done for hundreds of years before the golden age of piracy, with boarding being the core of the fighting for most of that time.

[@Nosliw837]

Sure, but history calls them conquistadors 😅