Bloody flag

Bloody flag

• Top left: Bloody flag without motif.
• Top right: Historical red Jolly Roger, captured by Lt. Richard Curry in the 18th century. Today residing at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard exhibition.
• Lower left: Dutch ships flying a bloody flag during the Battle of the Sound, November 8 1658, fought between the Dutch and Swedish fleets.
• Lower right: Dutch bloody flag from the mid 17th century.

Often called bloody flags or the bloody red (among other names, see § Names), pattern-free red flags were the traditional nautical symbol in European waters prior to the invention of flag signal codes to signify an intention to give battle and that 'no quarter would be given', indicating that surrender would not be accepted and all prisoners killed, but also vice versa, meaning that the one flying the flag would fight to the last man (defiance to the death).^[1][2][3] Such flags were traditionally plain but examples with motifs also existed, such as skull and crossbones on some pirate examples (see Jolly Roger).

The origin of bloody flags is unknown, but deep red coloring is strongly associated with the color of blood and thus symbolises suffering and combat. Historical sources mentions bloody flags being used by Normans as early as the 13th century, but red-painted shields were used similarly by seafaring Norse warriors in previous centuries. Since the late 18th century, the bloody flag has been transformed into the political flag for revolution (see Red flag (politics)).