The Vikings were consummate masters in the use of intimidation. They terrorized their victims, sometimes catching spears in mid-flight and hurling them back at the thrower. Their longboats seemed to appear out of nowhere, and the Norse descended on villages and monasteries with lightning speed. Since death during battle insured them eternal glory, their ferocity was legendary. Their favored weapons included the broadsword, battle-axe, and spear.
To deflect an enemy's sword the Barbary Corsair held a dagger in his left hand while wielding a rapier with his right. The Chinese, who also favored hand-to-hand battle, wielded two-handed hackers - a heavy sword capable of slicing through armor.
Later pirates, however, favored capture over fighting. One of their tactics was the ruse de guerre. After sighting a possible victim and determining her nationality, the pirates ran up a flag that identified them as a friend. When they got close enough to fire their guns, they struck their colors in favor of the Jolly Roger and fired a single shot across the other ship's bow. Too late, the prey realized its mistake and had no choice but to surrender or fight. If the target struck its colors, the pirates ordered her crew to lower their boats and ferry a prize crew over to their ship. If the other ship chose to fight, pirates preferred to board and engage the enemy rather than fire their guns, which could inflict serious damage to their intended prize.
The weapons pirates favored often depended on time and circumstances. They wielded swords, pistols (usually a flintlock), grappling irons, half-pikes, knives, and belaying pins. Sometimes they lobbed grenades of tar and smoldering rags to frighten and confuse the other crew. They also scattered caltrops or crowsfeet on the deck. These barbs made nasty wounds for barefooted seamen and pirates alike. Pirates used axes to climb the wooden sides of the ship and bring down sail. A single blow could sever a rope the width of a man's arm.
