Dread Pirate Roberts
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The Dread Pirate Roberts was a fictional pirate in the novel and movie, The Princess Bride.
The only thing known to the outside world concerning the Dread Pirate Roberts was that he never left captives alive. Presumably, then, his profound reputation was established solely by tales from former sailors on his ship, the Revenge.
Roberts actually was a series of different men. Approximately every five years, the current holder of the name chose a member of his crew to bestow the name upon. Everyone except the lucky pirate was released at a convienent port, a new crew was hired, and the former Roberts stayed aboard as first mate. The constant reference to "Captain Roberts" established the new Roberts' persona. After the crew was convinced, the former Roberts departed the ship, retrieved five years' worth of plunder, and retired in splendor.
The entire system worked, as Westley relates to his love Buttercup, because Roberts operated entirely on fear. Ships would immediately surrender and send over their wealth rather than be captured by the Dread Pirate Roberts, but no one would surrender to the Dread Pirate Westley.
Holders of the title Dread Pirate Roberts included:
- The original Roberts, retired fifteen years in Patagonia at the time of the novel
- Cummerbund, retired ten years
- Ryan, retired five years
- Westley, retires at the end of the novel
- Inigo Montoya (presumed)
The fictional Dread Pirate Roberts may have been inspired by the historical pirate Bart Roberts (or Black Bart). Likely as an inside joke, writers of the 2004 remake of Sid Meier's Pirates! have the character of Bart Roberts saying "Fear the dread pirate Bart Roberts!"