Filibuster (military)

:For the legislative tactic, see filibuster.

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A filibuster is a private individual who engages in unauthorized warfare against a foreign country, often with the intent of overthrowing the existing government. By extention the term also refers to the actions undertaken by a filibuster. The term filibuster and the variant "freebooter" are also applied more generally to individuals who attack foreign lands or interests for financial gain, without authority from their own government.

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The term came into English from the Spanish filibustero (meaning pirate or buccaneer) and was first applied to persons raiding Spanish colonies and ships in the West Indies, the most famous of which was Sir Francis Drake with his 1573 raid on Nombre de Dios. With the end of the era of Carribean piracy in the early 18th century the term fell out of general currency.

Related Topics:
Pirate - West Indies - Sir Francis Drake - 1573 - Nombre de Dios - Carribean piracy - 18th century

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The term was revived in the mid 19th century to describe the actions of Anglo-American adventurers who tried to take control of various Caribbean and Mexican territories by force of arms. The filibustering of Texas was accomplished by gradual settlement over more than three decades, during which Texas was a part of the Spanish Empire and later of Mexico. It culminated in the successful Texas Revolution of 1836 and the subsequent Texas Annexation to the United States.

Related Topics:
19th century - Anglo-American - Texas - Spanish Empire - Mexico - Texas Revolution - 1836 - Texas Annexation - United States

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Later in the 1850s, William Walker attempted to duplicate the success of the Texans with a strategy involving himself at the head of a private mercenary army. In 1853, he unsuccessfully attempted to stage an insurrection in the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California. Later he was hired as a mercenary by one of the factions in a civil war in Nicaragua. In 1856 he declared himself commander of the country's army and soon after President of the Republic. After attempting to take control of the rest of Central America he was defeated and eventually executed.

Related Topics:
1850s - William Walker - 1853 - Sonora - Baja California - Mercenary - Civil war - Nicaragua - 1856

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The three most prominent filibusters of that era were Walker, Narcisco Lopez, and John Quitman. Some would also apply the term to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Related Topics:
Narcisco Lopez - John Quitman - Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom

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The actions of the filibusters is what led to the name being applied figuratively to the political act of filibustering in the U.S. Senate.

Related Topics:
Filibuster - U.S. Senate

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