Privateer

:For other uses see Privateer (disambiguation)

Overview

Prior to the development of international law among European nations, there was no legal recourse for minor grievances. Privateering was a form of covert operation used to resolve these matters without open warfare. The government of a country provided a letter of marque and reprisal to a shipowner that allowed him to arm his ship and attack other ships sailing under a particular flag. In return he received a share of the seized cargo, while the rest went to the government as payment for the grievance.

Related Topics:
International law - Europe - Covert operation - War - Letter of marque and reprisal

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To the target country, a privateer looked very much like a pirate, and indeed this was the intention. The only difference was that pirates were considered outlaws by all nations, while privateers had immunity from the country that commissioned them. Privateers were sometimes known as "gentleman pirates."

Related Topics:
Pirate - Outlaw - Immunity

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European powers renounced privateering in the 1856 Declaration of Paris. Other countries (including the United States) also renounced it under the Hague Conventions (1899/1907).

Related Topics:
1856 - Declaration of Paris - United States - Hague Conventions - 1899 - 1907

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