![]() ![]() In a shrewd business move, the Crown decided that it had much to gain from piracy, so rather than outlawing the things pirates did outright, they could rebrand the swashbucklers as privateers. While Letters of Marque were most heavily used throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, similar practices are still in place today. They were particularly helpful when resolving disputes that involved contracts for shipped goods, ransom for pirate ships, duty payments and the like. These official certificates were put into place to settle conflicts that could arise between sailors and maritime merchants when both groups were located outside the jurisdiction of any country. Letters of Marque can be traced back to the naval laws of ancient nations such as the Babylonians and Egyptians who sailed the Mediterranean for trade purposes. ![]() ![]() If their treasures were shared with the Crown, these plundering seafarers were allowed to raid and capture rival ships as they see fit. If a “Privateer”, who was basically a pirate with a license, held one of these documents, he could conduct his normal business without fear of the law interfering because he paid his taxes. When a Letter of Marque was provided by (or on behalf of) the Crown, hostile actions, like attacking and seizing enemy merchant ships, were no longer considered piracy and instead were encouraged. ![]()
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