The practice of issuing letters of marque died down at the end of the eighteenth century. Those obtaining a letter of marque were free to seek a fortune in plunder under protection from the hangman’s noose. The issuing nation gained firepower without any of the usual costs of making war, and could earn revenue from the letters’ sales. They were attractive options for all involved. These documents were effective ways to maintain an operating military force in the colonial regions, without having to pay to maintain a regular army or naval force. They sometimes were issued to pirates in conjunction with a royal pardon - in effect, ending their piracy against the issuing nation while gaining that nation new manpower to help fight their wars. Of course, enemy nations sometimes would ignore this, and treat captured privateers as pirates despite their letter of marque.Ī letter of marque could usually be simply purchased, and sometimes they were even given out for free. This protected privateers from being tried for piracy in their home nation, and was also intended to afford them protection under the laws of war if captured by their enemy. They essentially allowed their bearers to engage in legal piracy against strictly-defined targets - specifically, the ships and towns belonging to any nations at war with the letter’s issuer. These letters were taken advantage of by merchants, entrepreneurs, and even former pirates. Sailors under the protection of such a document were referred to as privateers. A letter of marque and reprisal was a government-issued license authorizing a ship or an individual to attack and seize enemy ships in wartime.
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