Why did privateers become pirates

Besides some specific tasks, their orders were to capture or destroy vessels of enemy nation and seize their valuables. The proof of authorization was letters of marque and reprisal. Both, the nation and privateers, benefited from those deals. Many sailors got plenty opportunity for an easy-profiting and exciting job.

They could attack ships and ports without the fear of potential punishment. On the other side the privateers were drastically increasing the size of nations' navy. In a short period of two months, Fly and his crew captured five ships. When he was being hanged, he warned captains to pay their sailors well and on time. Black Sam Bellamy. Bellamy was an English pirate who along with his crewmen captured over 50 ships in his short career as pirate. He was known for his mercy towards those captured during his attacks.

Calico Jack Rackham. Rackham was a Caribbean pirate active from to He was the one who allowed female pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read , on his ship. Example of pirate attire during the Golden Age. Step into the world of pirates in the classic age of piracy. Letters of marque. A letter of marque was a commission authorising privately owned ships known as privateers to capture enemy merchant ships. The real pirates of the Caribbean.

While Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean films are entirely fictional, there is no doubting that the Caribbean was the centre of piracy in the Golden Age of Piracy. Infamous pirates. For over years, we have thrilled to the antics of fictional and fictionalised pirates from Long John Silver to Jack Sparrow. Bringing pirates to justice. Justice, like life, was short, brutal and spectacular for pirates.

Visit us. National Maritime Museum. Plan your visit. Shop our selection of pirate-themed books The image of the pirate never fails to capture the imagination. Browse our range of publications to inform and entertain Shop. The cut-throat sea robbers of history who plundered richly laden merchant ships are legendary Buy Now. Pirate Gran by Geraldine Durrant. Pirating isn't the life for everyone, but Gran says it's a career more girls should think about. Long hours, of course, but you get to travel The oceans are some of the last untamed frontiers on our planet.

Too big to police, and under no clear international authority, these treacherous waters play host to the extremes of human behaviour and activity