Privateers/Privateering - GCSE History Definition

Privateers were sailors or shipowners who were given permission by a government, through a special licence called a "letter of marque", to attack and capture enemy ships during wartime. This practice, known as privateering, was similar to piracy because it involved seizing ships and their goods, but was considered legal because it was authorised by a government. Privateers were often motivated by the promise of making money from selling the captured goods. While privateering was common in the 16th to the 19th centuries, it eventually faded as nations developed larger, more professional navies. Studying privateers helps GCSE History students understand how countries used different strategies to protect their interests and weaken their enemies during times of war.