Pirate, corsair or privateer? Who were the privateers?
Who is a privateer? And how do privateers differ from pirates and corsairs? Discover the most famous privateers and their tales from the Polish Baltic coast!
Pirates, corsairs, and privateers - who are they?
Pirates are robbers who attack ships at sea or on the shore. In contrast, corsairs and privateers conducted their maritime robbery activities... legally!
How is that possible? They received a letter of marque from their ruler, and based on it, using their private ships and crews, they conducted "war operations". Instead of payment for their "service", they were allowed to loot the enemy ship. Privateers and Corsairs did not use the pirate flag with a skull and crossbones, but sailed under the flag of their employer.
Privateer or corsair?
It is customary to call mercenaries fighting in the Atlantic and off the coasts of both Americas corsairs, and privateers - in the Baltic Sea. Both corsairing and privateering were officially banned in the mid-19th century (Paris treaty 1856).
Pirates in the Baltic, i.e. privateers
According to these definitions, "Baltic pirates" are mostly privateers. Privateering supplemented the Baltic countries' military in the 15th - 18th centuries. In Poland, the privateer fleet was created by King Casimir Jagiellon in 1456. Later, privateers were also paid by Kings Sigismund the Old, Sigismund Augustus, and Stephen B谩thory, and Polish privateer ships spread fear among the Swedish fleet. The city of Gdansk maintained its own privateers, among them the most famous Baltic privateer: Pawe艂 Beneke.
Pawe艂 Beneke - the most famous Baltic privateer
The most famous privateer in the Baltic Sea was the Gdansk sailor living in the 15th century, Pawe艂 Beneke. Together with his crew, on behalf of the authorities of Gdansk (actually the entire Hanseatic League), he conducted war operations against the English fleet, including kidnapping the mayor of London, and stealing the famous painting "The Last Judgement" by H. Memling.
Pirates and The Last Judgement by H. Memling
"The Last Judgement" by Hans Memling is one of the biggest treasures of the city of Gda艅sk! How did the triptych end up in Gda艅sk? There's an amazing story associated with it... ...
PS. If you feel like visiting the city of privateers, also check out this place:
Puck for kids - attractions and sightseeing
Puck is a small town by the Bay of Gdansk. It was here that the famous 'wedding' of Poland to the sea took place. Should you visit today and why? What can you see and do with kids? ...
Publish Date: 2023-02-24