(written by ECV)

A privateer is not a common criminal.  Far from an ordinary pirate, the privateer is a professional thief whose operations are supported by a legitimate government.  In human history, privateers were authorized to engage in piracy by governments that lacked sufficient resources for a traditional army or navy.  The privateers’ thievery was not illegal but rather licensed by heads of state and internationally recognized as a licit form of warfare.  Notably, privateering could reduce war casualties because the peaceful transfer of resources resulting Continue reading →