Privateer: Difference between revisions
imported>Sol Pacificus m Sol Pacificus moved page Privateer (occupation) to Privateer |
imported>Sol Pacificus No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Era|Occupations}} | |||
{{WP-REAL}} | |||
{{Imageneed}} | |||
A '''privateer''' is a private individual who engages in naval warfare on behalf of a government who issues them a permit called a letter of marque. | |||
==Description== | |||
As [[mercenary|mercenaries]] of the sea, privateers are given legal permission to attack and plunder the naval vessels designated as enemies to the government that they serve. Commonly, these enemies are warships of states at war with the government or pirates, but the commission may also allow the privateers to target merchant vessels of the belligerent nation. In the eyes of their enemy, the actions of privateers may be indistinct from [[piracy]] in itself and have no legality.<ref name="Database">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Database: Pirates, Buccaneers, and Privateers]]</ref> | |||
The line between privateering and piracy can blur.<ref name="Database" /> The former is effectively piracy which is legally sanctioned by one government, and privateers who continue to operate after the letter of marque has expired or who attacks ships belonging to the client government immediately become pirates to all. The criminal lives of hundreds of [[West Indies|Caribbean]] pirates during the [[Golden Age of Piracy]] originated in privateering.<ref name="Benjamin Hornigold">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Benjamin Hornigold]]</ref> | |||
==History== | |||
===Golden Age of Piracy=== | |||
Before turning to piracy, the [[Wales|Welsh]] peasant [[Edward Kenway]] spent his days dreaming about an exciting life not as a pirate but as a privateer to his wife [[Caroline Scott-Kenway|Caroline Scott]]. In particular, he dabbled in the idea of sailing against [[Spain|Spanish]] ships in the [[War of Spanish Succession]], assuring Caroline that he would only be away for at most two years before returning with riches. When she wondered why he would not simply enlist with the [[Royal Navy]], Edward asserted that the low wages of enlisted sailors were unfair and unsatisfactory to him, thus offering an insight into the motivations of privateers. After she left him in 1712 out of impatience for his idle fantasies, Edward travelled to the West Indies to seriously pursue his wish, determined to prove his worth.<ref name="Memory: Edward Kenway">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Edward Kenway (memory)|Edward Kenway]]</ref><ref name="Database: Edward Kenway">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Database: Edward Kenway (Black Flag)|Database: Edward Kenway]]</ref> | |||
Edward joined with other privateers like [[Benjamin Hornigold]] and [[Edward Thatch]],<ref name="Database: Edward Kenway" /><ref name="Blackbeard">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Database: Edward "Blackbeard" Thatch]]</ref> the latter of whom would one day earn infamy as the pirate captain Blackbeard.<ref name="Blackbeard" /> When the 1713 Peace of Utrecht ended the war and with it, their commissions, the three suddenly found themselves unemployed.<ref name="Database: Edward Kenway" /><ref name="Benjamin Hornigold" /><ref name="Blackbeard" /> Their stories were echoed by hundreds of other privateers, like the notorious [[Charles Vane]],<ref name="Charles Vane">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Database: Charles Vane]]</ref> who were left wanting for a livelihood and quickly returned to the only vocation that they knew.<ref name="Benjamin Hornigold"/> At [[Nassau]], these men banded together and established the community that they dubbed a "pirate republic".<ref name="Database: Edward Kenway" /><ref name="Benjamin Hornigold" /><ref name="Blackbeard" /><ref name="Charles Vane" /><ref name="Nassau">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Nassau]]</ref> | |||
===American Revolution=== | |||
During the [[American Revolutionary War]], the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Ratonhnhaké:ton]] undertook numerous privateer contracts on behalf of the [[Continental Navy]], making significant contributions to the [[United States|American]] war effort.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref> | |||
==Appearances== | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' | |||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
[[Category:Occupations]] | |||
[[Category:Redirections]] | [[Category:Redirections]] | ||
Revision as of 08:34, 29 June 2020
|
Where are the paintings? This article is in need of more images and/or better quality pictures from official media in order to achieve a higher status. You can help the Assassin's Creed Wiki by uploading better images on this page. |
A privateer is a private individual who engages in naval warfare on behalf of a government who issues them a permit called a letter of marque.
Description
As mercenaries of the sea, privateers are given legal permission to attack and plunder the naval vessels designated as enemies to the government that they serve. Commonly, these enemies are warships of states at war with the government or pirates, but the commission may also allow the privateers to target merchant vessels of the belligerent nation. In the eyes of their enemy, the actions of privateers may be indistinct from piracy in itself and have no legality.[1]
The line between privateering and piracy can blur.[1] The former is effectively piracy which is legally sanctioned by one government, and privateers who continue to operate after the letter of marque has expired or who attacks ships belonging to the client government immediately become pirates to all. The criminal lives of hundreds of Caribbean pirates during the Golden Age of Piracy originated in privateering.[2]
History
Golden Age of Piracy
Before turning to piracy, the Welsh peasant Edward Kenway spent his days dreaming about an exciting life not as a pirate but as a privateer to his wife Caroline Scott. In particular, he dabbled in the idea of sailing against Spanish ships in the War of Spanish Succession, assuring Caroline that he would only be away for at most two years before returning with riches. When she wondered why he would not simply enlist with the Royal Navy, Edward asserted that the low wages of enlisted sailors were unfair and unsatisfactory to him, thus offering an insight into the motivations of privateers. After she left him in 1712 out of impatience for his idle fantasies, Edward travelled to the West Indies to seriously pursue his wish, determined to prove his worth.[3][4]
Edward joined with other privateers like Benjamin Hornigold and Edward Thatch,[4][5] the latter of whom would one day earn infamy as the pirate captain Blackbeard.[5] When the 1713 Peace of Utrecht ended the war and with it, their commissions, the three suddenly found themselves unemployed.[4][2][5] Their stories were echoed by hundreds of other privateers, like the notorious Charles Vane,[6] who were left wanting for a livelihood and quickly returned to the only vocation that they knew.[2] At Nassau, these men banded together and established the community that they dubbed a "pirate republic".[4][2][5][6][7]
American Revolution
During the American Revolutionary War, the Assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton undertook numerous privateer contracts on behalf of the Continental Navy, making significant contributions to the American war effort.[8]
Appearances
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Database: Pirates, Buccaneers, and Privateers
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Benjamin Hornigold
- ↑ Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Edward Kenway
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Database: Edward Kenway
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Database: Edward "Blackbeard" Thatch
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Database: Charles Vane
- ↑ Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Nassau
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III