Piracy

What is piracy?

Piracy means attacking and stealing from ships and riches at sea.

Why did English sailors use piracy?

The early pirates in the Caribbean were English adventurers, who often had permission from the monarch to carry out raids on foreign shipping. They called themselves 'privateers' because of their royal commissions.

• ❖ English sailors engaged in piracy against Spanish and Portuguese ships, which were carrying treasures from the New World back to Europe.
• ❖ To begin with, English pirates targeted these ships because England did not have its own way of getting the wealth of the New World, so they stole it from those who had colonised the Americas.
• ❖ When England and Spain went to war in 1585, piracy became part of the warfare. It was also crucial to take the resources that Spain would use to finance its war with England.

Who were the English pirates?

These early pirates were English sailors, who held important positions at court and in the Royal Navy. Their piracy went alongside their 'official' positions.

• ❖ English pirates included famous sailors such as Francis Drake and John Hawkins, who also helped to command ships in the Royal Navy and played a major role in defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588.