A letter of marque and reprisal[a][b] was a government license in the Age of Sail that authorized a private person, known as a privateer or corsair, to attack and capture vessels of a foreign state at war with the issuer, licensing international military operations against a specified enemy as reprisal for a previous attack or injury. Captured naval prizes were judged before the government's admiralty court for condemnation and transfer of ownership to the privateer.

Hmm that's a lot of state involvement for a purely private enterprise.

[–] ohulancutash@feddit.uk 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It was essentially tax on a private concern. It still holds in maritime law that piracy is only an offence that exists in a civilian context. Militaries by definition cannot commit piracy.

[–] Deceptichum@quokk.au 1 points 3 days ago

It also legalised their piracy against declared enemy states.