this post was submitted on 24 Jan 2026
68 points (100.0% liked)

History Memes

1431 readers
625 users here now

A place to share history memes!

Rules:

  1. No sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, assorted bigotry, etc.

  2. No fascism (including tankies/red fash), atrocity denial or apologia, etc.

  3. Tag NSFW pics as NSFW.

  4. Follow all Piefed.social rules.

  5. History referenced must be 20+ years old.

Banner courtesy of @setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world

OTHER COMMS IN THE HISTORYVERSE:

founded 8 months ago
MODERATORS
PugJesus@piefed.social
Deceptichum@quokk.au
68
Ah, the noble profession of privateering! (media.piefed.social)
submitted 2 days ago by PugJesus@piefed.social to c/historymemes@piefed.social
2 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 9 points 2 days ago

Explanation: During the Age of Sail, it was common for states and monarchs to offer 'letters of marque' to certain [ahem] enterprising individuals. By sailing with a letter of marque, one agreed to only attack and plunder ships belonging to whatever nation your patron was at war with at the moment. In exchange... you got to attack and plunder merchant ships (of certain countries) without being wanted for piracy! And you don't even have to sign your entire life away to the Royal Navy!

All the benefits of being a pirate, none of the noose-related drawbacks! I mean, unless the enemy caught you. Or you became politically inconvenient.