The politics of piracy : pirates, privateers, and the government of Elizabeth I, 1558-1588
- UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Amanda J. Snyder (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )
- Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/
Abstract: This thesis addresses the distinctions between “pirates” and “privateers” and
the reasons for and usefulness of these distinctions. The consolidation of power and
the compromises enacted to quell religious disputes in sixteenth-century England
allowed Queen Elizabeth to assess the problem of piracy. In doing so, she determined
that by sanctioning piracy through official letters of marque and reprisal thereby
bringing pirates under some sort of government control as "privateers," she could add
to her dwindling naval forces and add to her coffers with the spoils of these missions.
Elizabeth’s navy had become an important issue because of the threat of
Spanish attack and possible invasion of England. While Elizabeth had wanted to
focus her attentions internally on England itself, she was drawn into continental
affairs—most the rebellion in the Spanish Netherlands. Elizabeth found herself torn
between maintaining peace with Spain and aiding fellow Protestants in the
Netherlands. During this time, the issue of pirates and privateers became most
important. Elizabeth had to avoid conflict because she had insufficient military
forces. Realizing that at her disposal were dozens of experienced sailors with their
own ships, she began to sanction piracy by creating and encouraging a fleet of
privateers, including Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins. Such an act allowed
Elizabeth to whittle away at Spanish hegemony in the Atlantic, thereby increasing her
own influence, culminating in the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
The most interesting part of this creation of a privateering corps, is that all the
while, Elizabeth and her council were issuing more stringent laws against pirates and
those who aid pirates. She even allowed Sir Julius Caesar to completely reform the
Court of Admiralty in order to make the capturing and prosecuting of pirates more
efficient. It is this dichotomy in the context of English foreign policy that I will be
exploring as well as the ultimate effects of these policies as they relate to the
establishment of a tried and true Royal Navy and as they contribute to the formation
of English trading companies like the Levant Company.
The politics of piracy : pirates, privateers, and the government of Elizabeth I, 1558-1588
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Masters of Arts
- Language: English
- Date: 2009
- Keywords
- Great Britain--History--Elizabeth 1558-1603, Pirates--Great Britain, Privateering--Great Britain--History--16th century
- Subjects
- Great Britain -- History -- Elizabeth, 1558-1603
- Pirates -- Great Britain
- Privateering -- Great Britain -- History -- 16th century