Privateering

Privateering refers to the practice during historical maritime conflicts where private individuals or ships, authorized by a government through a letter of marque, were permitted to capture enemy vessels and goods. This was a way for governments to enhance their naval power without maintaining large fleets. Privateers operated legally, sharing a portion of the captured spoils with their sponsoring government. While similar to piracy, privateering was recognized and regulated legally, allowing nations to augment their efforts during wars, particularly from the 16th to the mid-19th centuries, before the practice declined with changing international laws.