Piracy

Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and valuable goods, or taking hostages. Those who conduct acts of piracy are called pirates, and vessels used for piracy are called pirate ships. The earliest documented instances of piracy were in the 14th century BC, when the Sea Peoples, a group of ocean raiders, attacked the ships of the Aegean and Mediterranean civilisations.

Narrow channels which funnel shipping into predictable routes have long created opportunities for piracy, as well as for privateering and commerce raiding. Historic examples of such areas include the waters of Gibraltar, the Strait of Malacca, Madagascar, the Gulf of Aden, and the English Channel.

In the 21st century, seaborne piracy against transport vessels remains a significant issue, with estimated worldwide losses of US$25 billion in 2023. The waters between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, off the Somali coast and in the Strait of Malacca and Singapore have frequently been targeted by modern pirates. The international community is facing many challenges in bringing modern pirates to justice.

Romanticised accounts of piracy during the Age of Sail have long been a part of Western pop culture. The two-volume A General History of the Pyrates, published in London in 1724, is generally credited with bringing key piratical figures and a semi-accurate description of their milieu in the "Golden Age of Piracy" to the public's imagination. This work inspired and informed many later fictional depictions of piracy, most notably the novels Treasure Island (1883) and Peter Pan (1911). More recently, pirates of the "golden age" were further stereotyped and popularized by the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, which began in 2003.

Etymology

The word "pirate" comes from the Latin word pirata, meaning "pirate" or "sea robber." This Latin word came from the Greek word πειρατής (peiratēs), which originally meant "brigand" or someone who attempts something. Over time, this word came to describe anyone who robbed others on land or at sea. The term "pirate" first appeared in English around the year 1300, and its spelling changed many times before it became standardized in the eighteenth century.

History

The earliest known pirates were the Sea Peoples, who attacked ships in the Aegean and Mediterranean waters around the 14th century BC. In ancient times, pirates from groups like the Phoenicians, Illyrians, and Tyrrhenians were common. The ancient Greeks sometimes saw piracy as an acceptable way to make a living, though later it was viewed negatively.

During the Middle Ages, the Vikings from Scandinavia were major pirates, raiding across Europe and even reaching North Africa. Other pirates included the Frisian pirates and groups from the Balearic Islands. In Southeast Asia, pirates from groups like the Iranun and Banguingui were active, often capturing people for slavery.

In East Asia, pirates known as wokou, often from Japan, caused trouble during the 13th century and later. Chinese pirates also became powerful, sometimes forming large groups that challenged government forces. In the Caribbean, the Golden Age of Piracy lasted from about 1650 to the 1720s, with famous pirates like Edward Teach or Blackbeard and Bartholomew Roberts. These pirates declined as navies like the British Royal Navy began to hunt them down effectively.

Culture and social structure

Pirates had a special way of sharing their treasures and making decisions. Unlike other jobs at the time, pirates were quite fair and equal. The captain did not have all the power; the quartermaster could even stop the captain's orders if needed. Most of what pirates stole were things like food, medicine, and supplies, rather than gold or jewels. Sometimes they kept the whole ship they stole if it was useful.

Pirate crews often worked together like a small democracy, voting on important decisions. They had strict rules, called a "Pirate Code," to keep everyone safe and fair. For example, everyone got an equal share of the stolen goods, and fighting or gambling was not allowed. These rules helped pirates work together and avoid arguments.

Known pirate shipwrecks

Some famous pirate shipwrecks have been found by researchers. The Whydah Gally, a ship taken by pirate Samuel Bellamy, was discovered off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in 1984. This ship is the only fully proven pirate ship from the Golden Age of Piracy that has been found.

Another well-known wreck is the Queen Anne's Revenge, which belonged to the famous pirate Blackbeard. It was discovered in 1996 near Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. Over 250,000 items have been recovered from this ship. The Golden Fleece, a ship used by pirate Joseph Bannister, was found in the Dominican Republic in 2009 by explorers John Chatterton and John Mattera.

Privateers

Main article: Privateer

A privateer was a sailor who fought under special permission, called a letter of marque and reprisal, from a government. Unlike pirates, privateers were allowed to attack only enemy ships during wartime. They were seen as warriors, not criminals, by the country that gave them the order.

Famous privateers included Sir Francis Drake, who worked for Queen Elizabeth I and helped England. During big wars like the Nine Years War and the War of Spanish Succession, many privateers attacked enemy trade ships. In the American Revolution, American privateers captured thousands of British ships. Privateering was made illegal internationally in 1856 by the Declaration of Paris.

Commerce raiders

See also: Ruse de guerre

During times of war, some special warships called commerce raiders or merchant raiders would hide and then attack enemy ships. They were used successfully during the American Revolution. In the American Civil War, the Confederacy sent out several of these ships, with the CSS Alabama being the most famous. Germany also used similar tactics during World War I and World War II in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Even though these were official navy ships, some people called them pirates.

Contemporary piracy

See also: Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, Piracy in Somalia, Piracy in the Strait of Malacca, Piracy on Falcon Lake, and List of ships attacked by Somali pirates

Piracy at sea is still a big problem today, costing the world a lot of money each year. Some of the busiest waters, like those near the Strait of Malacca and around the Horn of Africa, see many attacks. Pirates often use small, fast boats to attack bigger ships that carry goods all over the world.

Pirates today sometimes work in groups and use modern tools like GPS and mobile phones to find and attack ships. They often take people on the ships hostage or steal valuable goods. Many countries and groups work together to try and stop piracy, but it remains a challenge in some parts of the world.

Anti-piracy measures

See also: Anti-piracy measures in Somalia; Combined Task Force 151; Operation Atalanta; European Maritime Force; Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa; Operation Ocean Shield; Danish counter-piracy strategy; West Indies anti-piracy operations of the United States; Aegean Sea anti-piracy operations of the United States; Operation Prosperity Guardian; Operation Aspides; Indian Ocean Commission; Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean region; Indian Armed Forces § Peace keeping, anti-piracy, and exploration missions; Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia; and Anti-Piracy Act of 1819

Piracy is a serious crime, and many countries work together to stop it. International laws allow countries to chase pirates even outside their own waters. Ships can take steps to protect themselves, like using special equipment to make it harder for pirates to climb aboard. Some ships also have armed guards to keep everyone safe.

Navies from many countries patrol busy sea routes to catch pirates. They use ships, robots, and airplanes to watch for suspicious activity and help any ship that is under attack. These efforts help keep the seas safe for everyone.

Legal aspects

United Kingdom laws

The Piracy Act 1837 created a serious crime called aggravated piracy. Over time, laws have changed about how pirates are treated. In 2008, Britain’s Foreign Office said that pirates from some countries could not be held because they might claim rights under British human rights legislation.

United States laws

The U.S. Constitution, Art. I Sec. 8 cl. 10 gives the United States the power to punish piracy. In the early 1800s, pirates could face the death penalty, but later laws changed this to life in prison. Today, U.S. law says pirates caught on the high seas can be imprisoned for life.

International law

Piracy is seen as a crime against all humanity in international law. This means any country can take action against pirates, even if they are not from that country. Special rules about piracy were created by groups like the League of Nations and are part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. These rules help countries work together to stop piracy.

Cultural perceptions

Main articles: List of fictional pirates and Pirates in popular culture

Pirates have long been a favorite topic in stories and movies. Many of our ideas about pirates come from famous books and films. For example, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson helped shape how we imagine pirates today. Characters like Captain Hook from Peter Pan and Long John Silver have become classic pirate images. Movies like Pirates of the Caribbean and games such as Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag keep pirate stories alive and popular.

Pirates also appear in sports. Teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates and Las Vegas Raiders use pirate-related names, inspired by the exciting and daring image of pirates. These names remind us of the adventurous spirit often linked to pirates in stories and legends.

Economics of piracy

The study of piracy's economic impact has been explored by many researchers. Cyrus Karraker's 1953 work, Piracy was a Business, looked at pirates through the lens of modern racketeering. Other important works include studies on French piracy by Patrick Crowhurst, British 18th-century piracy by David Starkey, and the 1998 book The Invisible Hook: The Hidden Economics of Pirates by Peter T. Leeson.

Recent research in 2014 has examined connections between piracy and entrepreneurship. Some experts study piracy as a way to inspire modern entrepreneurship education and to explore ideas in business-model development. This research looks at piracy in two main ways: planned, organized attacks and more opportunistic actions.