What countries authorized so called 'letters of marque' and what were they?

ragincajun63

Letters of Marque were letters that authorized a private party (privateer) to use an armed ship to capture, attack and plunder enemy merchant ships during wartime. The letters authorized the privateers to only capture the ships of the enemy countries that were listed. If a privateer captured the ship of a neutral nation there could be heavy penalties levied. If a privateer was captured by the enemy he would usually be tried as a pirate. Use of the Letters of Marque were widely discontinued after the signing of the Declaration of Paris in 1856. http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Garden/5213/marque.htm Dec 15 07, 11:50 PM

queproblema

For two, the USA and the CSA. "Sec. 8. The Congress shall have power- 11) To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water." From their respective Constitutions. http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/art1.htm http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/csa/csa.htm Dec 16 07, 12:07 AM

Baloo55th

As I don't think the U.S.A. ratified the Declaration of Paris, it might still be an option for the government there.... England certainly issued Letters of Marque, anf France also. Both stopped after the Declaration. Dec 16 07, 12:21 PM

queproblema

Theoretically, it is still an option for us. In fact, on Oct. 10, 2001, the Hon. Ron Paul invoked that section of the Constitution in response to 9-11. He introduced a second bill on the same issue July 27, 2007. http://www.ronpaul2008.com/ http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/sept_11/hr3076_ih.htm http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.03216: Keep your eyes peeled for ships registered in the USA and flying the Jolly Roger. Dec 16 07, 6:03 PM

queproblema

Oh, the second line of my first post should have read, "'Article I, Section 8. The Congress shall have power-" Dec 16 07, 6:06 PM

author

I'm not fully satisfied with your answers. It is well known that the British, the Dutch, the French and the U.S. authorized 'letters of marque'. So did the German Hansa cities. (See references). I know that for example Sweden and Denmark/Norway did the same. But were there even more countries? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_of_marque http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaperbrief Dec 16 07, 6:30 PM