For other uses, see Corsair (disambiguation).

Corsairs were French privateers from the north-western French port of St-Malo, located on the northern coast of Brittany. A privateer was a private Warship authorized by a country's Government by Letters of marque to attack foreign shipping Saint-Malo ( Breton: Sant-Maloù; Gallo: Saent-Malô) is a walled port city in Brittany in northwestern Brittany (Breizh bʁejs Bretagne; Gallo: Bertaèyn) is a former independent Celtic kingdom and Duchy, now incorporated into Since the corsairs gained, to some, a swashbuckling reputation, the word corsair is also used generically as a more romantic or flamboyant version of the word privateer, or even of the word pirate. Swashbuckler or swasher is a term that developed in the 16th century to describe rough noisy and boastful Swordsmen It is based on a fighting style using a A privateer was a private Warship authorized by a country's Government by Letters of marque to attack foreign shipping Piracy is Robbery committed at sea or sometimes on shore without a commission from a sovereign Nation (as distinct from Privateering The barbary pirates of north Africa were sometimes called "Turkish corsairs". The Barbary pirates, also sometimes called Ottoman corsairs, were Muslim Pirates and Privateers that operated from North Africa, from

The name "corsair" derives from the commissioning document received from the king, the Lettre de Course ("racing letter" or "racing commission"). The "race", la course, was a euphemism for chasing down foreign merchant shipping. The Lettre de Course was known in other countries as a letter of marque and reprisal (in French Lettre de Marque); the French often preferred the different term of Lettre de Course but the document was the same in substance. A letter of marque is an official warrant or commission from a Government authorizing the designated agent to search seize or destroy specified assets

Contents 1 History 2 Famous Corsairs 2.1 Robert Surcouf 2.2 René Duguay-Trouin 2.3 Female corsairs 3 See also

History

The corsairs were privateers working for the King of France attacking the ships of France’s enemies. List of Queens and Empresses of France Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below In France they did not need to fear punishment for piracy—being hanged—as they were granted a licence as combatants, the Lettre de Marque or Lettre de Course, a document which legitimised their actions to the French justice system and which they hoped gave them the status of a war prisoner in case they were ever captured.

The Corsair was ordered to attack only the ships of enemy countries, theoretically respecting “neutrals” and his own nation's ships. If he did not respect this rule, he was then treated as a pirate and hanged. The Corsairs' activities also provided the King with revenue as the licence required them to hand over a part of their booty to the King.

In common with privateers of other nationalities, however, they were often considered pirates by their foreign opponents, and could be hanged as pirates if captured by the foreigners they preyed on.

The “pirate” activities started in the Middle Ages the main goals really being to compensate for the economic problems in war periods; and the ship owners did not accept that the war was an obstacle to their trade. Jean de Châtillon, who was a bishop, in 1144 gave the town of St. Malo the status of rights of asylum which encouraged all manner of thieves and rogues to move there. Their motto was "Neither Breton, nor French, but from Saint Malo am I!". St Malo however, progressed and in 1308 the town was made into a free commune to encourage the commercial activities of craftsmen as well as merchants and ship owners. This did not really work out and later in 1395 the town became a free port. This situation continued until 1688.

The activities of the Corsairs were so profitable that the Minister of the Navy used this in his strategy to make money. Moreover, the King used to take one quarter and even one third of the booty. The Corsairs’ activities weakened France’s enemies; indeed, the English trade losses were very important from 1688 until 1717.

The relationship between the Corsairs and the State changed depending on who was leader. The rules became stricter and State control more and more present. At the end of the 18th century, the “course” started to decline until its legal death in 1856. The «course» disappeared in France with the Empire in 1815, but was officially only in 1856 during a meeting in Paris where every major nation was present during the congress of vienna (except Spain, Mexico and United States). The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of the major powers of Europe, chaired by the Austrian statesman Clemens Wenzel von Metternich

Famous Corsairs

Robert Surcouf

Robert Surcouf was the last and most well known Corsair of the St-Malo. Surcouf redirects here for ships of this name see French ship Surcouf. Born in Saint-Malo in 1773, his father was a ship owner and his mother the daughter of a Captain. Saint-Malo ( Breton: Sant-Maloù; Gallo: Saent-Malô) is a walled port city in Brittany in northwestern Ship's boy at 13 and Corsair Captain at 22 years old, and then - very much against his licence - for several years attacked ships including those of the French East India Company, or Compagnie Française des Indes. The French East India Company ( French: La Compagnie française des Indes orientales or Compagnie française pour le commerce des Indes orientales) was a During the French revolution, the convention government dissapproved of lettres de course, so Surcouf operated at great personal risk as a pirate against British shipping to India. Surcouf was so successful that he became a popular celebrity in France. After a brief early retirement Surcouf again operated against shipping to the Indes. Surcouf became a ship owner himself and died in St Malo in 1827. There is a statue of him for all to see.

René Duguay-Trouin

René Duguay-Trouin was born in St-Malo in 1673, and the son of a rich ship owner took a fleet of 64 ships and was honoured in 1709 for capturing more than 300 merchant ships and 20 war ships. René Trouin Sieur du Gué, usually called René Duguay-Trouin, ( Saint Malo, 10 June 1673 - 1736 was a famous French Corsair He had a brilliant privateering and naval career and eventually became "Lieutenant-General of the Naval Armies of the King" (i. e. admiral) (French:Lieutenant-Général des armées navales du roi), and a Commander in the Order of Saint-Louis. He died peacefully in 1736.

Female corsairs

In the 1300s Jeanne de Montfort, nicknamed "The Flame", sailed in the English Channel plundering French ships, fighting with the English for Brittany's independence. Joanna of Flanders (c 1295 &ndash September 1374 also known as Jehanne de Montfort was consort Duchess of Brittany by her marriage to John IV Duke of Brittany She played an important role in the Battle of Morlaix. The Battle of Morlaix was a battle fought 30 September, 1342 between England and France. Another woman, Jeanne de Clisson, was known as "The Lioness of Brittany". Jeanne de Clisson (1300 – 1359 the “Lioness of Brittany” was a feared Pirate who plied the English Channel for French ships from 1343 - 1356

See also

• Guerre de course

Commerce raiding is to destroy the logistics (supplies of an enemy on the open sea rather than engaging the combatants themselves or enforcing a Blockade against them

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