Buccaneer

What Were Buccaneers?

Buccaneers were privateers or free sailors who preyed on Spanish shipping and settlements in the Caribbean Sea during the 17th and 18th centuries. They originated as landless hunters of wild boars and cattle on Hispaniola and Tortuga, selling their meat to corsairs before becoming licensed by authorities to target Spanish shipping. Their name derives from the Caribbean Arawak word buccan, referring to a wooden frame used to smoke meat, adopted into French as boucan, then English as buccaneer.

Origins and Early Days

Imagine a group of hunters turned sailors, their name derived from the very method they used to preserve their catch. The term ‘buccaneer’ was initially applied to hunters, later to corsairs and pirates. French buccaneers were established in 1625 on Hispaniola but their transition to piracy was gradual.

Transition to Piracy

Their migration to Tortuga marked a significant shift as they joined with other adventurers, including French, Dutch, and English, who turned to piracy. They targeted Spanish shipping using small craft, eventually sailing to the mainland of Spanish America and sacking cities.

Licensed by Authorities

Interestingly, the buccaneers were licensed by European authorities, but their activities became severe enough to be suppressed. The name ‘buccaneer’ was adopted from French and English sources, initially referring to hunters, later to pirates.

The Golden Age of Piracy

From 1660-1688, the buccaneers’ popularity peaked. They were known for their permanent bases in the West Indies, particularly Tortuga, and their ability to raid Spanish shipping and colonies.

Leadership and Notable Figures

Notable leaders like Jean-David Nau and Daniel Montbars wreaked havoc on Spanish ships and territories. Henry Morgan, a Welshman, sacked Maracaibo, Portobello, and Panama City before being knighted by Charles II.

Conflict and Suppression

The buccaneers were powerful but caused conflicts due to lack of authority and territorial disputes. During the Second Anglo-Dutch War, the English relied on buccaneers for defense, but it backfired when the French joined the Dutch.

Decline and Legacy

The Peace of Breda restored the status quo in 1667. Henry Morgan became lieutenant-governor of Jamaica after being knighted in 1674. The Anglo-Spanish treaty of 1680 led to a decline in buccaneering raids, and by the 1690s, old policies were discarded as European governments began to control the buccaneers.

Legal Status and Practices

Buccaneer companies were run on lines in which liberty, equality, and fraternity were the rule. The captain was elected and could be deposed by the votes of the crew. Spoils were evenly divided into shares; the captain received an agreed amount for the ship, plus a portion of the share of the prize money.

Attacks on Spanish Targets

Crews had no regular wages, being paid only from their shares of the plunder, which led to a social insurance system guaranteeing compensation for battle wounds at a worked-out scale. Buccaneers used small boats to attack Spanish galleons surreptitiously, and raided towns by secretly beaching their ships out of sight of their target.

Spanish Perceptions

Spanish authorities viewed buccaneers as trespassers and a threat to their hegemony in the Caribbean basin. Other European powers learned to perceive them in the same way, and those who did not settle down after the Golden Age of Piracy proved a nuisance to them.

Harsh Punishments

As Spanish power waned toward the end of the 17th century, the buccaneers’ attacks began to disrupt France and England’s merchant traffic with Spanish America. Merchants who had previously regarded the buccaneers as a defense against Spain now saw them as a threat to commerce.

Legacy in Literature

Buccaneer companies were run on lines in which liberty, equality, and fraternity were the rule. The captain was elected and could be deposed by the votes of the crew. Spoils were evenly divided into shares; the captain received an agreed amount for the ship, plus a portion of the share of the prize money.

Public executions were a form of entertainment, with details reported in newspapers. Famous prisoners often had their bodies treated as punishment, such as being left to rot on iron cages. Literature later romanticized buccaneers as examples of virility and self-reliance, influencing how they would be perceived by later generations.