Liotainian Privateers

Between the 1660s and the 1830s, the Liotainian government regularly employed privateers as part of their naval strategy.
== Origins and History ==
The Liotainian government did not issue letters-of-marque until 1663, when they assisted in the Great Syrellian War. The practice was adopted from Antargentina and Firocco, both of which had previously employed privateers in various major and minor conflicts. Relatively few Liotainian privateers participated in the Great Syrellian War, with only twelve letters-of-marque being distributed. The low number of commissions is likely due to several factors. Anitkabir did not recognize letters-of-marque as legitimate, and executed the captains and officers of two captured privateers for the crime of piracy. Secondarily, relatively few Kabirite merchant ships operated on the Encircled Sea in the 1660s, meaning that hunting was rather poor even for the few privateers who accepted letters-of-marque.
The Liotainian crown once again issued letters-of-marque for the Anitkabir War of 1693-1700, but as with the prior conflict, there were relatively few economic reasons for Liotainian shipowners to prefer privateering to normal trading. At least half of the thirty letters-of-marque issued for this conflict were given to trading ships doing business on southern Syrellia; the captains bought their letters-of-marque in the hope of capturing Anitkabirian raiders, instead of enemy merchants.
During the Firocco-Liotain War, however, the situation changed drastically. The Firoccan merchant marine was quite large, and there were rich opportunities for Liotainian privateers who could avoid the Firoccan Armada. Furthermore, given the strength of the Firoccan Navy - and its massive operational reach - Liotainian traders ran a massive risk of capture on legitimate trading voyages, incentivizing Liotainian captains and shipowners to turn to privateering simply to pay their bills. As a result, the Liotainian government handed out over two hundred letters-of-marque, and saw dramatic results: privateers captured over six hundred Firoccan merchant ships and seventeen warships (mostly small) at the cost of seventy-one privateers captured.
In 1750, Liotain outlawed the practice of Liotainian nationals (and ships owned by Liotainian nationals) from accepting letters-of-marque from other nations. However, this practice continued irregularly until 1830, when the Liotainian government outlawed privateering entirely.
== List of Privateers ==
Great Syrellian War
* Nobody listed right now, check back later
Anitkabir War of 1693-1700
* Ansaldo Ferrodumond
Firoccan-Liotain War
*Ansaldo Ferrodumond
*Marius Ferrodumond
*Grazina Ferrodumond-Quemener
*Judikael LeTallec
*Katarin Pereire
*Armel Quemener
*Black Flag Fleet (a group of privateers who operated in concert)
Category:Privateers