[Ansteorra] the Attack of the "Authenticity Police"

cyranobcc at netzero.com cyranobcc at netzero.com
Wed Jul 13 14:12:53 PDT 2005


I've been sitting back, reading, occasionally chuckling at this thread of discussion, but now must get on my soap-box.

Piracy refers to an act of theft or aggression that happens on water.  As early as man floated there has been piracy.  The Mediterranean was a hotbed of pirate activity in Greek and Roman times, and before.  The Orient had more than it's share as well.

The term "Privateer" is a later term, and referred basically to "private navies" that were hired by one European county to raid it's rivals shipping and colonies without sending their real navy, which would be an act of war.  Their Letters of Compact, or Marque, basically absolved them of any criminal activity as long as those criminal activities were directed at the rival -- not any different really than what ground forces were granted when plundering conquered lands.

Buccaneer comes from the word "bouccan", which basically is like barbecue, and derives from the French on the island of Hispanola who would hunt the wild hogs and roast them over open charcoal pits -- oh, yea, they were also known to prey on passing ships.

"Pirates" are perhaps the most misunderstood and misrepresnted archtype, and not just in the SCA -- thank you, Hollywood.  Just remember, one man's Rebel, or Pirate, is another man's Freedom Fighter, or Hero.

Brian mac Cael

(stepping down from soap-box and going back to lurking)

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