What is a pirate exactly ?
Pirates, those fascinating outlaws of the oceans, are figures as legendary as they are controversial! The definition of a pirate varies according to historical, cultural and legal contexts, but in general, a pirate is a person who engages in illegal maritime activities, such as attacking, pillaging, stealing or hijacking ships on the high seas without any official authorization.
That's the soulless dictionary definition! That's why pirates have such a bad reputation!
True, their reputation is often tinged with violence and chaos, but these daring individuals have also been regarded as folk heroes or maritime pioneers, exploring unknown territories, charting mysterious regions, and sometimes even developing innovative nautical technologies. In the collective imagination, they symbolize freedom, camaraderie and determination, defying established rules to live their own adventures.
But not all sailors are pirates. They must be distinguished from privateers. Unlike outlaw pirates, privateers operated under letters of marque issued by a government, enabling them to carry out legal attacks on enemy ships in times of war. Privateers thus had a certain legitimacy and were officially supported, while pirates operated outside the law and established rules, and were hunted down.
So, whether seen as heroes, pioneers or rebels, pirates remain emblematic figures of the sea, celebrated for their adventurous spirit and defiance of established conventions. In popular culture, they are often portrayed as romantic and daring characters, embodying freedom, camaraderie and determination in the face of adversity.
These values of freedom, innovation and tenacity find a new echo in the world of SXM Pirate!
