B10008 BUCCANEERS 1695

The term "buccaneer" was originally used for hunters hunting mainly wild boars on the islands of Tortuga and Hispaniola (and therefore Spanish possessions) in the Caribbean Sea. The meat obtained in this way was processed, fried and sold to corsairs operating in the waters of this sea area. With time, however, they themselves began to rob Spanish merchant ships in this sea area. This peculiar "change of industry" probably took place around 1640. It can be assumed that the buccaneer community was mainly recruited from the English, French and Dutch who settled in the Greater Antilles in the 17th century, often fleeing Europe as a result of religious persecution. Later they also lived on the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and from 1657 - in Jamaica. It is worth adding that the bookers formally recognized the sovereignty of the governors (mainly English) on the islands where they lived and often paid a tax of several or a dozen or so percent on the obtained loot. Among other things, this element distinguished them from "typical" pirates. Besides, they were a very cheap but effective tool in the event of the war between England and Spain. The activity of buccaneers ceased at the end of the 17th century.