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Pirate Nation: Elizabeth I and Her Royal Sea Rovers
For all the romantic mythology surrounding the court of Queen Elizabeth I, the financial underpinning of the reign of 'Gloriana' was decidedly sordid. Elizabeth's policy of seizing foreign assets made her popular at home but drew her into a partnership with pirates who preyed on the state's foes and friends alike, being rewarded or punished depending on how much of a cut the Queen received, rather than the legitimacy of their action.
For this reason the rule of law at sea was arbitrary and almost non-existent. Even those, such as the Lord Admiral and the Court of Admiralty, who were tasked with policing the seas and eliminating piracy, managed their own pirate fleets. While honest merchants could rail and protest, the value to the exchequer of this dubious income was enormous, often equaling, on an annual basis, the input from all other sources such as taxation or customs dues. Moreover, the practice of piracy taught English seamen how to fight and, when the nation was at its greatest peril, in 1588, it was pirates who kept the Spanish Armada away from invading the English coast.
Charles Howard, commander of the British forces, Richard Grenville, Walter Raleigh and Francis Drake, were all pirates who became 'admirals all for England's sake', and were well rewarded by the Queen for their exploits. This highly original book argues that the deeply ingrained piratical and self-interested approach to naval warfare by these English captains almost allowed the Armada to succeed. A radical reassessment of Elizabethan maritime history, Pirate Nation makes this and a number of other startling revelations about the myth and the reality of Elizabethan naval policy. A highly readable work, this radical reappraisal of Elizabethan maritime practice offers provocative insights about some of the most cherished events in British history.
About the Author
David Childs is a retired Royal Navy officer, who worked as the Development Director of the Mary Rose Trust, where he became interested in Tudor maritime history. He has since published three major works in the field, The Warship Mary Rose, Tudor Sea Power and Invading America.
For this reason the rule of law at sea was arbitrary and almost non-existent. Even those, such as the Lord Admiral and the Court of Admiralty, who were tasked with policing the seas and eliminating piracy, managed their own pirate fleets. While honest merchants could rail and protest, the value to the exchequer of this dubious income was enormous, often equaling, on an annual basis, the input from all other sources such as taxation or customs dues. Moreover, the practice of piracy taught English seamen how to fight and, when the nation was at its greatest peril, in 1588, it was pirates who kept the Spanish Armada away from invading the English coast.
Charles Howard, commander of the British forces, Richard Grenville, Walter Raleigh and Francis Drake, were all pirates who became 'admirals all for England's sake', and were well rewarded by the Queen for their exploits. This highly original book argues that the deeply ingrained piratical and self-interested approach to naval warfare by these English captains almost allowed the Armada to succeed. A radical reassessment of Elizabethan maritime history, Pirate Nation makes this and a number of other startling revelations about the myth and the reality of Elizabethan naval policy. A highly readable work, this radical reappraisal of Elizabethan maritime practice offers provocative insights about some of the most cherished events in British history.
About the Author
David Childs is a retired Royal Navy officer, who worked as the Development Director of the Mary Rose Trust, where he became interested in Tudor maritime history. He has since published three major works in the field, The Warship Mary Rose, Tudor Sea Power and Invading America.
- GenresNonfictionPiratesHistory
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2014
About the author
David Childs
39 books3 followersDavid Childs is a Professor Emeritus in Politics at the University of Nottingham. His considerable contribution to the advancement of German studies has helped academics, ambassadors, business leaders, government ministers, the armed services and students develop a greater knowledge of the history and politics of Germany (former East - GDR, & West - FRG).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 7, 2017
I give only 3 starts because of every event that the author is talking about is put in a random order and that made it very difficult for me to understand what happen in a certain year.
July 2, 2021
This book feels more like a bundled collection of slightly overlapping biographical essays than an investigation of the "piratocracy" it teases; plus, with no shortage of sentences like "Drake, who never passed a sleeping dog without feeling an urge to kick it..." (Ok, but how do you KNOW that?), the book switches from good referenced history to pop-history too often for my taste. Still: engaging, interesting, and what's there is there in good depth.
November 16, 2020
An really excellent counter balance to the stories so many of us grew up on, about the hero sailors of Gloriana’s England.
The book is witty, sardonic and at times I laughed aloud.
The book is witty, sardonic and at times I laughed aloud.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews