Urban Diplomacy and Criminalization of Piracy in Southwestern Atlantic Europe in the Late Middle Ages

This article examines the fluid boundaries between piracy, privateering, and naval warfare in Southwestern Atlantic Europe during the late Middle Ages. Far from being clearly defined, these practices were shaped by shifting political and economic interests, creating a legal ambiguity that persisted until the rise of monarchical control and maritime jurisdictions. Focusing on Cantabrian and Breton seaports, the study highlights how urban actors developed enduring diplomatic mechanisms—such as arbitration tribunals and cooperative institutions like the Brotherhood of the House of Trade —to regulate letters of marque and mitigate conflict. These arrangements reveal a preference for negotiation over confrontation, contrasting with the aggressive strategies of major maritime kingdoms. By situating privateering as both an economic opportunity and a strategic risk, the article underscores its role in the formation of Atlantic networks and the pursuit of maritime supremacy, offering new insights into the interplay of law, diplomacy, and commerce at the close of the Middle Ages.