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Papers by Sarah Craze
International Journal of Maritime History, 2020
In late 1827, the crew of a Brazilian slaver, the Defensor de Pedro, mutinied and became pirates.... more In late 1827, the crew of a Brazilian slaver, the Defensor de Pedro, mutinied and became pirates. The article follows the narrative of their attacks on ships, including the British Morning Star off Ascension Island in February 1828 and the American merchant Topaz. The Spanish authorities in Cádiz captured most of the crew and tried and executed them. Their captain, Benito de Soto, was tried and hanged in Gibraltar. Using trial papers the article reconstructs the events. It then examines how reworkings of the narrative have changed mass murderers and rapists into popular heroes, both in the general literature on piracy (e.g. Phillip Gosse and Basil Lubbock) and in more recent academic literature and in public celebrations. It argues that this has resulted from misunderstanding and misusing the theories of social banditry and working-class revolt put forward by Eric Hobsbawm and Marcus Rediker, and from commercialisation. Keywords Benito de Soto, Defensor de Pedro, Morning Star, piracy, pirate images, popular celebrations of piracy Lucette Valensi used the word 'chronophage', not in its usual sense of 'time-wasting', but with its literal meaning of 'eating time'. 1 She was talking about how governments created political symbols out of past events, leaving blank pages in national histories
Journal of International Maritime History, 2016
In the late 17th century, the battle for the English throne between the anointed King James II an... more In the late 17th century, the battle for the English throne between the anointed King James II and his usurper and son-in-law William would create a catalyst for a shift in legal approaches to piracy. The 1694 trial of eight of King James’s privateers and specifically the position of their advocate, William Oldish significantly influenced this shift. Oldish would claim that allegiance to a sovereign was a choice, not an obligation and this influenced the development of piracy law from a crime of treason to a crime of property. However, the resulting 1698 Piracy Act expired after only seven years. This meant the passing of a Prize Act by Queen Anne in 1708 would occur in a legislative environment at odds with the precedents being set in courts at the time. This article examines this historic era of piracy and privateering law.
Journal of International Maritime History, 2019
This article uses prize to examine the end of war in the twentieth century. By enshrining the vic... more This article uses prize to examine the end of war in the twentieth century. By enshrining the victor’s right to seize enemy merchant ships after the cessation of military hostilities, the 1918 Armistice changed how war ended. This disconnection turned prize into a strategic tool for victors to use over belligerents. This appeared again in World War II, when prize courts condoned the taking of prize after Germany’s surrender. Egypt then used prize as a strategic tool in their opposition to Israel. The article concludes prize was not just a historical curiosity, but also a strategic imperative for victors.
Teaching Documents by Sarah Craze
Somali pirates are back. Only a strong state can put an end to their activities
Drafts by Sarah Craze
A summary of life on board a Russian privateer in 1789 during Russia's war with Turkey over Crimea.
This short paper forms part of a larger research project on the historical narratives surrounding... more This short paper forms part of a larger research project on the historical narratives surrounding Benito de Soto.
Books by Sarah Craze
International Journal of Maritime History, 2020
In late 1827, the crew of a Brazilian slaver, the Defensor de Pedro, mutinied and became pirates.... more In late 1827, the crew of a Brazilian slaver, the Defensor de Pedro, mutinied and became pirates. The article follows the narrative of their attacks on ships, including the British Morning Star off Ascension Island in February 1828 and the American merchant Topaz. The Spanish authorities in Cádiz captured most of the crew and tried and executed them. Their captain, Benito de Soto, was tried and hanged in Gibraltar. Using trial papers the article reconstructs the events. It then examines how reworkings of the narrative have changed mass murderers and rapists into popular heroes, both in the general literature on piracy (e.g. Phillip Gosse and Basil Lubbock) and in more recent academic literature and in public celebrations. It argues that this has resulted from misunderstanding and misusing the theories of social banditry and working-class revolt put forward by Eric Hobsbawm and Marcus Rediker, and from commercialisation. Keywords Benito de Soto, Defensor de Pedro, Morning Star, piracy, pirate images, popular celebrations of piracy Lucette Valensi used the word 'chronophage', not in its usual sense of 'time-wasting', but with its literal meaning of 'eating time'. 1 She was talking about how governments created political symbols out of past events, leaving blank pages in national histories
Journal of International Maritime History, 2016
In the late 17th century, the battle for the English throne between the anointed King James II an... more In the late 17th century, the battle for the English throne between the anointed King James II and his usurper and son-in-law William would create a catalyst for a shift in legal approaches to piracy. The 1694 trial of eight of King James’s privateers and specifically the position of their advocate, William Oldish significantly influenced this shift. Oldish would claim that allegiance to a sovereign was a choice, not an obligation and this influenced the development of piracy law from a crime of treason to a crime of property. However, the resulting 1698 Piracy Act expired after only seven years. This meant the passing of a Prize Act by Queen Anne in 1708 would occur in a legislative environment at odds with the precedents being set in courts at the time. This article examines this historic era of piracy and privateering law.
Journal of International Maritime History, 2019
This article uses prize to examine the end of war in the twentieth century. By enshrining the vic... more This article uses prize to examine the end of war in the twentieth century. By enshrining the victor’s right to seize enemy merchant ships after the cessation of military hostilities, the 1918 Armistice changed how war ended. This disconnection turned prize into a strategic tool for victors to use over belligerents. This appeared again in World War II, when prize courts condoned the taking of prize after Germany’s surrender. Egypt then used prize as a strategic tool in their opposition to Israel. The article concludes prize was not just a historical curiosity, but also a strategic imperative for victors.
Somali pirates are back. Only a strong state can put an end to their activities
A summary of life on board a Russian privateer in 1789 during Russia's war with Turkey over Crimea.
This short paper forms part of a larger research project on the historical narratives surrounding... more This short paper forms part of a larger research project on the historical narratives surrounding Benito de Soto.