Pages: 343-352

The aim of this work is the multi-factor analysis of motivational priorities which English privateers and pirates had in the second half of the 16th century in their naval battles with the Spanish fleet. The historical context allows to explain different impacts of material and spiritual motives on their behaviour in a new way. It has been concluded that religious motivation was essentially weaker than economic one, both among the robbers and among their promoters. The increased role of the economic incentives became possible due to the harsh economic crisis in England and popular rumours about extremely great loot taken from the Spanish ships. On the other hand, spiritual stimuli were weakened by the lack of the religious unity of the English nation, and, respectively, of the English mariners. In particular, the current study has shown that there were not only Protestants and atheists but also secret Catholics in the crews that plundered the Spaniards.

Keywords: England, Spain, Late Middle Ages, international relations, privateering, piracy, the Elizabethans

Information about author:

Andrey Pastushenko (Kharkiv, Ukraine). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics. Nauky Ave., 9-A, Kharkiv, 61166, Ukraina
E-mail: [email protected]