But history is rarely that simple. In reality, the line between a and a bloodthirsty pirate wasn’t just blurry—for the East India Trading Company, it was practically invisible.
Let’s dive into the scandalous truth: The EITC didn’t just fight pirates. Often, they were the pirates. Founded in 1600, the East India Trading Company wasn't a government navy. It was a joint-stock company —essentially a massive corporation with its own army, currency, and legal system. Their ships carried letters of marque (government permission to seize enemy vessels), but in the remote waters of the Indian and South China Seas, those letters got... flexible.
The pirate wanted your gold. The Company wanted your country.
But history is rarely that simple. In reality, the line between a and a bloodthirsty pirate wasn’t just blurry—for the East India Trading Company, it was practically invisible.
Let’s dive into the scandalous truth: The EITC didn’t just fight pirates. Often, they were the pirates. Founded in 1600, the East India Trading Company wasn't a government navy. It was a joint-stock company —essentially a massive corporation with its own army, currency, and legal system. Their ships carried letters of marque (government permission to seize enemy vessels), but in the remote waters of the Indian and South China Seas, those letters got... flexible. east india trading company pirates
The pirate wanted your gold. The Company wanted your country. But history is rarely that simple