Some considerations on the causes of mutiny among privateer ships of the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata, 1815-1821

Abstract

The United Provinces of the Río de la Plata used privateers during their war for independence against the Spanish crown. At first, this activity was limited to the River Plate, but in 1815 privateering became maritime, taking the offensive to the Spanish trade routes in the Atlantic and the Pacific. This way of waging war lasted until 1821 when it was finally suspended. This article studies some mutinies on the privateer ships of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, between 1815 and 1821, trying to explore and analyse their causes, using both primary and secondary sources.