Port de corsaires et 3ième port de FranceThe port of Dunkerque has been in existence since the 8th century, starting life as a simple fishing harbour. Spanish, English and Dutch have all coveted Dunkerque’s strategic location and occupied it. The city was finally bought from the English by Louis XIV in 1662, heralding a period of prosperity during which the harbour and fortifications were developed by Vauban.
In the 17th century Dunkerque was the base for French "buccanners" who successfully attacked other countries' ships in the North Sea. The most famous was Jean Bart - who, like the English hero Sir Francis Drake, was not really a pirate because he too had his monarch's permission to attack other countries' ships, as well as use of royal ships and harbours. |
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