French corsairs French corsairs Corsairs () were privateers, authorized to conduct raids on shipping of a nation at war with France, on behalf of the French crown. Seized vessels and cargo were sold at auction, with the corsair captain entitled to a portion of the proceeds. Although not French Navy personnel, corsairs were considered legitimate combatants in France (and allied nations), provided the commanding officer of the vessel was in possession of a valid letter of marque ( or , the latter giving "corsairs" their name), and the officers and crew conducted themselves according to contemporary admiralty law. By acting on behalf
Crown of Louis XV of France front of the crown, as well as hundreds of other precious diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires. All of France's about 20 crowns of the Ancient Regime, kept in the Basilica of Saint-Denis, including the one of Saint Louis and the one said of Charlemagne, were destroyed in 1793 during the French revolution. The crown of Louis XV was the only one to survive and counts, with those of the 19th century, among the only six remaining French crowns. In 1885 the French Third Republic decided to sell the Crown Jewels. Given its historic importance, the crown of Louis XV was