It should be noted that although Rogue Traders are shipmasters who travel the vastness of space, their authority to do so comes not from a Merchant Charter, but rather a letter of appointment that elevates them to the authority equalling Space Marine Chapter Masters, Inquisitors and Planetary Governors. Some of the more ancient ones are dated from the very beginnings of the Imperium, and some were even signed by the Emperor himself. Others were signed by Primarchs or other leaders of the Great Crusade. These charters are very valuable and give its owner great leeway. They are tailor-made and unique. They cannot be re-appealed as according to Imperial law and Imperial religious dogma no one is empowered to overrule these persons.

Certain powerful lords of the Adeptus Terra offer warrants of trade as a bribe to their rivals, especially if those rivals have ambitions for higher stations. Being too powerful to come into direct conflict it can be arranged for the individual to recieve a warrant of trade, the honour of which cannot be refused. The rival then must simply walk away into a life of adventure and wealth and no longer causes trouble for their former opponents.

Letters of Marque are similar documents issued more recently. The Letters of Marque are rather restricted in some aspects and controlled more effectively by Imperial authorities. This may be of geographical nature (e.g.: restrict the Rogue Trader into a single sector) or something similar. The more recent letters of marque are not hereditary at all; hopeful heirs must return and reapply for a new charter.

Though a Warrant of Trade or a Letter of Marque grants extraordinary freedoms within the Imperium, they also invariably contain particular conditions; sometimes Rogue Traders will be required to make regular visits to certain troublesome Imperial worlds, or sent to enact military action on world which do not require the force of the segmentum battlefleets. Often however, Rogue Traders will be required to travel outside the established territories of the Imperium in the name of settlement or exploration.

Though there is no ‘typical’ letter of marque, the documents do have common conceptual language. Some truly ancient letters of marque may date to a time from the earliest days of the space sparing efforts of humanity and are very close to true warrants of trade. Corvus Cluster Letters of Marque may contain some of the following language.

Letter of Marque

[Name of sector lord], by the grace of the Emperor of Mankind, Duke of Pendor, Marquis of Hegira, Knight of the Order of the Rose, defender of the faith &c. To our trusty and well beloved Captain [ Name ], commander of the [Name of Ship] with a crew of [number of men] and mounting [weaponry].

[Insert captain’s name] Greeting: whereas we are informed, that [list of enemies] known to us as [alias name] and other subjects, natives or inhabitants of the regions in and around [place names] and elsewhere have associated themselves with divers others, wicked and ill-disposed persons and beings, and do against the law of the Imperium of Man and the god-emperor, commit many and great piracies, robberies and depredations on the sea of stars, upon the parts of [sector, subsector] and in other parts, to the great hindrance and discouragement of trade and navigation, and to the great danger and hurt of our loving subjects, our allies, and all others, navigating the sea of stars upon their lawful occasions. Now know ye, that we being desirous to prevent the aforesaid mischiefs, and as in lies, to bring the said pirates, freebooters and brigands and aliens to justice, have thought fit, and hereby give and grant to the said [Insert captain’s name] to whom our commissioners for exercising the office of Lord High Admiral of the Sector Imperialis, Corvus, have granted a commission as a private man-of-war, bearing date [insert date] and unto the commander of said ship, and flotilla, for the time being, and unto the officers, space farers, and others which shall be under your command, full power and authority to apprehend, seize, and take into your custody, or if these are not the most expeditious of actions, to terminate, obliterate, or disintegrate as well the said [insert names of Imperial enemies], as all such pirates, freebooterz, brigands, corsairs, and other beings and aliens, which shall meet with upon the materium or immaterium, with all their ships, vessels, outposts, or habitats, and all such merchandized, money, goods and wares as shall be found on board, or with them, in case they shall be willingly yield themselves; but if they will no yield without fighting, then you are by force to compel them to yield. And we also require you to bring or cause to be brought, such pirates, freebooterz , or space voyagers, as you shall seize to a legal trial, to the end they be proceeded against according to the law in such cases. And we do hereby command all officers, ministers, and other of our loving subjects whatsoever, to be abiding and assisting to you in the premises.

And we do hereby enjoin you to keep an exact journal of your proceedings in execution of the premises, and set down the names of such pirates, and other their officers and company, and the names of such ships and vessels as you shall by virtue of these presents take and seize, and the quantities of arms, ammunition, provisions, and lading of such ships, and the true value of the same, as near as you can judge.

In Witness whereof, we have caused our great seal of The Imperium to affixed to these presents. Given at our court [place, planet, subsector, sector] the [day number, month, in the year of our emperor, year]

Signature

The Corvus Cluster is a Warhammer 40K blog documenting our gaming adventures in the fantastical sci-fi universe of Games Workshop.