ABSTRACT
In 1462 the great caravel Pierre de la Rochelle entered the port of Gdansk carrying a cargo of Atlantic salt. By a twist of fate this vessel was to play a significant role in the city's late medieval maritime history. However, before looking more closely at this ship's turbulent time in service under the Gdansk privateer Paul Beneke, by way of introduction the spotlight must first be turned on Gdansk's maritime situation in the latter half of the fourteenth and the fifteenth century. Having ultimately been requisitioned by Gdansk's municipal authorities, the caravel was overhauled, equipped with extra 104guns and sent off under the command of Gdansk city councillor Berndt Pawest in the early autumn of 1471 to take part in the war between the Hansa and England. The caravel now flew the flag of Gdansk and bore the name Peter von Danzig.
