Legal Definitions - Cinque Ports

The Cinque Ports refers to a historic confederation of five (and later more) English coastal towns that were granted special privileges by the Crown in exchange for providing naval defense, particularly against French invasion.

These towns — originally Hastings, Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich — were strategically important due to their proximity to continental Europe. In return for their commitment to furnish ships and men for the King's service during wartime, they received significant benefits, including exemptions from certain taxes and tolls, and a considerable degree of local autonomy and jurisdiction, especially in maritime law.

• Example 1: Royal Privileges and Trade

  Imagine a merchant in the 13th century bringing a shipment of wine into the port of Dover. Because Dover was one of the Cinque Ports, this merchant might have been exempt from certain customs duties or tolls that would have been levied on goods entering other English ports. This exemption would have given merchants operating through the Cinque Ports a competitive advantage, directly illustrating the "special privileges" granted to these towns in recognition of their vital defensive role.

• Example 2: Naval Service in Times of War

  Consider a scenario in the 14th century when England faced a threat of invasion from France. The King would not have to rely solely on a nascent national navy or general levies. Instead, he could issue a direct command to the Cinque Ports, such as Hastings, requiring it to immediately supply a specific number of fully crewed ships for battle. This obligation was a cornerstone of their agreement with the Crown, demonstrating their direct and crucial contribution to national defense in exchange for their unique status.

• Example 3: Local Legal Autonomy

  Suppose a dispute arose in the town of Hythe concerning a shipwreck and the salvage rights to its cargo. Unlike other coastal towns where such a case might fall under the jurisdiction of a centrally appointed royal court, in Hythe, as a Cinque Port, the matter could be heard and decided by its own local court, exercising its historical admiralty jurisdiction. This highlights the "considerable measure of local, independent jurisdiction" that these ports maintained, allowing them to administer their own maritime laws and resolve local disputes without immediate royal intervention.