highwaymen

Highwaymen were robbers who preyed on travelers on public roads, a problem especially visible in Britain, Ireland, and parts of continental Europe from the 17th through the 19th centuries. They typically targeted coaches, mail coaches, merchants in caravans, and other roadside travellers along turnpike and coaching routes. The practice declined with improvements in policing, road security, and the expansion of railways.

They operated by ambush on well-traveled stretches, often at night or along lonely sections. They would halt a carriage with shouting and arms drawn, sometimes using disguises or presenting themselves as guards or fellow travellers. Typical weapons included pistols and sabres. They relied on the fear of banditry and the difficulty of rapid pursuit across country roads.

Historically, highway robbery was treated as a serious crime and punishable by severe penalties. The era gave rise to a romanticized image of the "gentleman highwayman" who dressed lavishly and courted danger, a stereotype amplified by ballads, popular prints, and later literature and film. In reality, many victims were ordinary travellers and merchants.

Notable highwaymen include Claude Duval, celebrated for chivalrous conduct in some accounts; Dick Turpin, whose fame owes much to legend rather than strict chronology; and Tom King, another well-known figure in English folklore. The mixture of fact and myth persists in popular culture, influencing later depictions of outlaws on the road.