[trod123]

I believe the correct term you are looking for is privateers, not robbers.

They were outside the color of law and often targeted specific trade coming out of adversarial nations.

[newsclues]

One kings privateer is another’s thieving pirates.

It depends on who is getting robbed.

Kings and governments just make up special words for when they commit crimes.

[lazide]

Yup - it’s a special kind of outlaw (literally, outside the law) who has a home he can go back to and be protected.