A Mixed Commission Court was a joint court set up by the British government with Dutch, Spanish or Portuguese representation following treaties agreed in 1817 and 1818. By 1820 there were six such courts. This occurred during a period often referred to as Pax Britannica, a period of British hegemony following the defeat of the Napoleonic Empire.The different courts condemned more than 600 ships and they released almost 80.000 slaves. The establishment of the Caribbean courts meant a new stage in the fight against slavery, a stage configurated through bilateral agreements, which provided legal security and involved at least in intention the slave powers. Besides, the location of the courts and the fate of the emancipated were very influenced by the actions against the slave trade emanating from the Vice admiralty Courts, their predecessors.