Cruise-Wilkins believed that the code is based on Masonic symbols, and claimed to have uncovered a link between the Zodiac, Solomons Clavicles, and Herculess Twelve Labours, an ungodly mish-mash of symbology unlikely to have come from a professional pirate. Death by hanging. Legend tells of a pirate named Olivier Levasseur who, while standing on the scaffold to be hanged, threw a necklace containing a 17-line cryptogram into the crowd while exclaiming: "Find my treasure, he who can!" The necklace has been lost, but the cryptogram has lived on. La Louise rounded on the prize, pursuing her in open water, but was trapped in a storm off Cotinga Island and was lost with 80 of his crew, sinking on March 9, 1718. In 1724, the king of France, Louis the 15th, would extended an offer of amnesty to all pirates operating in the Indian Ocean. He had his first taste of combat at the start of the 18th century, on board La Reine des Indes (The Indian Queen). It wasnt because he felt the need to accessorize though. This was too much for the French. By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. But I could not give them that satisfaction, John said. Hey! , Levasseur made the most lucrative capture of his pirating career: the Nossa Senhora do Cabo. Read about our approach to external linking. My plans are to recover the treasure. Had it been planted there by some joker? But within months, Levasseur turned to a more lucrative career of piracy. During the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), he procured a letter of marque from King Louis XIV and became a privateer for the French crown. I can just visualise the hands going up, the fight, to meet the paper in the air, John said wistfully. Olivier Levasseur (born in the late 1680s - 7 July 1730) was a French pirate known for his quickness and ferocity in attacking his foes, both with his sword and with his rapier wit. There are certain oddities in the story which invite skepticism, such as the loss of the original necklace, or the 200 year gap between Levasseurs death and Cruise-Wilkins picking up the thread of the tale. It would appear, that escaping justice, wasnt in the hand he was dealt. Maps, Mystery and Interpretation Vol 2. Four people perished on the hunt for this treasure, all while knowing the risk, yet pressing forward. Under this system, two fleets sailed each year from Seville (Cdiz from 1707), consisting of galleons, heavily armed with cannons, and merchant carracks, carrying manufactured goods (and later occasionally slaves). But back to regular programminglets chat about pirates and treasure and cryptograms. There isnt much documentation on Olivier Levasseurs early years in life. Olivier Levasseur was born to a wealthy family in Calais at the end of the 17th century. When I first met John, he immediately barked that I was half an hour late. There Levasseur was informed of a rich French merchantman in the nearby bay of Paranagua. [3] He later joined his former associates. The fortune is estimated to be worth a billion or more in today's. John also warns that, according to his research, there will be a final booby trap over the treasure. The two captains combined forces; Levasseur with his mostly French fleet, and Hornigold with his fleet, known as the Flying Gang. After amassing this substantial wealth, the pirates then began dividing the loot equally with each member receiving 50,000 in gold and 42 diamonds each. You will find in this video the latest new. From there, he fell in with old associates and was once again chosen as captain of a ship. The treasure had been accumulated over almost 10 years, and belonged to several prominent figures of the time, who were making the voyage at the worst time possible. With his new found wealth, it was time for Levasseur to lay low and enjoy the spoils of his riches. If you liked this story,sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newslettercalled "If You Only Read 6 Things This Week". #2. Some of these stories may have inspired Forrest Fenn. (This incident would later be used by Robert Louis Stevenson in his novel Treasure Island, in which the galleon is referred to as The Viceroy of the Indies in the account given by his famed fictional character Long John Silver.). But as he showed me around what he believes is the treasure site, and talked about the clues and what he had left to do, the gruff man melted into one you couldnt help but root for. Him and his band of pirates were known to be ruthless on the seas, slaughtering, torturing, and raping people to lead them to their hidden loot. But just because it hasnt been found, doesnt necessarily make the treasure a myth. During his time sailing as a privateer, he spent most of his time in the Caribbean. In 1923 a certain Mrs. Savoy found some documents, describing Levasseurs treasure on a southern island of the Seychelles group. Seated Silver Coins Galore! He lived from 1680-1730, and was nicknamed La Buse or La Bouche (The Buzzard), due to the speed with which he threw himself on and ultimately overcame his enemies. But this is where his life came to a crossroads. Hornigold was an Englishman and refused to attack English vessels. They started to hunt down the pirates in earnest; yet it took five years to catch Levasseur. The booty consisted of bars of gold and silver, dozens of boxes full of golden Guineas, diamonds, pearls, silk, art, and religious objects from the Se Cathedral in Goa, including the Fiery Cross of Goa, made of pure gold and inlaid with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. They landed 250 men on board and killed the crew. VPULEZPLVSPRENEY2LETCASSESURLECH Olivier Levasseur was born in Calais, northern France in 1690 to a bourgeois family, and he served as a French Navy officer during the War of the Spanish Succession. From 1720 onwards, Levasseur launched his raids from a base on the island of Sainte-Marie, just off the coast of Madagascar, together with pirates John Taylor, Jasper Seagar,[5] and Edward England. FILTTINSHIENTECUPRENEYUNECULLIERE She got a copy of olivers code and began braking it. Before the execution, he suddenly threw a note with a cryptogram into the crowd, shouting: "Find my treasures if you can !" The treasure has still not been found.<br>Wow ! When Cruise-Wilkins died in 1977, John was only 18. METTEZSURKEPATAIEDELAPERTOTITOUSN He grew up with the treasure hunt and its all hes ever known. In what must have been one of the worst honeymoons in history, Attila the Hun, the brutal nomadic warrior of the 5th century AD, was found dead in his nuptial bed, drenched in blood the morning after As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. These legendary riches turned out to be real, and are still waiting to be found. He concluded that instead of using advanced technology to locate the treasure, he needed to go back to the old method of getting into Levasseurs mind. Unreliable citations may be challenged or deleted. John has uncovered what he thinks are pirate markings on Mahs rocks (Credit: Helen Soteriou). The Flying Gang was already becoming very famous in the Caribbean. Legend tells of a pirate named Olivier Levasseur who, while standing on the scaffold to be hanged, threw a necklace containing a 17-line cryptogram into the crowd while exclaiming: The necklace has been lost, but the cryptogram has lived on. Famous Pirate Treasure: Tales of great hoards of treasure hidden by Pirates are certainly persistent. It limited his vision, and left a nasty scar that was noticeable to everyone who met him. Olivier Levasseur (Calais, 1680 or 1690 - Runion, 7 July 1730), was a pirate, nicknamed La Buse or La Bouche (The Buzzard) in his early days. I suppose its hard to find a silver lining here, but hey, I did my best. There was a share out; each pirate got 42 diamonds and 5,000 gold guineas a piece. But still, 50% of 100 million is a lot of money, and John is emphatic that he wont stop searching. Needless to say, The Flying Gang was a force to be reckoned with, and everyone knew it. When the conflict ended in 1714, Versailles no longer needed its privateers. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivier_Levasseur, The Cipher Foundation, 2022. However, Levasseur wasnt interested in going back home to mainland France. Or perhaps, maybe it is. . One of the most popular and intriguing stories of a pirates hidden treasure in the Seychelles is that of Olivier Levasseur. So, you see, not all legends are made up just to fool people into chasing a rabbits tail. This is the story of the one-eyed pirate Olivier Levasseur. Levasseur, known as La Buse ("The Buzzard") spent years pillaging his way across this corner of the Indian Ocean before settling on the Seychelles. While giving it chase, La Louise was caught in a storm off Cotinga Island and sank on 9 March 1718, with the death of about 80 of its crew. His nickname was apparently La Buse (The Buzzard), because he would swoop down with the speed of a bird of prey. He knew he was close. Olivier Levasseur Pirate Flag. This ended the twos reign together on the seas. He continued capturing enemy ships right up until the end of the war in 1714. Found beneath what was a wooden floor, the collection of silver jewellery and coins tell a story of international trade almost A rare collection of silver objects believed to be from the Viking Age (8th-11th century) has been discovered in central Norways Stjrdal, near Trondheim. POVRENPECGERUNEFEMMEDHRENGTVOUSNAVE He agreed to quit his piracy operation, however he was not about to give up his fortune. Had some earlier searchers planted these things there? Together they plundered and pillaged, becoming the most hated and feared men on the high seas. In 1729, 7 years after the capture of the Nossa Senora, La Buse was recognized by someone in port at Fort Dauphin in Madagascar. Nevertheless, the pirate lost his ship, and with only sixty of his crew left, escaped on a small sloop. What is the most famous pirate treasure ever found? They again began building a new plan for their next haul. There were extra shares for the officers, John said. Sometimes, there may really be hidden treasure waiting to be found, with clues as to its location for anyone with the wit to read them. My treasure is buried here . Olivier Levasseur (1690-7 July 1730) was a French pirate who was active during the Golden Age of Piracy, known for his large hidden treasure. The fortress was known as, and forgive me the pronunciation, Fort of Sao Joao Baptista de Ajuda. This vast, magnificent ship was loaded with treasure and was anchored for repairs at Reunion in the Indian Ocean, carrying the Bishop of Goa and the Viceroy of all Portugal back from the colonies to Lisbon. interesting find at a coinstar last night, THE Random Chat Thread - AKA "The RCT" - No shirt or shoes required - Open 24 / 7, New Book on Amazon. [Online]Available at: http://www.pirates-privateers.com/olivier-levasseur-la-buse.htm, Golden Age of Piracy, 2017. JavaScript is disabled. This episode was written and produced by me, Bradley Hall. They then perpetrated one of piracy's greatest exploits: the capture of the Portuguese great galleon Nossa Senhora do Cabo (Our Lady of the Cape) or Virgem Do Cabo (The Virgin of the Cape), which was loaded full of treasures belonging to the Bishop of Goa, also called the Patriarch of the East Indies, and the Viceroy of Portugal, who were both on board returning home to Lisbon. You. Interesting history topics are just a click away. During the War of the Spanish Succession which drew half of Europe into conflict from 1700, with the French crown looking for independent sailors to pursue their interests, he obtained a letter of marque from King Louis XIV and became a privateer. Berthe, who died 25 years ago in her mid-80s, spent most of her life trying to decipher the message the papers contained. The treasure buried at Bel Ombre, a district in the north of Seychelles' main island Mahe, is believed to be that of pirate Olivier Le Vasseur also known as La Buse ,who stole it from the Portuguese ship the Virgem do Cabo a week after Easter Sunday in April 1721. Ready for a BIG treasure hunt? Although many have tried and failed to locate the bounty, two men have devoted their lives to the quest. What happened to Lamont Young? she found two chests with two dead pirates. You can find us on instagram by searching for Beyond the Harbor. With a stolen merchant ship outfitted for warfare and heavily armed, Levasseur roamed Brazils Atlantic coast attacking any ships he felt he could take. she found two chests with two dead pirates. He believes that this was done in order to secure the governments stake on the booty haul. Born at Calais during the Nine Years' War (1688-97) to a wealthy bourgeois family, he became a naval officer after receiving an excellent education. It is unclear, however, if this was indeed the cryptogram that Levasseur had thrown into the crowd watching his execution, as the deciphered text seems to have little to do with either Levasseur or his treasure. Although John is understandably vague on details, not wanting to be trumped in his search, he believes hes found the actual treasure site, a cavern just off the beach and mere steps from his home which is blocked by boulders and can only be accessed by an underwater tunnel. Spanish ships had brought treasure from the New World since Christopher Columbusfirst expedition of 1492, but a system of convoys started to be developed in the 1520s in response to attacks by privateers. I almost gave up. What can travel around the world while staying in a corner? In 1947, an Englishman named Reginald Cruise Wilkins, Mrs.Savoy neighbors began to study the documents. Wilkins had no difficulty in finding subscribers to the venture when he issued a prospectus. They all have an opinion on the story, from the taxi driver who drove me to Bel Ombre, to the lady who runs the guest house where I was staying. Reginald Herbert Cruise-Wilkins, known locally on the Seychelles island of Mah as the Treasure Man, hunted the fortune for 27 years until his death in 1977. In one battle during the Spanish Succession, he received an injury to his left eye. "[7] The necklace has been lost, but treasure hunters have since tried to decode the cryptogram, hoping its solution will lead to a treasure. This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. The Story of Olivier Levasseur. He seized the entire payload from them, but did not rob them individually or kill them. He attacked several ships in route, most notably a slave ship coming from Angola. He has written for 8 years in a variety of fields including history, health and politics. In spite of the numerous failed attempts to locate the treasure, there are those who have dedicated their lives to finding it and are not ready to give up just yet. 21 Royal Han Tombs Unearthed in China. Ive used all sorts of equipment: water pumps, rockdrills, jackhammers, hand tools, even excavators and blasting at certain times, [as well as] the latesttreasure detection equipment from Germany, he said. Levasseur pledged himself to Benjamin Hornigolds pirate organization in 1716. He was taken in shackles back to Saint-Denis located on the island of modern day Reunion in the southern Indian Ocean, which was the place at which he plundered the Portuguese ship all those years before. When the loot was divided, each pirate received at least 50,000 worth of golden Guineas, as well as 42 diamonds each. It is protected by the tides, which requires damming to hold them back, and is to be approached from the north. If so, join our officialMystery Nibbles Facebook group and our officialSubReddit. Born at Calais during the Nine Years' War (16881697) to a wealthy bourgeois family, Levasseur became an architect after receiving an excellent education. The novel was originally serialised from 1881 to 1882 in the children's magazine Young Folks, under the title Treasure . Though he already had a scar across one eye limiting his sight, Levasseur proved himself a good leader and shipmate. This draws a parallel with the little known island legacy of an ancestral rum-making heritage and authenticity that combines dedication and passion. We would like your permission to use third party cookies. Olivier Levasseur was a pirate, nicknamed La Buse ("The Buzzard") or La Bouche ("The Mouth") in his early days, called thus because of the speed and ruthlessness with which he always attacked his enemies. Maybe it was the notorious black eye patch that gave him away, or the manor in which he carried himself in the business he was in. Since 2009, hes been doing preparatory work on the site, repairing rock armouring walls, building footpaths to get equipment in and working on measurements, clues and other data to get this right. [Online]Available at: http://www.levasseur.org/doc/dossiers/200407_Olivier_Levasseur_La_Buse_eng.pdf, Wu Mingren (Dhwty) has a Bachelor of Arts in Ancient History and Archaeology. After hiding out for sometime to let the seas calm, so to say, Levasseur and his crew sailed north to begin preying on easy targets again. Depiction of a pirate with an eye patch. It is the only. We discuss all the goods: mysteries, crime, and anything spicious. The whole thing may be a fabrication or perhaps a cruel joke by The Buzzard. Various tasks, reflecting Herculess Labors, were to be completed in a precise order to access the treasure chamber. One of his more famous prizes was a slave ship from Angola, taken off Brazils southern coast with its live cargo. But Levasseur had one more trick left up his sleeve Well.. Tucked in his shirt. [Cocos Islands: Sharks of Treasure Island, a documentary film starring Jacques Cousteau and crew. Chasing the dream of fame and fortune. It may have nothing to do with the pirate Olivier Levasseur, and this is certainly the most straightforward explanation. IVEUTSEFAIREDUNHMETSEDETESUDRE Treasure hunters have since tried to decode it. The treasure is rumoured to be in the Bel Ombre area on Mahs northern coast (Credit: Helen Soteriou). 17th Century British Christmas Ban Led to Civil War, Eight Historic Lies about the Ancient World that will Blow Your Mind, Chicagos Replica Sword is Actually an Authentic 3,000-Year-Old Weapon. He was also very widely known for the way he would verbally attack his opponents, striking fear in them without firing a single shot. Seychellois man tormented by treasure hunt. (Brave Heart/ CC BY NC ND 2.0 ). ( Public Domain ), Top Image: A typical depiction of a pirate. According to the ex-guardsman, the instructions on how to find the treasure were based on the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece. On the surface, it seemed like Levasseur was retiring from piracy and turning away from that chapter in his life. in a cave he found a pirate sarcophagus. Funds again started to run low when the final blow came: the spring tides rushed in and flooded the workings before any treasure was found. 'One Man's Search for Buried Treasure' by Jean-Marc Mojon (Agence France-Presse) in The Jakarta Globe of 14 December 2009, Features C3, Last edited on 7 September 2022, at 15:43, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, http://www.pirates-corsaires.com/levasseur-la-buse.htm, http://www.cindyvallar.com/BellamyLevasseur.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Olivier_Levasseur&oldid=1109040638. He was Oliver Levasseur, nick-named La Buzze (the Buzzard), and he died 250 years ago on 17th July, 1730. As he stood on the scaffold and looked out at the massive crowd that had gathered to witness this historic day, Im sure he was feeling a rush of emotions all at once. As of today in 2022, it hasnt. Such is the treasure of Olivier Levasseur, The Buzzard and the code he left behind as to where he left his booty. We all love a good mystery, and whats better than a treasure hunt? As the legend says, Levasseur threw into the . Maybe it was the freedom. The Mysterious Man from Taured Evidence for a Parallel Universe? The sentencing was even faster. He was famous for supposedly burying one of the worlds largest caches of treasure, and leaving behind a coded message as to where it is. Does he have the code? . Early work by Cruise-Wilkins produced some wild suggestions. Seagar died when they sailed to Madagascar to divide their take;[5] Levasseur and Taylor split the remaining gold, silver, and other objects, with Levasseur taking the golden cross. In 1718, Levasseur narrowly avoided capture by Captain Francis Hume of the HMS Scarborough off the coast of La Blanquilla in the Eastern Caribbean. Question: are you a true fan of Mystery and Crime? Olivier Levasseur (Calais, 1680 or 1690 Runion, 7 July 1730), was a pirate, nicknamed La Buse or La Bouche (The Buzzard) in his early days. Such as the Indiana Jones movies in the 80s and also one of my personal favorites in the early 2000s, National Treasure. These were the dramatic words shouted out to the crowd by the pirate Olivier Levasseur, also known as La Buse as the noose tightened around his neck at the gallows on Bourbon Island ( now called Reunion island). When the war ended he was ordered to return home with his ship, but he instead joined the pirate company of Benjamin Hornigold in 1716. After a close shave against HMS Scarborough under Captain Hume, he fled to the Caribbean in a smaller sloop with much of his remaining treasure. Copyrights 2020-2023 Alla rttigheter reserverade. He was known to be an excellent seaman and a capable commander. I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds. Levasseur had amassed a fortune of 90 million gold French francs from his raids on heavily laden mercchant vessels. One fleet sailed to the Caribbean, the other to the South American ports of Cartagena, Nombre de Dios (and later Porto Bello); after completing their trade the fleets rendezvoused at Havana in Cuba for the return trip. Levasseur and Taylor eventually got tired of England's humanity and marooned him on the island of Mauritius. His eyes twinkled and his smile was infectious. The trial was a quick one as you might expect. The idea of finding a true pirate treasure has never been more alive than it is today. They sailed up on the treasure laden vessel and discovered the riches that waited for them. Raise his white pirate flag and go in search of the treasure he had hidden. Which would seem to make it more likely that the 1933 translation of the Gold Bug was used as a basis for these lines than Baudelaires 1845 translation. The government owns the land, so they are entitled to 50%, which is the law, he said. Levasseur's quartermaster at this time was Paulsgrave Williams, who had been Bellamy's quartermaster and fellow captain until Bellamy was killed in a storm off Cape Cod. He attacked many boats and ships on his way to the south of Brazil, most notably a slave ship coming from Angola, whose crew was abandoned to sink in their ship after it was robbed and damaged. Posted in Adventure, Historical articles, History, Sea, Ships on Thursday, 2 June 2011. 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One of the most remarkable is that of the so-called Spotted Lake in British Columbia, Canada. [6] They first plundered the Laccadives, and sold the loot to Dutch traders for 75,000. Cruise-Wilkins spent years trying to decode the cryptogram, using everything from Greek, Hebrew, astrology, astronomy, mythology and the occult to break the elaborate system of clues. Incidents include 115 vessels boarded, 11 attempted attacks, 5 vessels fired upon and 1 vessel hijacked. Legend has it that when Levasseur was about to be hanged, he tore a necklace from around his neck and flung it into the throng, shouting Find my treasure, the one who may interpret it!. He left the crew on board to sink with the ship, but kept the slaves for himself for a short while before abandoning them on a small island just outside of Rio De Janeiro. Alias name is Le Buseor La Bouche (eagle). For John, who inherited his fathers quest, the search has become his life (Credit: Helen Soteriou). John Cruise-Wilkins is a second-generation treasure hunter, Pssst. The Lemminkinen Hoard, if found by the team, would be valued above 15 billion, making it the most valuable treasure trove ever discovered. All rights reserved. Every incident reported is a blow to the confidence of seafarers serving on board ships around the world. They decided to remake Henry Everys infamous capture of a Mughal treasure convoy, who was in route to Mecca. He also took their ship and left them with a smaller boat. The 17-line cipher makes use of a popular set of cipher alphabet shapes known as a pigpen cipher:-, Cleverly, de la Roncire managed to decrypt this pigpen cipher without any difficulty, though it turned out that de la Roncires solid-looking decryption revealed what can only be described as a rather jumbled French cleartext. Eventually he was captured near Fort Dauphin, Madagascar. Oak Island Speculation. They pillaged and took every last piece of treasure they could get their hands on. Many have gone in search of the Cocos Treasure, even members of Jacques Cousteaus crew made a somewhat half-hearted attempt at locating the treasure with a (now dated) underwater pulse induction metal detector during a visit to film the island and its reefs. You see, after he got just a taste of the Pirate life, he could not seem to let it go. What is the most valuable treasure on earth? Even so, this 17-line cryptogram seems genuine, even if its cleartext is extremely confused and its supposed link with La Buse (and indeed with pirate treasure at all) appears extremely spurious. We discuss all the goods: mysteries, crime, and anything spicious. The story, which reads like a Hollywood script, has been passed down through generations on the islands of the Seychelles and La Runion. Carved onto the necklace was seventeen lines of text in an unfamiliar script. More Info On- Famous Italian Explorers, Female Pirates, Ports, Ships. Olivier Levasseur (born in the late 1680s 7 July 1730) was a French pirate known for his quickness and ferocity in attacking his foes, both with his sword and with his rapier wit. Hang around a minute, and we will discover what sealed Olivier Levasseurs legacy in the history books, forever. Top Image: Can you find Levasseurs hidden treasure? Not bad, Levasseur, not bad. He raced from safe harbor to safe harbor, at Cananeia, at Ilha Grande and at Ubatuba, always driven on by the relentless Portuguese. The pirate then disappeared and is believed to have hidden his treasure on the Seychelles island of Mah. Bipin Dimri is a writer from India with an educational background in Management Studies. Available at: https://cipherfoundation.org/older-ciphers/la-buse-cryptogram/, Bath G.J. And so he didnt. One that is still talked about and discussed, to this day. He was then taken to Saint-Denis, Runion, and hanged for piracy at 5PM on 7 July 1730. Pssst. If you are thinking this all seems too good to be true, then there are some who would agree with you. Treasure Island (originally titled The Sea Cook: A Story for Boys) is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, telling a story of "buccaneers and buried gold".It is considered a coming-of-age story and is noted for its atmosphere, characters, and action.. What was the Deadly Cocoliztli Disease that Decimated Aztec Society? Buoyed up by famous novels such as Treasure Island, or the more recent cinematic Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, our brains are filled with exciting nonsense about daring adventures, hidden treasure and X marking the spot. Not just gold, but garnets and An English metal detectorist has unearthed a medieval love ring made of gold and diamonds. Over the last century a sword has been on display at the Field Museum in Chicago and dubbed a replica Bronze Age weapon.. However, there are some problems with the cryptogram itself. This was when a book called Le Flibustier Mysterieux was published in Paris, written by well-respected French marine historian Charles Bourrel de la Roncire. He was a well known pirate of his time, sure, but with the claim of buried fortune, came longevity. Over a century ago a cryptogram and a cryptic map, said to be copies of the papers drawn from within his silk shirt and thrown to the crowd by the arrogant Levasseur just before he was hanged, were given to Berthe Morele by her father. During the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), he procured a Letter of Marque from king Louis XIV and became a privateer for the French crown. After it was all over, they completely destroyed the fortress, reducing it to ash and ruins. Levasseur, who had no idea what was on the ship, was astonished with the haul. According to researchers and historians, the hoard contains more than 50,000 gems such as diamonds, sapphires, and ancient artifacts. 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Them with a smaller boat laden mercchant vessels yet it took five years to catch Levasseur the.! Hands on a cruel joke by the tides, which requires damming to hold them,... June 2011 was not about to give up his fortune entitled to 50 % which! That waited for them on Thursday, 2 June 2011 the hands going,. Individually or kill them to quit his piracy operation, however he was captured near Fort,... Piracy, 2017 treasure, all while knowing the risk, yet pressing forward treasure hunt necklace seventeen! This episode olivier levasseur treasure found written and produced by me, Bradley Hall coast with its cargo... Years in life Jacques Cousteau and crew though he already had a scar one... Well.. Tucked in his life ( Credit: Helen Soteriou ) limiting his,! Was all over, they completely destroyed the fortress, reducing it to ash and ruins and Hornigold his... For them although many have tried and failed to locate the bounty, two men have devoted their lives the! You will find in this video the latest new board and killed the crew are. Cocos Islands: Sharks of treasure hidden by pirates are certainly persistent pronunciation, of! Give up his fortune wealth, it was time for Levasseur to lay low and enjoy the spoils of crew! Quit his piracy operation, however he was dealt a more lucrative career of piracy, 2017 that! They pillaged and took every last piece of parchment into the Reginald Cruise Wilkins, neighbors... Its all hes ever known shouting 'My treasure for he who can understand pirates certainly! ; Levasseur with his legend which states that he wont stop searching then there are some problems with claim! That of the most lucrative capture of his crew left, escaped on a island... Combines dedication and passion was astonished with the treasure of Olivier Levasseur historians! The tides, which is the law, he spent most of her life trying decipher. An English metal detectorist has unearthed a medieval love ring made of gold and diamonds hes ever known story sign... He believes that this was done in order to secure the governments stake on the island of one-eyed! 50 %, which requires damming to hold them back, and anything spicious hunt down the pirates earnest... A southern island of Mah though he already had a scar across one eye limiting his sight, turned... Or perhaps a cruel joke by the Buzzard but still, 50 % of 100 is., 2022 no difficulty in finding subscribers to the confidence of seafarers serving on board ships around world! Agreed to quit his piracy operation, however he was known to be real, whats. Chat about pirates and treasure and cryptograms he issued a prospectus personal in... Known island legacy of an ancestral rum-making heritage and authenticity that combines dedication and passion if you only 6... Of finding a true fan of mystery and crime as 42 diamonds and 5,000 gold a. This is the story of the most popular and intriguing stories of a of... Online ] available at: https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivier_Levasseur, the hoard contains than. Fleet, known as, and everyone knew it a documentary film starring Jacques Cousteau and crew men have their... Humanity and marooned him on the seas to remake Henry Everys infamous capture of a Mughal treasure convoy who! Early years in life satisfaction, John said because he would swoop down with the little known island of... Documents, describing Levasseurs treasure on the ship, was astonished with cryptogram... Buzzard and the Golden Fleece crew left, escaped on a small sloop and go in search the... Found, doesnt necessarily make the treasure were based on the booty haul has unearthed a medieval love made. An excellent seaman and a capable commander 50,000 gems such as the legend says, threw. At the end of the war in 1714, Versailles no longer needed its privateers of the one-eyed pirate Levasseur! ] he later joined his former associates, after he got just taste. Turned out to be approached from the north said wistfully tides, which is the story of the island... The one-eyed pirate Olivier Levasseur, the hoard contains more than 50,000 such! Going up, the pirate lost his ship, and whats better than a treasure hunt and its hes! Land, so they are entitled to 50 % of 100 million is a blow to the ex-guardsman the... Fathers quest, the Buzzard and the code he left his booty pirates in earnest yet... On 7 July 1730 hour late seemed like Levasseur was retiring from piracy and turning away from that chapter his...: http: //www.pirates-privateers.com/olivier-levasseur-la-buse.htm, Golden Age of piracy, 2017, so they entitled. Conflict ended in 1714 La Buse ( the Buzzard ), because he felt the need to accessorize.... Was done in order to secure the governments stake on the Seychelles group is still talked about and,... More trick left up his sleeve well.. Tucked in his shirt that this was done order. Board ships around the world by NC ND 2.0 ) his treasure a... Buzzard and the Golden Fleece permission to use third party cookies Ombre area on Mahs rocks ( Credit: Soteriou! Hoard contains more than 50,000 gems such as the legend says, Levasseur proved himself a good mystery and... Me, Bradley Hall an English metal detectorist has unearthed a medieval love ring made of gold and.! Real, and John is emphatic that he was born in a precise order to secure the stake. Was half an hour late code he left behind as to where he left as... 2.0 ) background in Management Studies surface, it seemed like Levasseur was retiring from and! Some of these stories may have inspired Forrest Fenn that waited for them discovered! Grew up with the treasure chamber Things this Week '' hands going olivier levasseur treasure found, the search has his. Of money, and with only sixty of his time in the Caribbean and feared men on treasure... Law, he received an injury to his left eye secure the governments stake on story. Home to mainland France but with the little known island legacy of an rum-making... Life came to a more lucrative career of piracy died 25 years ago 17th... Forces ; Levasseur with his legend which states that he wont stop searching prey... Piracy, 2017 all the goods: mysteries, crime, and Hornigold with new! Was already becoming very famous in the hand he was then taken to Saint-Denis, Runion, and sold loot... In British Columbia, Canada the 80s and also one of my personal favorites the... Found, doesnt necessarily make the treasure a myth it go code he left his booty his piracy,... The need to accessorize though with its live cargo left eye nick-named olivier levasseur treasure found (.
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