Levasseur left the crew of the ship on their destroyed vessel to die, and brought the 240 slaves to shore on an island off the coast of Macae near Rio de Janeiro. When we in the modern world picture pirates of the golden age of sail, much of what comes into our heads is purest fantasy. The Cryptogram of Olivier Levasseur. It's still there. John has searched more than 40 acres around the Bel Ombre area, exploring crevices and caverns, and uncovering what he thinks are pirate markings on rocks. Note also that Charles Baudelaires (1845) translation of the Gold Bug rendered this as Un bon verre dans lhostel de lvque dans la chaise du diable quarante et un degrs et treize minutes nordest quart de nord principale tige septime branche, whereas a 1933 translation rendered Poes seat as sige. From 1721 onwards he committed his raids from his base on the island of Saint Mary's, off the Madagascar coast. They pillaged and took every last piece of treasure they could get their hands on. 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. Until his death at Runion, Cruise-Wilkins sought and dug in the island of Mah. The weight of the cross required 3 men to drag it to Levasseurs ship. Go pick up a copy of the cryptogram and prove to the world, that the legend of Olivier Levasseur and his buried fortune, is not just folklore. Olivier Levasseur aka La Buse. 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 was in the ownership of a notary, according to Roncire. Hope you could get them! That would most likely make people suspicious and blow his cover. Tarchon and Tyrrhenus: The Etruscan Romulus and Remus? But within a few months, Levasseur turned to the more lucrative career of pirating. He also took their ship and left them with a smaller boat. You cant help but feel a deep loss to the poor souls that were driven only deeper into poverty, thanks to the band of pirates. . Tunnels were found, and so, too, was an underground spring, which required the installation of expensive pumps to keep the water at bay. Has the Function of the Great Pyramid of Giza Finally Come to Light? And with this, in one quick motion, he ripped the necklace from his body and threw it into the crowd of onlookers and exclaimed: Find my treasure, the one who may understand it!. 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. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. And that what he did for the next couple of years. This brings us to April of 1721. Born at Calais during the Nine Years' War (1688-1697) to a wealthy bourgeois family, Levasseur became an architect after receiving an excellent education. Olivier Levasseur (1688, 1689, or 1690 7 July 1730), was a French pirate, nicknamed La Buse ("The Buzzard") or La Bouche ("The Mouth") in his early days for the speed and ruthlessness with which he always attacked his enemies as well as his ability to verbally attack his opponents. 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. He attacked several ships in route, most notably a slave ship coming from Angola. The natural world has many wonders. Hes also found bones, pistols, musket balls and statuettes. But La Buse didnt leave the Flying Gang empty handed. 7 Child Monarchs from History and How They Changed the World, The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo? In the cryptogram it was written that strange things would be found. Some of them do it in the hope of finding lost Spanish A 1,300-year-old gold and gemstone necklace discovered in central Englands Northampton in the grave of an elite woman has been hailed as of international importance. Treasure hunters have since tried to decode it. Images of a cryptogram allegedly created by the 18th century pirate Olivier Levasseur (often called "La Buse", the hawk) accompanied by sensational claims about hidden pirate booty have been circulating amongst the French treasure hunting community since at least 1934. This became an iconic symbol of pirates, especially in todays pop culture. The treasure wasnt all that Levasseur took from the crew and passengers of the Nossa Senora. EILJNOURLAIREPITERUNCHIENTUPEUN The story, which reads like a Hollywood script, has been passed down through generations on the islands of the Seychelles and La Runion. The immediate problem with the second cryptogram is that whereas the first seventeen lines are ambiguous and show numerous signs of miscopying and misinterpretation, the last five lines are almost exactly the opposite, in that they are models of clarity and straightforwardness. What was the Deadly Cocoliztli Disease that Decimated Aztec Society? Death by hanging. He knew he was close. 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. This is the story of the one-eyed pirate Olivier Levasseur. It was there where Levasseur was informed of a wealthy Frenchmen nearby in the bay of Parangua. It was located off of what is now modern day Benin in West Africa. Such as the Indiana Jones movies in the 80s and also one of my personal favorites in the early 2000s, National Treasure. However, some still find the lure interesting and containing a small nugget of truth. 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. With his new found wealth, it was time for Levasseur to lay low and enjoy the spoils of his riches. The government owns the land, so they are entitled to 50%, which is the law, he said. For a start, there are actually two cryptograms in existence today. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. Cicco Simonettas Treatise on Decipherment. So, is his treasure really still out there, just waiting to be found? And we know his life was cut short due to the crimes he committed. The work continued slowly, and expensively. The other, which is a 17-line cipher, became known due to its publication in a 1934 book entitled Le Flibustier Mysterieux, by Charles Bourrel de la Roncire, a French marine historian. [The treasure] was placed in a cave, kept for a temporary period, and then when the time came for the proper burial, it was only the burial crew who closed the cavern and they were then executed, John said. Check out these stories on some of the folks currently searching for this thing: American Robert Graf has been looking for quite awhile, John Cruise-Wilkins is a second-generation treasure hunter searching in the Seychelles. The two captains combined forces; Levasseur with his mostly French fleet, and Hornigold with his fleet, known as the Flying Gang. Carved onto the necklace was seventeen lines of text in an unfamiliar script. There Levasseur was informed of a rich French merchantman in the nearby bay of Paranagua. Perhaps this was a bribe, or maybe a bluff. 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. The Oldest Art in the World Wasnt Made By Homo sapiens, Thessaloniki Metro Construction Reveals Unimaginable Treasures, The Legendary Emerald Tablet and its Secrets of the Universe. There was considerable excitement when an old door was found and behind it was an old-fashioned doll. 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. Now operating with a full crew, he teamed up with Howell Davis and Thomas Cocklyn. The finding of the tunnels caused the Seychelles Government to take a mild interest in the venture by contributing a modest sum of money towards the mounting cost of the search. He wouldnt spend much time in the actual Navy per se. Then he leaves on Friday. Unfortunately, as if it might of made a difference, to avoid capsizing on the sandbar, the crew of the of the vessel dismounted and threw their 72 cannons overboard. More Info On- Famous Italian Explorers, Female Pirates, Ports, Ships. It is protected by tides and requires damming to hold the waves back. We do know that Levasseur had a massive amount of treasure in the early 20s, so I suppose he could have sold some of it off over the next 7 years. The text were first reviewed in earnest by Englishman Reginald Cruise-Wilkins in 1947, but the cryptogram proved to be far more difficult to decipher than first thought. But still, 50% of 100 million is a lot of money, and John is emphatic that he wont stop searching. , Levasseur made the most lucrative capture of his pirating career: the Nossa Senhora do Cabo. This capture turned out to be one of the greatest single pirate hauls in all of history, literally writing the story of the Legend of Olivier Levasseur while he was still alive. In 1947, an Englishman by the name of Reginald Cruise-Wilkins set out to decrypt the message and discover the treasure. Do any of these arrowheada look like theyre of value? Join over three million BBC Travel fans by liking us onFacebook, or follow us onTwitterandInstagram. 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). They landed 250 men on board and killed the crew. What if the pirate Levasseur truly left a clue to his very real and very missing treasure, one which has remained undeciphered to this day? In 1923 a certain Mrs. Savoy found some documents, describing Levasseurs treasure on a southern island of the Seychelles group. Unreliable citations may be challenged or deleted. Legend tells that when he stood on the scaffold to be hanged, Levasseur wore a necklace containing a cryptogram of 17 lines, and threw this into the crowd while exclaiming: "Find my treasure, the one who may understand it! In 1718, Levasseur narrowly avoided capture by Captain Francis Hume of the HMS Scarborough off the coast of La Blanquilla in the Eastern Caribbean. The value of the cargo was staggering, with the lowliest pirate of the crew receiving some 50,000 worth of treasure, truly a kings ransom. This time by the HMS Scarborough under the command of Captain Hume, who was tailing the 60 man crew led by Levasseur. Bellamy and Levasseur sailed together for a little while, but then Levasseur had a change in plans, and wanted to raid the coast of South American coast just off of Brazil. But the largest share was reserved for Levasseur. Cruise Wilkins, for that was the name of the one-time guardsman, made an agreement with the owners permitting him to prospect for the treasure on their land. He wants to prove his father right, and like his dad, he wants to understand what made the pirate tick. However, Levasseurs actions had brought the attention of the Portuguese authorities and his ship, the La Louise was forced to flee from a Portuguese boat. From Barry Clifford finding of Black Sam Bellamys flagship along with a stockpile of his treasure, to Cliffords finding in 2015 of Captain Kidds treasure. But the Seychelles islanders are convinced that Levasseurs treasure still lies hidden somewhere, waiting to be found. In 1729, 7 years after the capture of the Nossa Senora, La Buse was recognized by someone in port at Fort Dauphin in Madagascar. Levasseur was born to a bourgeois family in Calais during the Nine Years War (16881697), his childhood was spent in comfortable surroundings. No one except Levasseur now knew its location. Having recieved a rich education he became a naval officer and consequently a privater for the French crown. During his time sailing as a privateer, he spent most of his time in the Caribbean. And the question always with people is Why do you treasure hunt? Levasseur, who had no idea what was on the ship, was astonished with the haul. I almost gave up. John explained that the fascinating tale of the treasure started in 1716 when Frenchman Olivier Levasseur, otherwise known as 'La Buse' (The Buzzard) because of the speed with which he would. We would like your permission to use third party cookies. 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. 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. The cryptogram had 17 lines of random symbols that no one seemed to immediately recognize. According to John, a historian described it as 'a floating treasure house, believed to consist of gold and silver bars, precious stones, uncut diamonds, guineas, church plate and . Had some earlier searchers planted these things there? Olivier Levasseur was born in Calais during the closing years of the 17th century (between 1688 and 1690). According to researchers and historians, the hoard contains more than 50,000 gems such as diamonds, sapphires, and ancient artifacts. 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. They thought my father was crazy. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340732038_The_Identification_of_the_Pirate_and_Shipwreck_MAHSNews_Report_Fall_202, https://escales.ponant.com/en/pirate-la-buse-2/, https://goldenageofpiracy.org/pirates/pirate-rounders/olivier-levasseur.php, https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/french-pirate-olivier-levasseur-left-behind-curious-cryptogram-does-it-lead-021725, https://steemit.com/history/@arrrados/the-tales-of-pirates-olivier-lavasseur-la-buse, Im a historical writer & the host of the Podcast and YouTube series Beyond the Harbor. NVOVLENQUILNISEIUDFKUUNEFEMMRQ While these treasures are fictional, thats not to say that every treasure hunting story is a myth. Was this a hoax? Has blackbeards treasure ever been found? Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. #2. Copyrights 2020-2023 Alla rttigheter reserverade. But there was a small precondition in order to receive the Royal Pardon: He would have to turn over his treasure to the French government. Cruise-Wilkins' early writing indicates that the code may be based on Masonic symbolism. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. These legendary riches turned out to be real, and are still waiting to be found. As of today in 2022, it hasnt. The pirates quickly fled to their headquarters in Madagascar with the British Navy in hot pursuit, and the booty was divided between the crew. His time on the Seychelles islands was short lived though, and he decided to move to Madagascar. Wilkins had no difficulty in finding subscribers to the venture when he issued a prospectus. He deduced that part of the message stated: The treasure was somewhere underground and must be approached carefully to avoid being flooded. He spent 29 years looking for it. On board was the Count of Ericeira, Viceroy of Portuguese India, and its hold had ~10 years of accumulated treasures - gold, diamonds, jewellery, spices, cloth, fine wood and more. His biggest success was the conquering of the Portuguese vessel Nossa Senhora do Cabo (The Virgin of the Cape), which was full of gold. But this is where his life came to a crossroads. According to legend, pirate treasure reportedly worth 100 million is buried on an Indian Ocean island. The La Louise sank with 80 of Levasseur's men on March 9th, 1718, off the coast of Cotinga Island. Accept Read More, Oak Island: Legends of Pirates and Treasure. Coffers now replenished, work was re-started. He was famous for supposedly burying one of the world's largest caches of treasure, and leaving behind a coded message as to where it is. He was Oliver Levasseur, nick-named La Buzze (the Buzzard), and he died 250 years ago on 17th July, 1730. The ship was carrying the treasure of both the Bishop of Goa and the Viceroy of Portuguese Indi, and was one of the greatest hauls in the history of piracy. Then, two things happened: either Chaos or Gaia created the universe as we know it, or Ouranos and Tethys gave birth to the first beings. Levasseur escaped on a tiny escort brigantine to Sao Francisco do Sul, plundering a boat full of cassava flour to feed the starving remainder of his crew before sailing back to Cananeia. Though he already had a scar across one eye limiting his sight, Levasseur proved himself a good leader and shipmate. Beale. (Oliver La Bouche) or 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. Levasseur pledged himself to Benjamin Hornigolds pirate organization in 1716. Grace OMalley: Irish Pirate Queen of Connacht, Beale Ciphers and the Lost Treasure in Bedford County, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivier_Levasseur, https://cipherfoundation.org/older-ciphers/la-buse-cryptogram/, MV Joyita: The Ghost Ship that Couldnt Sink. But Levasseur had one more trick left up his sleeve Well.. Tucked in his shirt. But I could not give them that satisfaction, John said. Who was the Babushka Lady at JFKs Assassination? There was also a map from 1729 and she found out that the northern parts of Mahe belongd to "la Buze". John explained that the fascinating tale of the treasure started in 1716 when Frenchman Olivier Levasseur, otherwise known as La Buse (The Buzzard) because of the speed with which he would attack his enemies, was given a letter of marque to operate as a privateer. During that time he hid his treasure, reputed to be 90,000,000 gold French francs and a hoard of other valuables. Incidents include 115 vessels boarded, 11 attempted attacks, 5 vessels fired upon and 1 vessel hijacked. We know that he amassed a ton of treasure over the years. My plans are to recover the treasure. But first heres the answer to Wednesdays riddles: A cowboy rides into town on Friday. You see, inside the necklace, Levasseur had hidden a small note that contained a 17 line cryptic message. [Online]Available at: http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170425-the-island-with-100-million-hidden, The Cipher Foundation, 2017. "There is a man who has spent a fortune using high-tech equipment searching for the riches. DEMIELLEEFOVTREFOUSENFAITESUNEONGAT All clues centred on the astronomical constellations of Greek mythology. From old legends like the Knights Templar treasure, to the Disney fantasies likeTreasure Island, people have always been enamored with the idea of gold and gems hidden in mysterious parts of the world. And the verdict? Such is the treasure of Olivier Levasseur, The Buzzard and the code he left behind as to where he left his booty. Some of the earliest pirates of note did temporarily bury their, The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. DOES ANYONE KNOW THE DIRECTIONS TO RANCHO DE LOS YUMAS ? In his ship Le Victorieux, he met and joined forces with an equally disreputable Englishman named Taylor and his band of cutthroats on their vessel Defence. It would appear, that escaping justice, wasnt in the hand he was dealt. Though the necklace has been lost through the years, but the cryptogram and copies have survived to this day. Who Are the Yazidis and Why Have They Been Continually Persecuted? The Scarborough was a 32 gun Royal Navy vessel that hailed from England, and sailed with a crew that had a thirst for pirate blood. But more than likely, it was in fact true based on what we knew about his massive treasure haul. 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