she found two chests with two dead pirates. John explained that the fascinating tale of the treasure began in 1716, when Frenchman Olivier Levasseur, also known as La Buse (The Buzzard) because of the speed with which he attacked his enemies, received a letter from the Marquis to act as a private. 7 Legendary Cryptids that Turned Out to Be Real! 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. Can you decipher the cryptogram he left behind ? Wikipedia, 2022. 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). 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. Source: phopsak / Adobe Stock. This edited article about Olivier Levasseur originally appeared in Look and Learn issue number 957 published on 12 July 1980. 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. We all know that the ancient world was a violent place, but we often dont appreciate just how violent it was. Whilst Levasseur was a notorious and much-feared pirate during his days, his greatest legacy is the alleged treasure that he had hidden. 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. Hey! The pirate then disappeared and is believed to have hidden his treasure on the Seychelles island of Mah. Beginning in the 16th century, the Spanish treasure fleets (or West Indies Fleet from Spanish Flota de Indias) transported various metal resources and agricultural goods, including silver, gold, gems, spices, tobacco, silk, and other exotic goods, from the Spanish colonies to Spain. They started to hunt down the pirates in earnest; yet it took five years to catch Levasseur. The last man to serve as King of Greece, Constantine II, passed away on January 10, 2023 in an Athens hospital from complications related to a stroke. You will find in this video the latest new. Sailing under the French flag, his letters of passage technically expired when the war ended, but instead he chose to fall in with pirates. What is the most famous pirate treasure ever found? But the Seychelles islanders are convinced that Levasseurs treasure still lies hidden somewhere, waiting to be found. Raise his white pirate flag and go in search of the treasure he had hidden. 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. Just a couple of years ago in 2020, 10 years after it was hidden, a treasure hunter named Jack Stuef, finally uncovered the location. What happened to Lamont Young? 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. Further, the treasure chamber must be reached at a certain point at low tide, with the water being dammed to prevent flooding. They sailed up on the treasure laden vessel and discovered the riches that waited for them. "It's untouched. ESSCFVMM/PLFAUTNRENDREUDLQ Olivier Levasseur was born to a wealthy family in Calais at the end of the 17th century. In one document there are some coordinates, and text in a mysterious alphabet. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. It was in the ownership of a notary, according to Roncire. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The treasure is rumoured to be in the Bel Ombre area on Mahs northern coast (Credit: Helen Soteriou). He got a job working as a pilot for ships in Antongil Bay located in the Northeastern side of Madagascar. Apart from some old guns, coins, and a pirate sarcophagi, no treasure ever came from his efforts. Some of these stories may have inspired Forrest Fenn. 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. The pirates quickly fled to their headquarters in Madagascar with the British Navy in hot pursuit, and the booty was divided between the crew. He wants to prove his father right, and like his dad, he wants to understand what made the pirate tick. What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? It was reported that Levasseur told the executioner something strange during the walk over. 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. "[8], APREJMEYUNEPAIREDEPIJONTIRESKET 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. You. One that is still talked about and discussed, to this day. An art collector from New Mexico, who had a bright idea in 2010. 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. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Earth, Culture, Capital and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday. He buried an estimated 2 million dollars worth of treasure, and wrote up a poem to lead to its location. 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. Cicco Simonettas Treatise on Decipherment. '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. They started to hunt down the pirates in earnest; yet it took five years to catch Levasseur. Having recieved a rich education he became a naval officer and consequently a privater for the French crown. After it was all over, they completely destroyed the fortress, reducing it to ash and ruins. 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. 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. He also took their ship and left them with a smaller boat. 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. , Levasseur made the most lucrative capture of his pirating career: the Nossa Senhora do Cabo. They thought my father was crazy. Today, Levasseur Rum perpetuates the mystery around the character, Olivier Levasseur, and especially his lost treasure that is said to be found somewhere on the island of Seychelles. Whatever the truth, funds ran out, but news of the finds spread far and wide. He spent 29 years looking for it. But Levasseur had one more trick left up his sleeve Well.. Tucked in his shirt. The natural world has many wonders. She got a copy of olivers code and began braking it. But that theory is highly improbable, seeing that he was trying to fly under everyones radar, and not raise any flags by selling bulk gold and gems, not to mention a solid gold cross covered in gems. I almost gave up. Levasseur began his new career as part of the Flying Gang, a group of pirates who were based in Nassau, on the island of New Providence, in the Bahamas. And the question always with people is Why do you treasure hunt? When I first met John, he immediately barked that I was half an hour late. Mah is a small island where everyone knows each other. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The Hawk's Cryptogram: The Hidden Treasures of the Pirate. "Find my treasure, the one who may understand it.". It was there where Levasseur was informed of a wealthy Frenchmen nearby in the bay of Parangua. Even after all these years of searching, he was still the storybook boy hero armed with his backpack and treasure map, trying to piece together the puzzle. 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. He then donned a black eye patch to cover his eye. Though he already had a scar across one eye limiting his sight, Levasseur proved himself a good leader and shipmate. In a cave, except for old guns, some coins, and pirate sarcophagi, he did not find anything. Could he really be that close to Levasseurs hidden fortune, or is it all a myth, made up in the final moments of the legendary pirates life? Accept Read More, Oak Island: Legends of Pirates and Treasure. For John, who inherited his fathers quest, the search has become his life (Credit: Helen Soteriou). And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there existcountless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts thathave yet to be discovered and explained. 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. But La Buse didnt leave the Flying Gang empty handed. During the War of Spanish Succession, he received a letter of marque from King Louis the 14th. 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. $ 24.90 - $ 49.90. And we know his life was cut short due to the crimes he committed. IVEUTSEFAIREDUNHMETSEDETESUDRE 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. EMINILFAUTQOEUTTOITANOITIECOUUE [Online]Available at: http://www.pirates-privateers.com/olivier-levasseur-la-buse.htm, Golden Age of Piracy, 2017. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. Early work by Cruise-Wilkins produced some wild suggestions. Or perhaps, maybe it is. All rights reserved. In 1729, despite trying to lay low at the end of a nice little piracy career, Levasseur was captured. [Online]Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/6768226/Seychellois-man-tormented-by-treasure-hunt.html, Seychelles Ministry for Sports & Culture, 2017. He agreed to quit his piracy operation, however he was not about to give up his fortune. They had only three months in which to find the treasure before the spring tides would flood the workings a calamity which no one would be able to avoid. I dont care what they think, but a lot of them think Im crazy. The valuables in the hold were valued at over 4 billion euros or 4.5 billion US dollars in todays currency. Cruise-Wilkins claimed to have discovered a connection with the Zodiac, the Clavicles of Solomon, and the Twelve Labours of Hercules. find it who may. These were the dramatic words shouted out to the crowd gathered around the foot of the gallows on the Isle de Bourbon known today as Reunion as the noose tightened around the neck of a notorious French pirate. While these treasures are fictional, thats not to say that every treasure hunting story is a myth. Until that happens, the story of John and the pirates will never have a happy ending. But the cryptogram, which has been tested to be genuine parchment from the 18th-Century by the British Museum, just looks like 17 lines of jumbled symbols to the untrained eye. 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. If so, join our official. I can just visualise the hands going up, the fight, to meet the paper in the air, John said wistfully. The sense of adventure was embraced by pop culture in todays modern times. Until his death at Runion, Cruise-Wilkins sought and dug in the island of Mah. Eight years later, La Buse, already thought forgotten, is captured and taken first to Saint Denis and later to Saint Paul by order of the new governor Pierre Benot Dumas, a former pirate himself. 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. Now operating with a full crew, he teamed up with Howell Davis and Thomas Cocklyn. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. 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. The trial was a quick one as you might expect. Henry Everys story deserves an entire episode dedicated to his life story as well. Please help this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. 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. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2022Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. Making treasure maps is a thriving cottage industry among the Seychelles islanders. His nickname was apparently La Buse (The Buzzard), because he would swoop down with the speed of a bird of prey. Hearing of this news, Levasseur sent a negotiator to the governor of the Island of Bourbon, which is present day Reunion Island to barter on his behalf. 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. 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. Questions, comments, and feedback can be left at my website. Archaeologists in Sweden have unearthed a rare Viking treasure hoard. So, is his treasure really still out there, just waiting to be found? Levasseur survived the storm, narrowly escaping on a small brigantine ship that sailed in his fleet. The government owns the land, so they are entitled to 50%, which is the law, he said. The treasure wasnt all that Levasseur took from the crew and passengers of the Nossa Senora. In early 1716, Levasseur was the captain of a pirate sloop called Postillion, and seems to have collaborated with the pirates Samuel Bellamy and Benjamin Hornigold. It was so heavy that it required three men to carry it to Levasseur's ship. The story of Levasseur's treasure was featured in the comic book series, Nelson, Laura "Samuel Bellamy and Olivier Levasseur Two Pirates Just Kickin' Around the Caribbean" in Pirates and Privateers, This page was last edited on 7 September 2022, at 15:43. Treasure hunters have since tried to decode it. The fortune is estimated to be worth a billion or more in today's. This difference the two captains had would eventually cause them to go their separate ways in the winter of 1716. POVRENPECGERUNEFEMMEDHRENGTVOUSNAVE According to researchers and historians, the hoard contains more than 50,000 gems such as diamonds, sapphires, and ancient artifacts. But theres one final story I want to tell you about his life. He was given the nickname of La Buse that translates to The Buzzard in his early years as a pirate because of his speed and ruthlessness in the way he attacked his enemies. 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 tree-covered island is one of about 360 small islands in Mahone Bay and rises to a maximum of 35 feet (11 m) above sea level. 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 ! 2013. He started from three cryptogram and two . The island is privately owned and advance permission is required for any visitation. Are there millions of dollars worth of pirate booty buried on beaches? And it all comes back to this story of Levasseur. These help us understand and improve your and other users experience with the website, and make it easy for you to share pages. La Buse Cryptogram. 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