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. Thanks for listening. 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 draws a parallel with the little known island legacy of an ancestral rum-making heritage and authenticity that combines dedication and passion. 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. 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. 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. It may have nothing to do with the pirate Olivier Levasseur, and this is certainly the most straightforward explanation. History of Britain from Roman times to Restoration era. And this brings to the actual main originators of the legends of buried treasure: Pirates. They landed 250 men on board and killed the crew. 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. 7 Legendary Cryptids that Turned Out to Be Real! 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. Nicknamed La Buse (The Buzzard), he is known for allegedly hiding one of the biggest treasures in pirate history, estimated at over 1 billion, and leaving a cryptogram behind with clues to its whereabouts. "[7] The necklace has been lost, but treasure hunters have since tried to decode the cryptogram, hoping its solution will lead to a treasure. While these treasures are fictional, thats not to say that every treasure hunting story is a myth. One that is still talked about and discussed, to this day. The Great Mughal's heavily armed but also heavily laden pilgrim ships to Mecca sailed these seas. 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. This was truly a remarkable win for the pirates, and they knew it. Every incident reported is a blow to the confidence of seafarers serving on board ships around the world. Olivier Levasseur was born to a wealthy family in Calais at the end of the 17th century. Cicco Simonettas Treatise on Decipherment. But Levasseur had one more trick left up his sleeve Well.. Tucked in his shirt. Olivier Levasseur. Treasure hunters have since tried to decode it. What happened to Lamont Young? Needless to say, this peculiarity of Levasseurs has become one of the most iconic features in todays popular imagery of pirates. I mean, people dont do this anymore, John said. Following the weather-worn marks on the rocks, which coincided with those on the cryptic map, Wilkins reached a point near the edge of the cliff, and started to blast his way down through the rock. For his part, Cruise-Wilkins refuses to believe that anyone else has found and dug up the treasure in the 290 years since La Buse's execution. #1 Legend has it that the pirate, Olivier le Vasseur, buried the riches that include golden goblets, coins, uncut diamonds and the seven-foot high Fiery Cross of Goa, encrusted with precious stones worth an estimated 150-million. Although his primary interest is in the ancient civilizations of the Near East, he is also interested in other geographical regions, as well as other time periods. Read More. 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. He died in 1977 before he could break the last piece of the code. The alphabet used was easily decoded into plain text, but the message that remains, with its clues as to where Levasseur left his treasure, has never been translated. More Info On- Famous Italian Explorers, Female Pirates, Ports, Ships. 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. Venus Figurines Fertility Symbols, Portraits, Dolls, or Upper Paleolithic Porn? The legend that has become of Olivier Levasseur and his hidden treasure, has grown with global reach over the years. But no treasure was found. While the cipher is not directly linked to Oak Island, the activity in which it may be involved shares certain characteristics and there is a possibility that some of the elements of the story come from that other famous supposed cache of treasure. Altogether, the ships loot is estimated at over 4 billion euros (or ~4.8 billion USD or like 3 bitcoins probably). She got a copy of olivers code and began braking it. He quickly put a plan together, but with a lack of meteorologist in 1718, the crew was engulfed in a severe storm. Of course, the cryptogram could be just another fake committed around the same time when the Palmer-Kidd maps and Guayacn ciphers appeared, both forgeries. 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. And that what he did for the next couple of years. Until that happens, the story of John and the pirates will never have a happy ending. Tarchon and Tyrrhenus: The Etruscan Romulus and Remus? And we know his life was cut short due to the crimes he committed. Depiction of a pirate with an eye patch. Available at: http://www.gjbath.com/Misc/LaBuse.htm. EILJNOURLAIREPITERUNCHIENTUPEUN After the split of the massive treasure trove Levasseur claimed, for the next couple of years he would lay low, and was supposed to have toned down his piracy. The Lemminkinen Hoard, if found by the team, would be valued above 15 billion, making it the most valuable treasure trove ever discovered. 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. 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.. 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. He continued capturing enemy ships right up until the end of the war in 1714. Accept Read More, Oak Island: Legends of Pirates and Treasure. Whilst Levasseur was a notorious and much-feared pirate during his days, his greatest legacy is the alleged treasure that he had hidden. . '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. 21 Royal Han Tombs Unearthed in China. 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. The Etruscans, although enigmatic compared to the familiar civilizations of Greece and Rome, had a significant impact on the development of Roman civilization. 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. Grave of Oliver Levasseur, "La Buse" Pirate in Saint-Paul, Reunion. 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. Seated Silver Coins Galore! His is a story of hope and of never giving up, despite the odds. Levasseur was born to a bourgeois family in Calais during the Nine Years War (16881697), his childhood was spent in comfortable surroundings. There Levasseur was informed of a rich French merchantman in the nearby bay of Paranagua. It is protected by the tides, which requires damming to hold them back, and is to be approached from the north. Also it is to be approached from the North.. Maps, Mystery and Interpretation Vol 2. The treasure wasnt all that Levasseur took from the crew and passengers of the Nossa Senora. Cruise-Wilkins claimed to have discovered a connection with the Zodiac, the Clavicles of Solomon, and the Twelve Labours of Hercules. 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. This was too much for the French. 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. Hailing form a wealthy bourgeois family, Levasseur attended the best schools and became a naval officer. in a cave he found a pirate sarcophagus. 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. "Find my treasure, the one who may understand it.". DEMIELLEEFOVTREFOUSENFAITESUNEONGAT It is protected by tides and requires damming to hold the waves back. 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. This was in cooperation with the English pirate John Taylor. 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. If you liked this story,sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newslettercalled "If You Only Read 6 Things This Week". But the largest share was reserved for Levasseur. During the War of the Spanish Succession (17011714), he procured a letter of marque from King Louis XIV and became a privateer for the French crown. But I could not give them that satisfaction, John said. #2. During his time sailing as a privateer, he spent most of his time in the Caribbean. And the verdict? 350 miles west of Costa Rica lies the tiny and uninhabited Cocos Island. 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. One of his more famous prizes was a slave ship from Angola, taken off Brazils southern coast with its live cargo. Over the last century a sword has been on display at the Field Museum in Chicago and dubbed a replica Bronze Age weapon.. Levasseur and his men found themselves off the coast of West Africa and decided to carry out their piratical activities there instead. 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? Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. He buried an estimated 2 million dollars worth of treasure, and wrote up a poem to lead to its location. He was a well known pirate of his time, sure, but with the claim of buried fortune, came longevity. They landed 250 men on board and killed the crew. La Buse Cryptogram. But, you must ask yourself, what if the code is real? Cruise-Wilkins searched for and dug in the island of Mahe until his death, but never found anything in a cave except antique rifles, a few scattered coins, and the desiccated bodies of long dead pirates. Olivier Levasseur was a French pirate between 1688 and 1730. "There is a man who has spent a fortune using high-tech equipment searching for the riches. 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