Latest news with #OlivierLevasseur
Time of India
23-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Could a newly identified wreck lead to lost pirate treasure?
Could a newly identified wreck lead to lost pirate treasure? A vital piece of a 300-year-old mystery surrounding a pirate's treasure in the Indian Ocean may have been discovered. Archaeologists believe that they have identified the wreck of the Nossa Senhora do Cabo (Our Lady of the Cape), a Portuguese warship that was captured off the island of Reunion in 1721. The ship had been en route to Lisbon, fully laden with treasures from Goa and the Portuguese colonies on the west coast of India. On the way, the warship, weighing more than 700 tons, was badly damaged in a storm. To avoid capsizing, the crew jettisoned some of the ship's cannons, making the ship easy prey for the French pirate Olivier Levasseur, known as La Buse (The Buzzard). Wreck found near Nosy Boraha Huge quantities of gold, silver, pearls, diamonds and other valuables such as fine textiles and spices are said to have been on board. According to Smithsonian Magazine, the trove would be worth an estimated $138 million (€119 million) today. The high value of these items was likely representative of the ship's important passengers: Portuguese Viceroy Luis Carlos Inacio Xavier de Meneses, and the Archbishop of Goa, Sebastiao de Andrade Pessanha, who were taken hostage. The viceroy was later released for ransom, while around 200 slaves from Mozambique and the crew were presumably released on the island of Reunion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Book Now And Save up to ₹23.71L on Luxury Homes in Whitefield Sumadhura Group Learn More Undo The pirates then made off with their magnificent booty towards Madagascar, off the southeastern coast of Africa. They are thought to have hidden on the small island of Nosy Boraha, called Ile Sainte-Marie at the time. The island was an ideal hideout for pirates. Around 60 kilometers long and five wide, and with a natural harbor, it was relatively close to the popular trade route between Europe and Asia, but at a safe remove from colonial control. And Nosy Boraha is exactly where Brandon Clifford and Mark Agostini from the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation in Massachusetts believe they found the wreck of the Nossa Senhora do Cabo, hidden under silt and sand. Painstaking salvage work Clifford and Angostini described their findings in the June issue of Wreckwatch magazine. It took 16 years for their team to identify the wreck. They analyzed the ship's construction and historical records to compare parts of the wreck and artifacts that were uncovered. Clifford's social media channels offer impressions of this painstaking work, such as the example below, showing the team's exploration of the slave ship Whydah Gally, which was captured by pirates in 1717. In all, the archaeologists lifted around 3,300 artifacts from the seafloor, including gold coins and valuable porcelain, as well as sacred objects made of ivory and wood, such as a statue of the Virgin Mary and a crucifix. According to the team, there are between 7 and 10 wrecks near the island of Ile Sainte-Marie, which suggests the treasure hunt will continue. A cryptic message before execution La Buse's booty, however, remains the biggest mystery. It is known that the pirate sailed from Ile Sainte-Marie towards the Seychelles, where he hid for around eight years. After turning down an offer of amnesty because he didn't want to return the treasure, he was finally found, handed over to the French, and taken in chains to the island of Bourbon, now called Reunion. Shortly before his execution, La Buse is said to have told his guards: "With what I have hidden here, I could buy this whole island." Legend has it that the pirate threw a note with a cryptogram into the crowd, saying: "My treasure to the one who understands this!" As is so often the case with pirate stories, many legends surround the actual events. The only thing that is certain is that adventurers have searched in vain for the fabled treasure for some 300 years. Whether the cryptogram was actually written by La Buse also remains unclear. Although it has now been more or less deciphered, no one has yet been able to correctly interpret the enigmatic content. Does the text describe a kind of star compass? Does it describe prominent landmarks? The guesswork continues. With the treasure of La Buse still lost to this day, somewhere between the Seychelles, Reunion Island, Mauritius, Mayotte, Rodrigues and Sainte-Marie, the pirate's mystery is likely to live on.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A Legendary Ship Vanished With $138 Million in Treasure. Two Explorers Say They Found It.
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Archaeologists from the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation discovered a 1721 shipwreck off the coast of Madagascar. The Portuguese ship was overtaken by pirates in a known piracy region. The ship was loaded with gold, diamonds, and emeralds when the pirates attacked. When famed pirates overtook a Portuguese ship in 1721 once laden with treasure (now valued over $138 million), the battle went well for the pirates, who eventually sank the ship off the coast of Madagascar. A pair of American archaeologists now claim they've discovered the final site of the lost vessel. Known as the Nossa Senhora do Cabo—translated as Our Lady of the Cape—the ship left India with a Portuguese viceroy and the Archbishop of Goa, 200 slaves, and treasure aplenty. Pirates were ready and Olivier 'The Buzzard' Levasseur led an ambush of the ship near Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean with a fleet of pirate ships aiming to take down the larger Portuguese ship. Already tossed about by a storm, the pirates easily took control of not only the ship, but the treasure aboard, eventually sailing it roughly 400 miles west of Reunion Island before ditching it in what is now Nosy Boraha——then known as Ile Sainte-Marie. After 16 years of searching off Madagascar's northeast coast, American archaeologists Brandon Clifford and Mark Agostini from the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation wrote in Wreckwatch magazine they discovered the wreck and over 3,300 artifacts. While not confirmed beyond the two archaeologists, Clifford told Live Science the identification is 'supported by multiple lines of evidence,' including analysis of the ship itself and how historical record and artifacts found at the site match the ship's history. The loot—dubbed 'an eye-watering treasure, even by pirate standards,' according to the hunters—would fetch at least $138 million in today's money, they pair claimed, with records noting gold and silver bars, coins, silks, and more than 400 gemstones, including 110 diamonds and 250 emeralds, part of the ship's store, as reported by ZME Science. Denis Piat, in his 2014 book 'Pirates & Privateers in Mauritius,' wrote the ship carried blocks of gold and chests crammed full of pearls, Live Science reported. The find came some 400 miles from the site of the historic attack, the archaeologist said, near the harbor of Nosy Boraha. It took more than a decade of sonar and remote sensing to locate a ship on the seafloor. From there, they team found a bevy of artifacts, including religious statuettes and plaques—some of the Virgin Mary and others honoring 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews'—the experts believe were likely created in Goa, India, and bound for use in Lisbon's cathedrals. The team also found plenty of pottery fragments and Arabic-inscribed gold coins now buried under the sand and silt of the seafloor. Of course, the bulk of the treasure never made it to the bottom of the sea. The feared 'The Buzzard' and his crew picked off much of the value. They eventually ransomed the viceroy and some of the valuables back to Lisbon, although the historical record has no account of the fate of the 200 slaves or the archbishop. Known as the Golden Age of Piracy, the island once known as Ile Sainte-Marie was a pirate hotbed thanks to the calm waters and freedom from colonial authority, according to ZME Science, and dozens of pirates made the island a launching point for patrolling the shipping channels. Clifford said that there could be as many as 10 ships wrecked around the island and he believes at least four are in the same harbor as the Nossa Senhora do Cabo. 'The site has historically been overlooked by researchers,' Agostini said, 'and so there's ample room for more discoveries that give us a glimpse into the past.' He hopes to make it happen. 'Ideally,' Agostini told Live Science, 'future fieldwork will lead to more analysis of the many wrecks there.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Daily Mirror
12-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Sunken pirate shipwreck could help solve mystery of £100million lost treasure
New research has claimed a sunken ship off the coast of Madagascar could be the long-lost Portuguese vessell the Archbishop of Goa and hold the key to a £110million treasure A sunken ship off the coast of Madagascar could finally solve one of history's greatest pirate mysteries, and unlock a jaw-dropping £110 million hoard of lost treasure. Hidden for more than 300 years beneath the waves near the island of Île Sainte-Marie, the wreck is now believed to be the long-lost Portuguese galleon Nossa Senhora do Cabo, which was captured in 1721 by feared pirates Olivier Levasseur and his partner-in-plunder John Taylor. In a bombshell new study, experts from the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation say this could be the key to tracking down one of the richest pirate plunders of all time. On board the Portuguese viceroy, the Archbishop of Goa, there were 200 slaves and a cargo of gold, silver, diamonds, pearls, silks, and religious artefacts. Lead researcher Brandon Clifford said: 'This wasn't just a pirate raid – it was a hijack of royal proportions.' The Cabo had been sailing from India to Portugal when a fierce storm near the Cape of Good Hope left it limping toward safety. But before repairs could be finished, Levasseur and Taylor pounced. After a short battle, the pirates hauled their prize to the pirate haven of Nosy Boraha, which was a notorious hideout once ruled by the likes of Captain Kidd and Henry Avery. On the island, the ship was stripped off all the treasure on board, and according to researchers, there were "110 diamonds, 250 emeralds, 20 rubies, 20 sapphires," along with coins, bars of precious metals and sacred Christian artefacts were seized. One legendary item, the Flaming Cross of Goa, which is said to be encrusted with jewels and so massive it took three men to lift, allegedly went straight into La Buse's personal stash, reports. Researchers have claimed Levasseur didn't stay lucky for long and after retiring to the island, he was eventually caught and hanged in 1729. But before his execution, legend says he hurled a cryptic note into the crowd. Now, new underwater surveys using sonar and seabed scans may finally be closing in on the fabled loot. A wreck matching the dimensions of an 18th-century Portuguese galleon has been found lying beneath the remains of an old pirate fort. Among the haul was Chinese porcelain, ivory, timber carvings and 13 gold coins. But it's the religious items that have raised eyebrows: a Madonna statue, an ivory Jesus, and a crucifix topper inscribed 'INRI'. Researchers say these match the kind of Catholic symbols carried by high-ranking clergy – like the Archbishop of Goa, who was onboard when the Cabo was seized. A report issued by those behind he study says: 'There's strong evidence this wasn't just another pirate ship – but a holy treasure ship that fell into pirate hands." Levasseur had renamed the captured vessel Victorieux, which is French for 'Victorious', and used it as his flagship. But its final fate has been debated for centuries, with some claiming it had wrecked elsewhere and others claiming the ship was deliberately sunk. Now, the team's findings suggest the Cabo was abandoned and possibly burned at Île Sainte-Marie after her legendary journey. With up to ten wrecks scattered around the pirate island, it's a race to see which – if any – holds the infamous treasure. But as the Mirror has learned, if that golden cross is ever found, it may confirm that the Cabo was indeed the ship that sparked one of piracy's greatest legends.
News.com.au
12-07-2025
- News.com.au
Pirate shipwreck may hold key to fate of $210 million in treasure
A pirate shipwreck discovered off the coast of Madagascar may hold the key to the fate of $A210 million in treasure. Researchers from the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation have published a new study into the identity and contents of a wreck in a small bay on the remote island of Nosy Boraha (Ile Sante-Marie). This was once a hide-out of the famous 18th-century pirates Olivier Levasseur (La Buse) and John Taylor. They now believe the remains of a ship discovered there in the 1990s is that of the Portuguese treasure galleon Nossa Senhora do Cabo, which was seized while carrying a cargo home from India in 1721. Lead researcher Brandon Clifford says it was one of the richest pirate plunders in history. Aboard the galleon was a royal fortune in gold and pearls, and a hoard of holy artefacts. And among its passengers were a Portuguese royal viceroy, the Archbishop of Goa and 200 slaves. The viceroy was only released after a steep ransom was paid by the Portuguese government. The fate of the Archbishop and slaves is lost to history. As is that of much of the treasure. But the ship itself was repaired, rearmed and rebuilt into Levasseur's flagship. Levasseur, nicknamed La Buse (The Buzzard), soon after retired to Nosy Boraha (Ile Sante-Marie). He gave up piracy. But he refused to surrender his treasure. Eventually, in 1729, he was recognised and arrested. Legend says the famous French pirate told his gaoler: 'With what I've hidden not far from here, I could buy the entire island'. 'Find my treasure he who can!' he shouted as he threw an encrypted document into the crowd while being led to the gallows. Attempts to decipher what is alleged to be this cryptogram have thus far been unsuccessful. Under the weather The Cabo was initially built as a 72-gun Dutch man-of-war. Later, it was repurposed as a heavily armed Portuguese treasure galleon. But, in April 1721, the ship's luck ran out. It encountered a severe storm as it headed for the Cape of Good Hope, marking the transition of the Indian Ocean to the South Atlantic. It had departed the port of Goa on India's southwest en route to Lisbon, Portugal, only weeks earlier. But accounts from the time suggest heavy weather had toppled its masts. And its crew had tossed many of its heavy cannons overboard in an effort to keep the ship afloat. Their efforts were successful. The Cabo found refuge at Reunion Island. There, many of the crew went ashore to cut wood for repairs. But, on the morning of April 20, two sets of sails appeared on the horizon. They belonged to pirates Levasseur and Taylor. The galleon was in no state for an effective fight. The Cabo was seized after a brief exchange of shots. It was then taken in tow. The ship, its crew and passengers were taken to Îlot Madame, near the Nosy Boraha (Île Sainte-Marie) settlement off Madagascar's east coast. There, the loot could be safely divided and stored. 'Gold and silver bars, coins, silks, religious artefacts, and an extraordinary array of precious stones (110 diamonds, 250 emeralds, 20 rubies, 20 sapphires) are recorded as having been taken from the ship's cargo,' the study, titled From Goa to Sainte-Marie: An Archaeological Case for the Identification of the Nossa Senhora do Cabo, reads. 'The pirates divided the treasure among themselves, with Levasseur reportedly taking the famed Flaming Cross of Goa, a massive gold artefact encrusted with precious stones that took three men to carry,' the study states. But untangling myth from legend, and legend from history, will be necessary before any such trove is discovered. The fate of the Cabo is part of that story. She was to be Levasseur's final flagship. After being repaired, modified, and rearmed, Levasseur renamed the galleon Victorieux (meaning 'Victorious'). And her final resting place has been a matter of debate for centuries. X marks the spot? 'Our interpretation of the site as the Cabo … overturns contradictory narratives about the fate of the vessel,' the researchers write. 'For example, one account reports how the ship was wrecked at Cape Amber. Rather, our investigations align with competing recollections that (indicate) the vessel was eventually abandoned, and likely partially burned, at Sainte-Marie.' The Historic Shipwreck group has been exploring wrecks that sat under the guns of a small fort the pirates had built to protect their provisions, spares, and loot. Geophysical scans, side-scan sonar imaging and seabed investigations have so far identified several closely clustered wrecks in the shallows. Île Sainte-Marie was a stronghold of the Golden Age of Piracy (1650 to 1725). Among its most notable occupants were Henry Avery, William Kidd, and Olivier Levasseur. Up to 10 wrecks are believed to be in the surrounding waters. One wreck, measuring 30m by 10m (the same as an 18th Century Portuguese galleon), has been found to contain Chinese porcelain, ivory and timber carvings, 13 gold coins, cowrie shells and nutmeg. What makes this wreck significant, the researchers add, is the number of religious objects found there. These include a Madonna statue, an ivory statuette of Jesus, and a piece of ivory marked INRI (Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum - Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews), a traditional top piece to large crucifixes. Is this from the fabled 'Flaming Cross of Goa'? 'Primary records cast doubt on the existence of such an artefact, but documentary evidence does suggest the Viceroy of Goa aboard the vessel did possess a golden cross, most likely hanging on a necklace,' the study argues. But its presence is, however, significant. 'These devotional artefacts, often carried by high-ranking clergy or nobility, strongly align with the undisputed historical accounts that the Nossa Senhora do Cabo was transporting the former Viceroy of Goa and the Archbishop at the time of capture,' the study states. 'The presence of artefacts bearing Catholic iconography, unique among known pirate vessels in the region, suggests that this was not a typical pirate ship but rather a vessel captured by pirates. This distinction is crucial, as it situates the wreck not merely as a pirate-operated craft, but as a seized prize, temporarily operated or scuttled by figures such as Olivier Levasseur and John Taylor.'
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Say They've Found a Legendary Pirate Ship, Rewriting History
Archaeologists say they have discovered a legendary pirate shipwreck off the coast of Madagascar. The findings were announced in a research article by Brandon A. Clifford and Mark R. Agostini of the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation in Massachusetts. "This study presents archaeological evidence supporting the identification of a unique 18th-century shipwreck at Îlot Madame, off the coast of Sainte-Marie Island, Madagascar, as the Nossa Senhora do Cabo, a Portuguese treasure ship captured by pirates Olivier Levasseur (La Buse) and John Taylor in 1721," they wrote. Levasseur was "a French buccaneer colloquially known as La Buse or 'The Buzzard' for his swift and predatory tactics, remains one of the most enigmatic figures in the captivating history of piracy," Discovery Channel UK notes. According to the Golden Age of Piracy, the capture of the Nostra Senora della Cabo was a famed heist that saw the two pirates "capture a massive Portuguese treasure ship sailing out of the city of Goa. The massive 700-ton ship was carrying the Bishop of Goa, also known as the Patriarch of the East Indies along with the retiring Viceroy of Portugal. They were both returning to Lisbon with all of their wealth and artifacts when the ship was damaged in a storm." What's the evidence? "Artifacts recovered from the site include exported Chinese porcelain, religious artifacts of Goan origin, coinage, cowrie shells, and construction materials consistent with Portuguese East Indian design," the researchers wrote. "The archaeological assemblage recovered from the site corresponds with historical descriptions of the Cabo's cargo, route, and subsequent refit and final renaming by La Buse as the Victorieux." Their findings are rewriting history. "Our interpretation of the site as the Cabo, supported by archaeological evidence and historical accounts, overturns contradictory narratives about the fate of the vessel. For example, one account reports how the ship was wrecked at Cape Amber," they wrote. "Rather, our investigations align with competing recollections that instead the vessel was eventually abandoned, and likely partially burned, at Sainte-Marie. Broadly, this archaeological case study presents novel insights into piracy, global trade, and colonial power in the western Indian Ocean," they added. The area was a haven for pirates. le Sainte-Marie, located off the northeast coast of Madagascar, "occupies a central place in the maritime history of the western Indian Ocean. Its natural harbor, relatively protected from monsoon systems and regional currents, made it a strategic node for both legitimate trade and illicit maritime activity during the 17th and 18th centuries," they wrote. "Although the island had been known to Arab mariners since at least the 12th century, it was not until the so-called Golden Age of Piracy (1650–1725 CE) that Sainte-Marie emerged as a significant base of operations for European pirates, including figures such as Henry Avery, William Kidd, Christopher Condent, and Olivier Levasseur." Archaeologists Say They've Found a Legendary Pirate Ship, Rewriting History first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 11, 2025
