Olivier Levasseur
- "I wonder where I'll go when I am done with this place? Back home, to France, where my family is gone and my face forgotten? Or find some new territory where no-one knows me? I wonder what would be the best course of action... this day is not upon me yet, but I know I won't grow old in these islands..."
- ―Olivier Levasseur.[src]
Oliver Levasseur (c. 1688 – 1730), better known as La Buse (English: The Buzzard) or La Bouche (English: The Mouth), was a French privateer-turned-pirate of the Caribbean.
Levasseur left a cryptogram indicating the location of his treasure, which was sought by many including Alonzo Batilla.
Biography
Early life
- "This is my first and last letter. You left without a word, even to your mother. I resent this cruel gesture, but time has quelled my anger and taught me the true meaning of your exile. I hope you find what you are looking for. It is not money, nor love, for you had those when you were among us. I can only guess you are after something else, something we could never provide. The promise of adventure..."
- ―A letter to Levasseur from one of his relatives.[src]
Levasseur was born around 1688 to a wealthy and loving family. At the outbreak of the War of Spanish Succession, he acquired a letter of marque, and became a privateer for Louis XIV of France. Captaining the sloop Le Postillon, Levasseur left his family behind abruptly, looking for adventure in the West Indies. After the end of the war, Levasseur was ordered to return to France, but decided to stay in the New World, joining Benjamin Hornigold's pirate gang. Around this time, Levasseur also took on a married woman of the colonies as his mistress.
Meeting Alonzo
In June 1716, Levasseur attacked a merchant ship at Devil's Rock. He ordered the captain, Barnes, to provide him with new crew members. Levasseur took on two prisoners as his recruits: Alonzo Batilla, a French pirate, and Jumao, an escaped slave. Seeing promise in Alonzo, Levasseur gave him command of a gunboat called the Serpent, and told him to meet with him at Scorpion Reef once he had mastered the vessel.
Some time later, Alonzo met with Levasseur. He informed the novice captain of a schooner called the Wanderer, which would be suitable as a new command. Avoiding a Royal Navy brig and taking out the escort ships, Alonzo was able to capture the schooner. As Alonzo was about to attack the brig, Levasseur intervened, warning him that Hornigold forbade attacking the Royal Navy. Alonzo disregarded this advice, and plundered the brig. Suggesting that he and Levasseur sail together as pirates to make their own fortune, Levasseur refused, claiming that few pirates ever had their hopes fulfilled. After Levasseur sailed away, Alonzo caught up with him again. Impressed by the young man's persistence, Levasseur told him that they would meet west of Hispaniola.
Working with Bellamy
As agreed, Alonzo met with Levasseur a month later near Bahía de Guadiana. Levasseur told Alonzo that they would attend a meeting at a cove with members of Hornigold's pirate confederation, although the latter was surprised by the large presence of Royal Navy ships. Levasseur told him that Hornigold believed himself to be continuing the interests of the British crown, and thus refused to attack any of their ships. Disregarding his leader's rules, Levasseur instructed Alonzo to sink any British ships near the cove. With the ships out of the way, Levasseur and Alonzo sailed to the meeting, intending to make the latter a member of the confederation.
Arriving, they witnessed the pirates deposing Hornigold as the leader, dissatisfied with his loyalty towards the British crown. His place was taken by Samuel Bellamy, a charismatic, well-dressed Englishman. After Alonzo had escorted Hornigold away from the pirates, Levasseur advised the novice captain to participate in one of Bellamy's plots, suspecting it to be highly profitable.
Gallery
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La Buse close-up
