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. Levasseur's crew consisted mainly of French sailors and freed slaves, but an unknown person kept Hornigold from acting against him. Levasseur soon became a man wanted for several acts of piracy, and was noted for his cunning and danger. Around this time, Levasseur also took on a married woman of the colonies as his mistress. Despite his active role as a pirate, Levasseur knew that he did not intend to end his days in the West Indies.
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.
The treasure fleet
- "Alonzo has proved to be the boldest of captains, but Sam has changed these past months. He used to be carefree, but now he acts like a man on a mission. What is he after that he cannot share with us? Who is he working for? Will he betray us and keep all our glorious plunder to himself?"
- ―Levasseur in his journal.[src]
Four months later, Levasseur met with Alonzo and Bellamy at Florida Keys. Bellamy told former two that they would plunder the Spanish Treasure Fleet. After Alonzo had destroyed the escorts to one of the galleons, Bellamy found out that the galleon was a decoy, and urged him to attack the rest of the convoy immediately. This caused Levasseur to question Bellamy's true motives. While attacking the convoy, Alonzo in turn was attacked by the Royal Navy captain Francis Hume. Levasseur arrived in time to distract Hume's frigate, allowing Alonzo to escape.
Some time later that day, Levasseur returned to Alonzo, informing him of the battle with Hume and Bellamy's sudden disappearance. Alonzo wished to retaliate against the Royal Navy, and on Levasseur's advice, he sank fifteen British ships with a mortar placed on a lighthouse. After returning to Levasseur, Alonzo referred to him as a friend. Levasseur claimed to have no interest in friends, preferring to settle down as a rich man instead. Alonzo assured him that his mind would change eventually.
Having noticed Bellamy's strange behaviour, Levasseur noted in his journal that he suspected Bellamy of being on a mission, and wondered if the Englishman intended to betray his fellow pirates.
Capturing the Whydah
In February 1717, Levasseur was ambushed by the Royal Navy, forcing him to leave his gold behind. At this time Alonzo and Bellamy were preparing to capture the ship of Laurens Prins, the Whydah. Alonzo arrived in time to rescue Levasseur, and convinced him to assist him in taking the Whydah. After Prins had surrendered, the three pirates searched the hold, and Bellamy found his prize, the Fragment of Eden. He told Alonzo and Levasseur of its power, and that the men who were after him were Templars. He claimed that the Templars would use the artifact to control humanity.
With Bellamy taking the Whydah, Alonzo and Levasseur escorted him, until they were attacked by the Templar Hume again, this time captaining a Man O' War, the King George. At this time, the legendary Edward Thatch arrived and crippled the Templar's ship. Alonzo was then able to sink it and kill Hume.
After the battle, Bellamy entrusted the Fragment to Alonzo, with Bellamy himself intending to draw the Templars away from it. Levasseur then told Alonzo that he had a plan to ensure that no one would ever the Fragment, but refused to share the plan with him. In his journal, Levasseur wrote his plan. He would make a cryptogram revealing the location of the Fragment, using a unique set of symbols and icons that would only be known by Alonzo.
Gallery
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La Buse close-up
