Libertalia is the name of a colony based by Pirate S on the island of Madagascar, which would have existed during approximately twenty-five years at the end of the 17th century, without it being really known if it is about a legend. The history of this colony appears for the first time in general Histoire of the most famous pyrates often allotted to Defoe. The currency of these men, organized in Republic, was “  For God and the liberté  ”.

Libertalia, myth or reality?

Historical fact or literary creation, the republic is always located some share at the north of Madagascar between Nosybé and the bay of the pirates , which was going to become Diégo-Suarez. To date, no historical proof proves that such a place never existed or even as its two founders, the Misson captain and the Carracioli monk, ever lived. On the other hand, the third quoted protagonist, the captain Thomas Tew, is him, indeed mentioned as such in the books of the British Marine.

Indeed, except Tew whose death is announced in 1696, the only mentions referring to the colony are in the second volume of general Histoire of the most famous pyrates of a certain Captain Charles Johnson, appeared in 1728. Johnson being differently unknown, several historians supposed that it is about a pseudonym. The attribution of this work to the author of Robinson Crusoe is based on a continuation of logical deductions and not of the evidence. According to Johnson, or Defoe, Libertalia was founded under Louis XIV by two men in rupture of round of applause:

  • French, captain of “the Victoire”, frightening warship of 30 guns, ex-officer of the French marine, but pirate of his state, Olivier Misson, Petri of Utopias;
  • an Italian priest défroqué, Carracioli, impregnated mysticism.

With them two, after having dropped anchor, they convainquirent the crew to found the ideal company. According to certain authors, this colony would have been much more than one simple asylum for Pirate S and Flibustier S: it was true a Utopie political, social and philosophical, the modern equivalent of the Atlantis or Eldorado, and the precursor of the Phalanstère S of the XIXe century.

Here some extracts of the general History of the most famous pyrates of the Captain Charles Johnson published in London in 1728 where one sees exposed the political ideas allotted to Misson. These texts are completely remarkable for the time as a plea for the representative democracy and a primitive form of socialism which undoubtedly owes something with the radical ideas of the English revolution of the middle of XVIIe century.

  • Misson spoke in front of all. “Our cause is a noble, courageous, just and limpid cause: it is the cause of freedom. I advise you like emblem a white flag carrying the word “Freedom”, or if you prefer it, this currency: “For God and freedom”. This flag will be the emblem of our infallible resolution. The men who will be able to lend an attentive ear to the cries of: “Freedom, freedom, freedom” will be the citizens of honneur.  ”

  • These free men organized themselves in groups of ten pirates each one and in each group, they chose a representative to issue laws having to govern Libertalia. The pirates divided women, treasures and cattle very also between them.
  • (…) If somebody devoted himself to work a plot of land, then it had this ground as long as it worked it. Many structures and of good behavior were established in the enclave and after having set up the house of the Parliament each one helped each one to set up its residence. The pirates decided that the successors of Misson would be elected every three years. And a delegation of pirates meets at least once the year to decide on all the important decisions concerning the pirates and their community, and nothing could be made without their assent.
  • Later, Thomas Tew, famous captain in piracy, was named admiral of the Libertalienne fleet. Its main mission was to attract more free men (pirates) to populate the enclave. It was also responsible to protect the port, the market, and the rich person houses who had built themselves there. But Tew failed in this search for new recruits. Moreover it left with the fleet, and the men remained with Misson, of small number, could not prevent the Malagasy natives attacking the enclave and from killing men, women, and children in great quantities.
  • However, Misson succeeds in with 45 other pirates escaping; some with gold and diamonds. However when Misson succeeds in finding Tew, the two men decided to make for America and the Bahamas, rather than towards Libertalia.
  • Misson it forever done, however. Its boat made shipwreck during a large storm and all its men were lost. Here is all history of Libertalia…

Libertalia in the Literature

In addition to work allotted to Daniel Defoe, many authors took for Libertalia topic, as well in traditional books as in Cartoon.

Books and novels

Cartoons

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

Sources

http://libertalia.site.voila.fr

See the handing-over in question of " Libertalia" in " Pirates, flibuste and piracy in the Caribbean one and South Seas 1522-1725 Jean-Pierre Moreau Tallandier editions in the chapter XX pages 309 to 321 devoted to the myth of the flibuste and piracy libertarians.

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