Which French pirate became famous by the nickname La Buse during the Indian Ocean piracy era?

Olivier Levasseur was the French pirate known as La Buse, or The Buzzard.

Levasseur operated in the Indian Ocean during the early eighteenth century, working with other pirates who used bases and anchorages around Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands. The nickname La Buse is generally connected with his swift attacks and his reputation as a feared raider.

His most famous exploit was the capture of the Portuguese treasure ship Nossa Senhora do Cabo in 1721. The prize reportedly carried valuable cargo, including church treasures, and made Levasseur exceptionally wealthy.

Levasseur was captured and executed at Réunion in 1730. A later legend says he threw a cryptic message into the crowd before his hanging, inspiring treasure hunts. That story is famous, but the supposed hidden treasure has never been conclusively found.