A Pirate Threw a Coded Map from the Gallows and His 100 Million Pound Treasure Has Defied Hunters for 305 Years The 18th-century French pirate Olivier Levasseur is believed to have buried a treasure worth 100 million pounds on Mahé island in Seychelles, and before his execution in 1730 he hurled an encrypted parchment into the crowd. More than 305 years later, neither the treasure nor the full meaning of the cryptogram has been uncovered. Seychelles, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean, is celebrated across the world for its turquoise lagoons and white-sand beaches. But for centuries, the archipelago has carried a secret far more gripping than any scenic view. Somewhere beneath its soil is believed to lie the world's greatest pirate treasure, valued at roughly 100 million pounds, equivalent to approximately 1,170 crore rupees. This hoard is widely regarded as the holy grail of lost treasures. More than 305 years have passed since it was hidden, searchers have come from every corner of the globe, and not one of them has found it. The legend has fascinated people on Seychelles and Reunion Island alike for generations. The 1721 Raid That Set the Legend in Motion The story traces back to Olivier Levasseur, a celebrated and feared French pirate of the 18th century, known for the terrifying speed of his attacks. His piracy career began in 1716 and by 1721 had reached its most audacious peak. That year Levasseur commanded 750 pirates who swept down on the Portuguese vessel Nossa Senhora do Cabo as it lay anchored in the port of Reunion Island under the British flag. The pirates seized the ship and killed every member of the crew. When they searched the hold, they were stopped cold by what they found inside. The ship was, in every sense, a floating treasury. Its holds were packed with gold and silver bars, uncut diamonds, precious gemstones, gold guineas, gold and silver church plates, goblets and a vast quantity of other priceless objects. The scale of the plunder was so enormous that the pirates sailed to Madagascar to divide it. Every ordinary crew member received 42 diamonds and 5,000 gold guineas. Officers were awarded larger shares. The biggest and most valuable portion, however, Levasseur reserved entirely for himself. A Secret Sealed Under Mahé Levasseur chose Mahé island in Seychelles as the hiding place for his share of the treasure. He divided his crew into groups of 20. The treasure was first secured inside a cave, and when the moment came to move it to its permanent burial site, only a hand-picked team was present. After the burial was complete, those men were killed to ensure no one could ever disclose the location. From that point on, only one person in the world knew exactly where the treasure lay: Levasseur himself. The Coded Message Thrown from the Gallows Levasseur was captured in 1730 and sentenced to hang. As he stood at the gallows he spotted familiar faces among the crowd gathered below. In his final moments he flung an old parchment into the air and shouted, "My treasure to the one who can understand this." The parchment proved to be a cryptogram of 17 lines. The British Museum has since confirmed that the document is a genuine 18th-century artefact. Levasseur was a scholar of Greek and Latin and possessed deep knowledge of Masonic symbols. The code he constructed was extraordinarily complex, and despite every effort made across three centuries, no one has managed to fully decipher it. A Father and Son Who Gave Their Lives to the Search Two men have poured their entire lives into the pursuit of this treasure. Reginald Herbert Cruze-Wilkins, known locally as the Treasure Man, dedicated 27 years of his life to the search. After his death in 1977, his son John Cruze-Wilkins took up the quest and has never set it down. John explains that his father used knowledge of Greek, Hebrew, astrology, astronomy, mythology and the occult to decode the cryptogram. His father's conclusion was that the treasure was buried in accordance with the riddle of Herakles. The location he identified is the Bel Ombre area on Mahé island, a breathtakingly scenic stretch where blue waters meet dense vegetation and towering granite formations. When John walks visitors through that site, his eyes take on a particular brightness. He moves through the landscape like the protagonist of an adventure novel, maps and bags in hand, absorbed in a puzzle that has defined his life. Mahé is a small island where this legend is woven into everyday conversation and every child grows up knowing the story. Taxi drivers and guesthouse owners bring it up without prompting. Many locals consider John somewhat eccentric, but he refuses to be put off. For him the search is not primarily about money. It is his father's unfinished work, a lifelong passion and an unshakeable belief that the answer has not vanished but is simply still waiting. Whether the treasure truly rests beneath the hills of Bel Ombre or has long since passed into pure legend, nobody can say with certainty. Yet Levasseur's cryptogram, his electrifying final words, and the fierce dedication of the Cruze-Wilkins family continue to draw thousands of fascinated visitors and treasure hunters to these quiet islands. Perhaps one day someone will find the final key to the puzzle. Until then, the question that has haunted Seychelles for over three centuries remains open: is a hoard worth 1,170 crore rupees truly still buried out there, waiting for the one person who can understand the clue? What this means for you For travellers and history enthusiasts: If Seychelles is on your travel list, the Bel Ombre area on Mahé island sits at the heart of this centuries-old legend and adds a compelling layer of maritime history and mystery to any visit. The story offers a fascinating window into 18th-century piracy and the enduring human obsession with hidden treasure. Questions & Answers 1. Who was Olivier Levasseur? He was a celebrated 18th-century French pirate whose career began in 1716 and who was known for the speed and ferocity of his raids. 2. How much is the Seychelles pirate treasure estimated to be worth? The treasure is estimated at roughly 100 million pounds, equivalent to approximately 1,170 crore rupees, and is considered the world's largest pirate treasure. 3. Which ship did Levasseur raid in 1721? He and 750 pirates attacked the Portuguese vessel Nossa Senhora do Cabo, which was anchored at the port of Reunion Island under the British flag. 4. How was the plunder divided among the pirates? The loot was taken to Madagascar for distribution. Each ordinary pirate received 42 diamonds and 5,000 gold guineas; officers received larger shares; and Levasseur kept the biggest and most valuable portion for himself. 5. What is the cryptogram and how many lines does it contain? It is a coded parchment of 17 lines that Levasseur threw into the crowd at his hanging in 1730. The British Museum has confirmed it is a genuine 18th-century document. 6. Where is the treasure believed to be buried? Based on the research of Reginald Herbert Cruze-Wilkins, the treasure is believed to lie in the Bel Ombre area on Mahé island in Seychelles, a scenic spot with blue waters, dense vegetation and massive granite rocks. 7. Who are Reginald and John Cruze-Wilkins? Reginald Herbert Cruze-Wilkins spent 27 years searching for the treasure and died in 1977, after which his son John took over the search and continues it to this day. 8. Has the treasure ever been found in over 305 years of searching? No. Despite more than 305 years passing since it was hidden, the treasure has never been found and the mystery remains completely unsolved. https://trendkia.com/en/world/phansi-para-charhate-daku-ne-bhira-men-phenka-rahasyamaya-naksha-305-sala-bada-bhi-seychelles-men-daphana-hai-1170-karora-ka-khaja-3591 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.