Notorious Pirate Havens - Part 3: Madagascar - Page 2
© Cindy Vallar
Libertalia was far more than just a haven for pirates. It was a utopia. According to Johnson's account: "Ours is a brave, a just, an innocent, and a noble cause; the cause of liberty. I advise a white ensign, with liberty painted in the fly, and if you like the motto, A Deo a Libertate, For God and Liberty, as an emblem of our uprightness and resolution.... The men, who lent an attentive ear, cry'd, Liberty, Liberty; we are freemen."
These "free" men organized themselves into groups of ten pirates each and from each group, they elected a representative to enact laws to govern Libertalia. The pirates divided all treasure and cattle equally among themselves. If someone worked a plot of land, then he owned that land. Numerous structures of fine quality were built and everyone helped to erect a state house. The pirates elected Misson conservator of the enclave for a period of three years. A delegation of pirates met at least once a year to decide all issues of import to the pirates and their community, and nothing could be done without their consent.
Thomas Tew, a famous pirate captain who actually existed, was named admiral of Libertalia's fleet of ships and charged with enticing more pirates to join the enclave. He was also responsible for protecting the fortified harbor, marketplace, and homes. While in search of more recruits, Tew became stranded. With insufficient men left to protect Libertalia, Misson failed to prevent the natives from attacking the enclave and killing men, women, and children. He and forty-five other pirates managed to escape with some of the gold and diamonds they had plundered. After Misson found Tew, the two men decided to return to America rather than Libertalia. Misson never made it, though. His ship sank during a storm and all hands were lost.
In 1698 the pirates of Madagascar were offered pardons, which many took, in part because squadrons of warships now patrolled the Indian Ocean and Red Sea in ever increasing numbers. Madagascar's popularity and population declined. By 1711 less than one hundred pirates remained on the island. Those who continued to call Île Sainte Marie home lived in squalor and had little money. Not until 1719 when Woodes Rogers succeeded in driving the pirates from New Providence in the Bahamas would Madagascar reclaim its popularity with the pirates. At that time pirates such as Christopher Condent and Edward England chose Madagascar as their base of operations.
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