François l'Olonnais

François l'Olonnais
An illustration of François lOlonnais from a 1984 edition of The History of the Bucaneer of America
Born	1630 Les Sables-d'Olonne
Died	1669 (aged 38-39) Darién Province
Piratical career
Nickname	Flail of the Spanish
Type	Buccaneer
Allegiance	None
Years active	c. 1660–c. 1668
Rank	Captain
Base of operations	Caribbean

Jean-David Nau (pronounced [ʒɑ̃ david no]) (1630 – 1669), better known as François l'Olonnais (pronounced [fʁɑ̃swa lolɔnɛ]), was a French pirate active in the Caribbean during the 1660s.

In his 1684 account The History of the Buccaneers of America, Alexandre Exquemelin notes l'Olonnais' place of birth as les Sables-d'Olonne, France. He first arrived in the Caribbean as an indentured servant during the 1650s. By 1660 his servitude was complete. He began to wander various islands before arriving in Saint-Domingue - in what is now Haiti - and becoming a buccaneer. He preyed upon shipping from the Spanish West Indies and the Spanish Main.

A year or two (dates regarding l'Olonnais are uncertain) into his piratical career, l'Olonnais was shipwrecked near Campeche in Mexico. A party of Spanish soldiers attacked l'Olonnais and his crew, killing almost the entire party. L'Olonnais himself survived by covering himself in the blood of others and hiding amongst the dead.

After the Spanish departed, l'Olonnais, with the assistance of some escaped slaves, made his way to the island of Tortuga. A short time later, he and his crew held a town hostage, demanding a ransom from its Spanish rulers. The governor of Havana sent a ship to kill l'Olonnais' party. l'Olonnais captured and beheaded the entire raiding crew save one, whom he spared so that a message could be delivered to Havana: "I shall never henceforward give quarter to any Spaniard whatsoever."