Pirate shipwreck off Madagascar coast could hold key to £100m treasure's fate

A sunken ship off the coast of Madagascarcould finally solve one of history’s greatest piratemysteries, and unlock a jaw-dropping £110 million hoard of lost treasure.

Hidden for more than 300 years beneath the waves near the island of Île Sainte-Marie, the wreck is now believed to be the long-lost Portuguesegalleon Nossa Senhora do Cabo, which was captured in 1721 by feared pirates Olivier Levasseur and his partner-in-plunder John Taylor. In a bombshell new study, experts from the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation say this could be the key to tracking down one of the richest pirate plundersof all time.

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On board the Portuguese viceroy, the Archbishop of Goa, there were 200 slaves and a cargo of gold, silver, diamonds, pearls, silks, and religious artefacts. Lead researcher Brandon Clifford said: “This wasn’t just a pirate raid – it was a hijack of royal proportions.”

The Cabo had been sailing from India to Portugal when a fierce storm near the Cape of Good Hope left it limping toward safety. But before repairs could be finished, Levasseur and Taylor pounced.

After a short battle, the pirates hauled their prize to the pirate haven of Nosy Boraha, which was a notorious hideout once ruled by the likes of Captain Kidd and Henry Avery. On the island, the ship was stripped off all the treasure on board, and according to researchers, there were "110 diamonds, 250 emeralds, 20 rubies, 20 sapphires," along with coins, bars of precious metals and sacred Christian artefacts were seized.

One legendary item, the Flaming Cross of Goa, which is said to be encrusted with jewels and so massive it took three men to lift, allegedly went straight into La Buse’s personal stash, news.com.au reports. Researchers have claimed Levasseur didn’t stay lucky for long and after retiring to the island, he was eventually caught and hanged in 1729. But before his execution, legend says he hurled a cryptic note into the crowd.

Now, new underwater surveys using sonar and seabed scans may finally be closing in on the fabled loot. A wreck matching the dimensions of an 18th-century Portuguese galleon has been found lying beneath the remains of an old pirate fort. Among the haul was Chinese porcelain, ivory, timber carvings and 13 gold coins.

But it’s the religious items that have raised eyebrows: a Madonna statue, an ivory Jesus, and a crucifix topper inscribed “INRI”. Researchers say these match the kind of Catholic symbols carried by high-ranking clergy – like the Archbishop of Goa, who was onboard when the Cabo was seized.

A report issued by those behind he study says: “There’s strong evidence this wasn’t just another pirate ship – but a holy treasure ship that fell into pirate hands."

Levasseur had renamed the captured vessel Victorieux, which is French for “Victorious”, and used it as his flagship. But its final fate has been debated for centuries, with some claiming it had wrecked elsewhere and others claiming the ship was deliberately sunk.

Now, the team’s findings suggest the Cabo was abandoned and possibly burned at Île Sainte-Marie after her legendary journey. With up to ten wrecks scattered around the pirate island, it’s a race to see which – if any – holds the infamous treasure.

But as the Mirror has learned, if that golden cross is ever found, it may confirm that the Cabo was indeed the ship that sparked one of piracy’s greatest legends.