In 1817, Caesar and Gaspar became enemies after Caesar stole some of Gaspar’s female prisoners for himself. The captured women were held at the “Isle de los Captivas,” or Captiva Island, which is said to be how the island got its name. He also abducted many women and kept them as his personal concubines. But revenge on Spain was not the only item on Gaspar’s agenda. During his 38-year rampage, he attacked and plundered over 400 ships. In 1783, Gaspar became commander of the “Floridablanca” and vowed to attack any ship flying a Spanish flag. After being accused of stealing royal crown jewels by his jilted lover, the daughter of the King, he fled to Spain for good. He was given two choices: jail or sail with the Royal Spanish Navy. At the age of 12, he kidnapped a young girl for ransom. While in Florida, Caesar palled up with Jose Gaspar, better known as “Gasparilla.” Gaspar was a rebel from an aristocratic upbringing. Some historians say Caesar has between two-and-six million dollars of treasure stashed on Pine Island. Caesar was forced to push his pirate pack north to the Gulf of Mexico. After the war in 1812, British warships began patrolling the waters close to Cuba and the Bahamas. After high-jacking a ship, Caesar and a squad of savaged slaves began raiding trade ships on the Spanish Main. Henri Caesar, known as “Black Caesar,” turned to piracy in 1805, during the slave revolt in Haiti. Since the pirate tales of Sanibel are just that – tales – choose what you believe, but know that there was definitely adventure in Sanibel’s past… The area including Sanibel and the surrounding barrier islands that run East-to-West was even nicknamed the “Buccaneer Coast”, as it was a perfect playground for pesky pirates. Sanibel’s pirate tales are richer than the island’s crystal sand. Conflicting accounts of pirate legends are surrounded in mystery, leaving many unanswered questions and speculations about our state’s pirate past, particularly in Sanibel. Florida is said to have more sunken treasure than anywhere else in the world.
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