Libertatia
Libertatia, also known as Libertalia, was a legendary country, or free colony, forged by pirates, under the leadership of captain Misson in the late 1600s. It is said to have consisted of an enclave within south Madagascar and lasted for about twenty five years.Description
The pirate stateÃÂÃÂs motto was ÃÂÃÂfor God and liberty,ÃÂÃÂ and its flag was white, in contrast to a Jolly Roger. They were blatantly libertarian, as well as Christian, waging war against oppressive states and lawmakers, attacking their ships, sparing prisoners, and freeing slaves. They were either anarcho-communist, or anarcho-capitalist under a communal city rule, a sort of worker owned corporation of piracy. They had pirate articles, and elected executives.
Libertatia is described in a book called "A General History of the Most Notorious Pirates" by one Captain Johnson, published in 1794. It is unclear to what extent this is a work of fact or fiction, or some mixture of the two.
The Wordsworth Dictionary of Pirates, 1997, asserts that Libertatia is fictitious.
Literature
Asserting Myth
The book Pirates: Terror on the High Seas from the Caribbean to the South China Sea (consulting editor David Cordingly, Turner Publishing 1996 ISBN 1570362858), has a chapter on Libertalia: The Pirate's Utopia. It suggests that Libertalia was a myth, and discusses the reasons for the legend.Asserting Reality
Raiders and Rebels: The Golden Age of Piracy, by Frank Sherry, ISBN 0688046843 suggests it existed. although Captain Misson may have been a myth.
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