Jacques J. D. Nau "l'Olonnaise" by King Derelict - Pegasso - 54 mm

[king derelict]

Just can't leave them alone. Another white metal miniature from Pergaso to provide some light relief if the Derfflinger gets too difficult.

I hadn't a clue who this chap was but I liked the outfit and the pose. It turns out he was a 17th century pirate and was a bad man!

Wikipedia has a full article

François l'Olonnais - Wikipedia

 

A few brief extracts

"According to Alexandre Exquemelin's 1684 account The History of the Buccaneers of America, l'Olonnais' was born in Les Sables-d'Olonne in the 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 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 Cuba, Francisco Oregón y Gascón, sent a ship to kill l'Olonnais' party. l'Olonnais captured and beheaded the ship's entire 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."

 

"L'Olonnais himself was an expert torturer, and his techniques included slicing portions of flesh off the victim with a sword, burning them alive, or tying knotted "woolding" (rope bound around a ship's mast to strengthen it) around the victim's head until their eyes were forced out."

 

"'He drew his cutlass, and with it cut open the breast of one of those poor Spanish, and pulling out his heart with his sacrilegious hands, began to bite and gnaw it with his teeth, like a ravenous wolf, saying to the rest: I will serve you all alike, if you show me not another way".

 

Not someone you would take home to meet the family.

 

The kit has quite a few parts for a white metal figure and the use of brass pins helps a lot in holding the main parts together while the glue sets. The white metal is quite soft and I broke a number of drill bits because they seemed to bind up in the part and sheer off (leaving the broken piece irretrievably stuck in the piece). I may need to fina a better source of bits for the metal figures.

The base seems to be a wooden deck although the lamp standard isn't immediately recognisable as a shipboard feature.

 

The main elements of the figure have been assembled and the fit is not perfect in a few places and may need to be filled, His upper left body has a gap that needs attention.

Thanks for looking in. 

 

Alan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Old Collingwood]

Im in Alan, another  classic  in the  makes.

 

OC.

[Canute]

I though you had found a Musketeer. 😁 Sounds like quite the pirate. Jacques Lafitte's great grandfather?

[king derelict]

On 12/29/2024 at 3:41 PM, Old Collingwood said:

Im in Alan, another  classic  in the  makes.

 

OC.

Thank you OC. The painting notes pretty much say “whatever colours you like “. I’ll probably stick with blacks and reds

Alan

[king derelict]

8 hours ago, Canute said:

I though you had found a Musketeer. 😁 Sounds like quite the pirate. Jacques Lafitte's great grandfather?

You know Ken, you are right. I think I would rather have D’Artagnan around than this guy. He did come to a suitably sticky end though.

Alan

[Jsk]

Yeah... not a pleasant man! I wonder if he's leaning against a gibbet? If not, I think that would be an appropirate mod.

[king derelict]

On 1/1/2025 at 12:55 PM, Jsk said:

Yeah... not a pleasant man! I wonder if he's leaning against a gibbet? If not, I think that would be an appropirate mod.

The box art shows it holding a lantern but it looks substantial enough for a pirate to dance a Tyburn jig.