HISTORY of GRAND KREWE de LIBERTALIA

Introduction

Businessman Jesse Hill and his wife, Constance Hill, formed Grand Krewe de Libertalia in 1992 after the bitter protests in 1991 surrounding Gasparilla and because of the need for a more diverse krewe within Tampa Bay.

Mission and Libertalia

Grand Krewe de Libertalia members took the krewe's name from "Libertalia," a utopian society founded by Captain Mission. Mission was French, born in Provence. While in Rome on leave from the French warship, Victoire, Mission met a priest named Caraccioli, who over the course of long voyages gradually converted Mission and a sizeable portion of the rest of the crew. Caraccioli convinced Mission that "the vast differences betwist Man and man, the one wallowing in luxury and the other in the most pinching necessity, is owing only to avarice and ambition on the one hand and a fearful subjection onthe other." Embarking on a career of piracy, the 200 strong crew of Victoire called upon Mission of the ship deciding, "all should be in common." All decisions were to be put to the vote of the whole company. Thus, they set out on their new "life of liberty."

Off the west coast of Africa, they captured a Dutch slave ship. The slaves were freed and brought aboard Victoire. Captain Mission declared that "the trading for those of our own species can never be agreeable to the eyes of divine justice and no man has power of liberty of another." At every engagement, they added to their numbers with new French, English and Dutch recruits and freed slaves. While cruising around the coast of madagascar, Captain Mission found a perfect bay in an area with fertile soil, fresh water and friendly natives. It was here that the pirates built Libertalia, renouncing their titles of English, French, Dutch or African and called themselves liberi -- "enemies of slavery." The African members of the pirate crew discovered many friends and relatives among the enslaved and struck off their fetters and handcuffs, regaling them with the glories of their new life of freedom. The liberi flew a white flag on Victorie with teh motto "Pour Dieu Et La Liberte" (For God and Liberty) embroidered on it. The all-inclusive Grand Krewe of Libertalia is based on this egalitarian group of the 17th Century boucaniers.

Libertalia's Committment

Grand Krewe de Libertalia, "A Krewe with a Diverse Point of View," boasts a broad-based membership which includes men and women from all different cultures from both sides of Tampa Bay.

Grand Krewe de LIbertalia's community involvement has been well received. It is more than just parties and parades, but about families and giving back to the community. The organization provides scholarships to Hillsborough County through Gasparilla Treasure Chest Scholarship Awards. Since its inception, Grand Krewe of Libertalia has contributed $200,000 in scholarship money. Visits and event participations are made each year to Tampa General Hospital, All Children's Hospital, Big Brouthers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, Tampa Shriners Hospital, Lake Magdalene Shelter and Saint Joseph's Hospital.

Grand Krewe de Libertalia's history is illustrious. It is also continual, with new chapters being written constantly.