Kings and pirates were once in cahoots.

Greedy for treasure, royalty would hire sailors to rob the boats of other kingdoms. These sailors were called privateers by their employers, but those on the other side of their guns called them pirates.

One of the most ruthless privateers was Oliver Levasseur.

Levasseur served in the navy as a privateer for King Louis the XIV. But when his duty was up, treasure hunting had overtaken his heart. He turned his back on his king and transferred his allegiance to a private company so he could hoard his loot.

Years passed.

Levasseur was offered amnesty if he would give up the bulk of his treasure. But good will, patriotism, freedom, even family, wasn’t worth the glitter of his gold. He buried his treasure and hid himself. Six years later, he was captured and hung.

History tells us that Levasseur had acquired one of the largest treasures ever. He had rubies, emeralds, gold bars, pearls, silk, even religious objects. But the excitement of acquiring, protecting, and hoarding it robbed him of some of the more fulfilling things in life: generosity, kindness, honesty, trust, family, and faith.

Levasseur’s life cautions us not to bury ourselves under treasure we can’t take with us when we go.