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Robert Surcouf

Statue of Robert Surcouf in Saint-Malo.

Robert Surcouf (1773–1827) was a famous French privateer. During his lengendary career, he captured 47 ships and was renowned for his gallantry and chivalry, earning the nickname of Roi des Corsaires ("King of Privateers").

Surcouf was born in December 1773 in Saint-Malo, a fortified town in Brittany, traditionally a corsair stronghold. He attended a religious school and was educated by the Jesuits. At 13, he escaped his professors and stole a small craft to prove his ability to sail; he was subsequently caught in a tempest and had to be rescued.

At age 15, he enlisted on a merchantman to India. Between 1789 and 1791, he participated in slave trade between Mozambique and Madagascar. In 1792 he came back to Saint-Malo and discovered the political changes France had undergone in the wake of the French Revolution. He sailed to Isle de France (present-day Mauritius) in August on a commercial brig, and was informed on his arrival of the outbreak of war against Britain. Isle de France was threatened by two vessels (54-gun and 60-gun) commanded by Commodore Osborn. Surcouf was made a second officer of the frigate Cybèle, which, with another frigate and a brig, and with less than half their firepower, engaged and repelled the attackers. Surcouf was one of the heroes of the day.

He was made a captain in Isle de France, and expressed his ambition to wage corsair warfare against England. However, the Convention frowned at privateers, and it was difficult to obtain a letter of marque.

On the 3rd of June 1794, Surcouf sailed with the 4-gun ship La Créole, with a complement of 30 men, with orders to bring rice to Mauritius, and encountered three English ships escorted by the 26-gun Triton; he used a technicality to engage combat in self-defence, by not flying his colours until the English ships requested them by firing a warning shot (a naval convention of the time), which Surcouf later reported to consider an aggression. After a brief gunnery exchange, the British ships lowered their flag and were brought back to Mauritius, with their cargo of rice and mais. Surcouf was welcomed as a saviour in the famished Port Louis. The capture was declared legal, but in the absence of a letter of marque, the authorities retained the entire cargo (a portion of which normally goes to the corsair).

Following a dispute with the governor of Isle de France, Surcouf sailed to France to receive his letter of marque. He returned to sea in Nantes in August 1798, as captain of the 18-gun Clarisse, with 105 men. He captured four ships in the South Atlantic, and two others near Sumatra in February 1799. On the 11th of November, the 20-gun Auspicious was captured, with a cargo worth in excess of one million francs. Surcouf later had to flee before the 56-gun frigate Sybille, throwing eight guns overboard to out-sail the British warship. He captured a British brig and an American merchantman before returning to Isle de France.

capture of the Kent by the Confiance

In May, 1800, Surcouf took command of La Confiance, a fine and fast 18-gun frigate from Bordeaux undergoing repairs in Isle de France. Beginning in March, he led a brilliant campaign which resulted in the capture of nine British ships. On the October 7th, 1800, in the Bay of Bengal, La Confiance met the 38-gun Kent, a 1200-ton East Indiaman with 400 men and a company of naval riflemen. Despite being outnumbered three to one, the French managed to seize control of the Kent. He became a living legend in France and, in England, a public enemy whose capture was valued at 5 millions francs, although he was noted for the discipline of his crew and his humane treatment of prisoners.

On the 13th of April 1801, though chased by British warships, he arrived in La Rochelle. He settled in Saint-Malo, married, and spent six years in retirement, as a businessman.

In 1803, at the breaking of the Treaty of Amiens, First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte personally offered him the title of captain and command of a frigate squadron in the Indian Ocean. Surcouf, however, refused, for two reasons: first, he would not have been allowed to operate as independently as he desired; and second, he believed that the war against England should be waged with economic means (i.e. by attacking its merchant navy) rather than direct naval assault. His arguments did not fall on deaf ears; in 1805, Napoleon chose a blockade against England rather than direct confrontation, and allowed privateers to operate with relative impunity. Surcouf left in good terms, and was made officer of the Légion d'Honneur on the 18th of July 1804.

In 1804, Surcouf went into business as ship-owner, and equipped 14 privateers in the Indian Ocean (among them his brother Nicolas Surcouf and his cousin Joseph Potier). Their achievements, however, were somewhat less impressive than Surcouf's own: four of the corsairs were captured by British warships, and 5 campaigns turned a deficit.

In 1807, a British vessel captured Nicolas Surcouf. On the 2nd of March, Surcouf returned to sea on a specially-built three-mast, the 20-gun Revenant. Le Revenant was constructed under special directives by Surcouf himself, with a completely coppered hull, and a remarkable (for the time) top speed of 12 knots. Surcouf arrived at Isle de France in June, defeating the British blockade and capturing several ships on the journey. During the subsequent campaign, which was to be his last, Surcouf captured 16 British ships, partly because British ships tended to lower their flag as soon as they identified their opponent. He returned to Isle de France on the 31st of February 1808. He then decided to stay on the island, leaving the campaign to his second-in-command (and cousin) Joseph Potier. In two campaigns, the latter captured about 20 ships, including the large 34-gun Portuguese Conceçao.

The governor of Isle de France, General Charles Decaen, seized the Revenant for the defense of the island. After a heated argument with Decaen, Surcouf acquired the frigate La Sémillante, renamed it Le Charles, and sailed it back to France. In the meantime, Decaen had confiscated all Surcouf's possessions in the Indian Ocean. In October 1808, the Revenant (renamed Iena), was captured by a British warship. She would be re-taken two years later by the frigate Bellone, under captain Duperré.

On the 4th of February 1809, Le Charles arrived in France with a 8-million franc cargo. Surcouf was received by Napoleon and made Baron d'Empire, and his possessions were returned to him.

In January 1814, Surcouf was made a colonel in the National Guard of Saint-Malo. However, he took no part in the Hundred Days as a chief of Legion. After the war, he returned to Saint-Malo, rich and with the title of baron, and became a merchant ship-owner, establishing business with Terre-Neuve, the Caribbean, Africa and the Indian Ocean.

In 1817, he fought against twelve Prussian officers with a cue stick because they had insulted an old man in a bar; he managed to hold them long enough to challenge them all to duels. He subsequently defeated eleven of the officers, one by one, leaving the last and youngest alive "to tell the tale".

He died on the 8th of July 1827, and was carried to his grave by sea on a flotilla of over 50 sailboats.

Quotes

  • Discussing with a British officer:
  • On spotting the much more powerful Kent:

Trivia

  • The phrase "A man fights for what he lacks the most!" is said by "cap'tain Red" in Polansky's Pirates!.
  • The manoeuver consisting in setting up a decoy a night by planting a lantern on a small boat was executed by Surcouf to successfully escape the British frigate HMS Sybille. In Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, a British ship (ironically enough) escapes a French privateer using this same trick.
  • Surcouf happened to be a descendant of Duguay-Trouin on the side of his mother.
  • See French ship Surcouf for ships name in the honour of Surcouf

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He died on the 8th of July 1827, and was carried to his grave by sea on a flotilla of over 50 sailboats. A new Beyblade team named Shadow Bladers (consisting of new beybladers Steven, Ashley, Daniel, and Henry) was introduced. He subsequently defeated eleven of the officers, one by one, leaving the last and youngest alive "to tell the tale". Beyblade: The Movie - Fierce Battle is chronologically between second and third TV series, but Daichi appeared in the movie. In 1817, he fought against twelve Prussian officers with a cue stick because they had insulted an old man in a bar; he managed to hold them long enough to challenge them all to duels.
. After the war, he returned to Saint-Malo, rich and with the title of baron, and became a merchant ship-owner, establishing business with Terre-Neuve, the Caribbean, Africa and the Indian Ocean. In season one the beyblades were drawn by hand only, but in seasons two and three they were brought to life with a mix of drawings and CGI.

However, he took no part in the Hundred Days as a chief of Legion. The Japanese names for each season have been put in the brackets. In January 1814, Surcouf was made a colonel in the National Guard of Saint-Malo. Beyblade has a total of 3 seasons with about 51 episodes in each. Surcouf was received by Napoleon and made Baron d'Empire, and his possessions were returned to him.
. On the 4th of February 1809, Le Charles arrived in France with a 8-million franc cargo. The most notable of the changes include:.

She would be re-taken two years later by the frigate Bellone, under captain Duperré. Arriving in United States, Beyblade was significantly changed by Nelvana. In October 1808, the Revenant (renamed Iena), was captured by a British warship. However, as is the case with many video games based on licensed properties these games have been critically panned. In the meantime, Decaen had confiscated all Surcouf's possessions in the Indian Ocean. There have also been several video games based on the show, spanning the Game Boy Advance, PlayStation and GameCube. After a heated argument with Decaen, Surcouf acquired the frigate La Sémillante, renamed it Le Charles, and sailed it back to France. In Singapore, it is published in English by Chuang Yi.

The governor of Isle de France, General Charles Decaen, seized the Revenant for the defense of the island. The Beyblade manga, made by Takao Aoki, is published in English in North America by VIZ Media and keeps its original right to left format, though names are changed to match the English anime version. In two campaigns, the latter captured about 20 ships, including the large 34-gun Portuguese Conceçao. The Beyblade anime is licensed by Nelvana in North America. He then decided to stay on the island, leaving the campaign to his second-in-command (and cousin) Joseph Potier. The protagonist team, the Blade Breakers, includes Takao Kinomiya (Tyson Granger in the dubbed English version), Kai Hiwatari, Max Mizuhara (Max Tate), Rei Kon (Ray Kon/Ray Kong), and Kyouju (Kenny) who battle it out against teams across the globe to be the world's best beybladers. He returned to Isle de France on the 31st of February 1808. The show focuses on the battles between beyblading teams.

During the subsequent campaign, which was to be his last, Surcouf captured 16 British ships, partly because British ships tended to lower their flag as soon as they identified their opponent. In anime and manga, the story is about a group of children battling with highly powerful spinning tops enchanted with sacred 'bit beasts' or spirits of mythical and powerful creatures. Surcouf arrived at Isle de France in June, defeating the British blockade and capturing several ships on the journey. For head-to-head battle between 2 RC tops, 2 RC launchers with separate frequencies are required. Le Revenant was constructed under special directives by Surcouf himself, with a completely coppered hull, and a remarkable (for the time) top speed of 12 knots. Like the TV show, some Beyblade tops can be controlled after they are launched. On the 2nd of March, Surcouf returned to sea on a specially-built three-mast, the 20-gun Revenant. Here is information on the details of Beyblades the toys:.

In 1807, a British vessel captured Nicolas Surcouf. . Their achievements, however, were somewhat less impressive than Surcouf's own: four of the corsairs were captured by British warships, and 5 campaigns turned a deficit. In the basic rules of the game, one player wins by knocking the competitor's beyblade out of a dish (commonly called a Beystadium) or to outspin the competing top(s). In 1804, Surcouf went into business as ship-owner, and equipped 14 privateers in the Indian Ocean (among them his brother Nicolas Surcouf and his cousin Joseph Potier). In 2002, Hasbro produced Beyblade based on the corresponding anime TV series. Surcouf left in good terms, and was made officer of the Légion d'Honneur on the 18th of July 1804.
Beyblade (ベイブレード Beiburēdo) is a spinning top toy produced by Takara starting in 1999/7.

His arguments did not fall on deaf ears; in 1805, Napoleon chose a blockade against England rather than direct confrontation, and allowed privateers to operate with relative impunity. United States: ABC Family (JETIX block) and Toon Disney. by attacking its merchant navy) rather than direct naval assault. United Kingdom: Toonami and Five. Surcouf, however, refused, for two reasons: first, he would not have been allowed to operate as independently as he desired; and second, he believed that the war against England should be waged with economic means (i.e. Spain: Antena 3. In 1803, at the breaking of the Treaty of Amiens, First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte personally offered him the title of captain and command of a frigate squadron in the Indian Ocean. Peru: Andina de Television.

He settled in Saint-Malo, married, and spent six years in retirement, as a businessman. Portugal: TVI and Canal Panda. On the 13th of April 1801, though chased by British warships, he arrived in La Rochelle. Poland: Jetix (and some time ago, Polsat, but not any more.). He became a living legend in France and, in England, a public enemy whose capture was valued at 5 millions francs, although he was noted for the discipline of his crew and his humane treatment of prisoners. Philippines: ABS-CBN, HERO TV. Despite being outnumbered three to one, the French managed to seize control of the Kent. Pakistan: Cartoon Network Pakistan.

On the October 7th, 1800, in the Bay of Bengal, La Confiance met the 38-gun Kent, a 1200-ton East Indiaman with 400 men and a company of naval riflemen. Norway: TV2. Beginning in March, he led a brilliant campaign which resulted in the capture of nine British ships. New Zealand: TV2. In May, 1800, Surcouf took command of La Confiance, a fine and fast 18-gun frigate from Bordeaux undergoing repairs in Isle de France. Mexico: Canal 5 XHGC(Televisa). He captured a British brig and an American merchantman before returning to Isle de France. Korea: SBS (Korea) (hangul:탑 블레이드, Top Blade).

Surcouf later had to flee before the 56-gun frigate Sybille, throwing eight guns overboard to out-sail the British warship. Japan: TV Tokyo. On the 11th of November, the 20-gun Auspicious was captured, with a cargo worth in excess of one million francs. Ireland: RTÉ Two (The Den block). He captured four ships in the South Atlantic, and two others near Sumatra in February 1799. India: Cartoon Network (Toonami block). He returned to sea in Nantes in August 1798, as captain of the 18-gun Clarisse, with 105 men. Finland: Nelonen.

Following a dispute with the governor of Isle de France, Surcouf sailed to France to receive his letter of marque. Estonia: TV3. The capture was declared legal, but in the absence of a letter of marque, the authorities retained the entire cargo (a portion of which normally goes to the corsair). Canada: YTV. Surcouf was welcomed as a saviour in the famished Port Louis. Brazil: Jetix (and some time ago, Globo(TV Xuxa's block), but not any more.). After a brief gunnery exchange, the British ships lowered their flag and were brought back to Mauritius, with their cargo of rice and mais. Australia: Cheez TV.

On the 3rd of June 1794, Surcouf sailed with the 4-gun ship La Créole, with a complement of 30 men, with orders to bring rice to Mauritius, and encountered three English ships escorted by the 26-gun Triton; he used a technicality to engage combat in self-defence, by not flying his colours until the English ships requested them by firing a warning shot (a naval convention of the time), which Surcouf later reported to consider an aggression. Beyblade G-Revolution. However, the Convention frowned at privateers, and it was difficult to obtain a letter of marque. Beyblade V-Force. He was made a captain in Isle de France, and expressed his ambition to wage corsair warfare against England. Beyblade. Surcouf was one of the heroes of the day. In the conclusion of G-Revolution,Beyblade's last season,the original version contained some images showing all the characters that ever made an important appearence,like those in V-Force and those who didn't returned in G-Revolution.For some reason,Nelvana censored the images,although they were nothing but images showing all the characters.

Surcouf was made a second officer of the frigate Cybèle, which, with another frigate and a brig, and with less than half their firepower, engaged and repelled the attackers. Every episode and season had its title changed from its Japanese counterpart, except for the third season's title (G-Revoluton). Isle de France was threatened by two vessels (54-gun and 60-gun) commanded by Commodore Osborn. Elements of the dialogue were also changed, sometimes leading to incongruity between the dialogue and what happens onscreen. He sailed to Isle de France (present-day Mauritius) in August on a commercial brig, and was informed on his arrival of the outbreak of war against Britain. An image and name of the bit beast also appears. In 1792 he came back to Saint-Malo and discovered the political changes France had undergone in the wake of the French Revolution. Then it shows an image of the blader, his/her attack, defense and endurance points, name and special attack.

Between 1789 and 1791, he participated in slave trade between Mozambique and Madagascar. First, it shows the stadium, in different angles, with its name. At age 15, he enlisted on a merchantman to India. Before every official fight, a small scene talking about the bladers and the stadium appears. At 13, he escaped his professors and stole a small craft to prove his ability to sail; he was subsequently caught in a tempest and had to be rescued. Originally, in the Japanese version, she couldn't speak, but somehow she existed. He attended a religious school and was educated by the Jesuits. She did not appear in the third season.

Surcouf was born in December 1773 in Saint-Malo, a fortified town in Brittany, traditionally a corsair stronghold. It was said in the dub version that she accidentally entered his laptop causing her to speak. During his lengendary career, he captured 47 ships and was renowned for his gallantry and chivalry, earning the nickname of Roi des Corsaires ("King of Privateers"). Kenny's "bitbeast", Dizzi, was added for comic relief during the first two seasons. Robert Surcouf (1773–1827) was a famous French privateer. AJ Topper and Brad Best were added to make comments about the tournaments; these were originally only made by DJ Jazzman. See French ship Surcouf for ships name in the honour of Surcouf. Nelvana must have been very confused to believe that V was 5 in Roman numerals.

Surcouf happened to be a descendant of Duguay-Trouin on the side of his mother. In V-Force, Ray's first new beyblade was called Driger 5, but its original name is Driger V. In Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, a British ship (ironically enough) escapes a French privateer using this same trick. Some scenes considered inappropriate for children were cut, although Beyblade was not originally designed with only younger viewers in mind. The manoeuver consisting in setting up a decoy a night by planting a lantern on a small boat was executed by Surcouf to successfully escape the British frigate HMS Sybille. Logos originally displayed in Japanese were redesigned in English. The phrase "A man fights for what he lacks the most!" is said by "cap'tain Red" in Polansky's Pirates!. There wasn't any original Japanese soundtrack remaining.

On spotting the much more powerful Kent:. Instrumental soundtracks were changed to pop-punk style music, with lyrics. Discussing with a British officer:. Several characters' names were changed, many characters having their Japanese names changed to English alternatives (presumably more American). New intro/opening sequences. Beyblade list.

Hard metal system. Engine Gear. Magnacore system. Basic system.