In 1649, a united pirate fleet known as the Nocte Nautas took control of the island under the leadership of the enigmatic Apollinaire Vaillant. Using the island as the headquarters for his enterprise, Vaillant and his pirates amassed an enormous amount of wealth and lived lavishly, building luxurious estates throughout Meridona's eastern islands. As Vaillant grew older, he retired to the island permanently and began to plan his magnum opus; an extravagant capital city.
While the Nocte Nautas continued to wreak havoc throughout the Indian Ocean on colonial vessels, the Royal Navy began taking efforts to crack down on Vaillant's fleet and in 1712, they raided the island. With their mansions and ships in flames, Vaillant and his men had no choice but to surrender, bringing construction of their ambitious city to an abrupt halt.
