François Pyrard de Laval

1623) was a French navigator who is remembered for a personal written account of his adventures in the Maldives Islands from 1602 to 1607, which was part of a ten-year sojourn (1601–1611) in South Asia, et al.

On July 2, 1602, Pyrard and a handful of sailors were shipwrecked on South Maalhosmadulu Atoll of the Maldives.

The sailors endured malaria and sporadic cruel treatment during their captivity.

Nevertheless, Pyrard took pains to learn the local Dhivehi language and by doing so was able to achieve an insight into Maldivian society never before experienced by a European.

[1] In February 1607, the Frenchmen escaped from Malé by boat in the midst of chaos during a Bengali raid.