Martinique - History

Archaeological excavations have shown that people lived in Martinique as far back as 3000 BC, the peaceful Arawak indians didn't arrive until 100 BC. They named it Madinina, the island of flowers. The Arawaks were killed by the fierce, cannibalistic Carib indians who came to Martinique in 700 AD, the Caribs died shortly after the arrival of the European colonists.

Christopher Colombus landed at the present day town of Carbet in June 1502 but Martinique wasn't colonised until 1635 when Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc disembarked with 100 fellow frenchmen. Thousands of African slaves were imported to work on the sugar and tobacco plantations.

Martinique was officially annexed by King Louis Xlll of France in 1674 and Lt Gen Bass was sent to build fortifications on the site of the present day Fort St Louis in Fort de France. The English and French fought many times for the possession of Martinique before it was finally ceded to France in 1815.

Under pressure from Victor Schoelcher the congress of Vienna signed a decree in 1848 abolishing slavery in the French colonies and thousands of immigrant Indians arrived to work on the plantations.

A disaster struck the island in 1902 when the volcano, Mount Pele, erupted killing the entire population of St Pierre (30,000 people), the prisoner, Cyparis, was the sole survivor.

Fort de France became the capital of Martinique. Many Martinicans lost  their lives during the two World Wars whilst fighting with the French and this, together with the efforts of Aime Cesaire, the Mayor of Fort de France, was acknowledged when Martinique became a French overseas department in 1946. It attained regional status and thereby a certain autonomy in 1974. Since then Martinique has been steadily progressing both economically and socially whilst maintaining its unique culture.

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