St. Lucia - History

The first inhabitants of Sainte-Lucie were the Arawak Indians probably arrived around year 200 in order to escape their enemies the Caribs Indians. Some vestiges of their agricultural traditions and their craft industry were found on a dozen sites, but these people remain relatively badly known.

The circumstances of the discovery of Saint Lucia by the Europeans remain controverted. It was believed during a long time that Christopher Columbus accosted there in 1502, but the historians now think that he never went on this island. The real date of the discovery of Saint Lucia is unknown, even if the December 13th (date of the hypothetical discovery by Columbus) is still a national day. It is probably Juan De La Cosa, former companion of Columbus, who has accosted there in 1499 or 1504, even if no mention is made in his ship's book. On a map drawn by Cosa in 1500, an island called El Falcon could be Saint Lucia.

But it is only in 1605 that the first attempt of colonization took place. 67 english men, on the way of Guyana on the Olive Branche, accosted close from Vieux Fort in the south of the island. The Caribs Indians sold shelters to them, but a few weeks later, only 19 had survived and decided to leave the island with a Carib boat.

In 1639, an english expedition commanded by Sir Thomas Warner failed, decimated by the Caribs Indians. In 1651, French arrived after the purchase of the island. Eight years later has begun 150 years of war between France and England for the possession of Saint Lucia.

The two nations gained and lost the ownership of the island 14 times before the final victory of England in 1814. However, the French cultural is still present, in particular in the denomination of the villages and the heritage of the creole patois.

The first village to be developed was Soufriere under the impulse of France in 1746. In 1780, a cyclone entirely devastated Sainte-Lucie, but the rebuilding was fast, under the impulse of the African slaves. But the quasi-permanent war between French and English did not allow the creation of agricultural as in the other islands of the area. Slavery was abolished in 1838.

In 1782, the admiral George Rodney who had established the base of the English fleet in Gros Islet bay, launched a victorious attack on his French enemy De Grasse in Dominica passage. This episode was called the battle of the Saints. During the hostilities, the main part of the villages were destroyed, including Castries, the capital, entirely devastated by fire in 1796.

In the same year, another English victory was gained by the General Moore.

Castries was again devastated by fire in 1812, and another cyclone made terrible damages in 1817. The English trading law was introduced in 1827. After the abolition of slavery in 1838, the island was attached to the English government of Barbados and English became the official language in 1842.

The industry of coal began in 1863 in Castries which became the most important coal port in this part of the world during nearly one century. This industry declined during the second half of the 20th century.

In 1929, an airport was built, reducing the dependency of the island to maritime transport. During the second world war, the island was used by American and two airports were built close to Castries and Vieux Fort.

In 1951, the citizens of Saint Lucia acquired the voting right and a new constitution was founded for the Windward Islands. Saint Lucia is completely independent since 1979.

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