Before recovering the heritage of Saint-Pierre which was wiped out by the Mont-Pelé eruption in 1902, Fort-de-France is essentially an administrative garrison town. In the course of the XXth century, it quickly extends and gathers today more than one third of the island’s population.
A strategic site
...
The first settlers land to the Northern Caribbean coast and found the town of Saint-Pierre in 1635. While sailors and buccaneers of the European nations confront each other over the West Indies sea for the control of the trading routes to the new world, they are aware of their defence. Open to the four winds, the site of Saint-Pierre proves difficult to protect and unsafe for the ships at anchor. Du parquet, future island's governor, goes in search of a new site. The strategic relevance of the Fort-de-France's bay, large and well protected, is not lost on him.
Here, the ships will be sheltered.
But inhospitable
In 1638 a small fort is erected on the shore. A small village slowly conglomerates under the ramparts, the marshy nature of the site, as though as the inhospitable and favourable to the fevers, curbbing its expansion.
"Rum victory " and Louis XIV
Attacked in 1674 by the Dutch troops of Ruyter, the small fort overcomes. This "Rum victory" encourages Louis XIV to erect a real fort.
Draining and fortification
The marquis of Bass, first governor of the West Indies, decides then, to create a town next to “Fort-Royal”. The Count of Blenac is put in charge of drawing the City’s plan and of finishing the fortification’s works. The town is growing and is progressively gaining ground on the mangrove swamp.
A political and military capital
As early as 1681, Fort-Royal pictures itself elevated to the rank of the Martinique and West Indies county town, to the detriment of Saint-Pierre. The town has from now on the role of the administrative, military and political capital.
An expansion hindered by the competition of Saint Pierre harbour...
Nevertheless, the heart of the economy's island remains Saint-Pierre, which its harbour becoming more and more active concentrates main trades towards abroad.
Even though Fort-Royal expands and drains itself, after the drying of its swamps, the town in 1750 only counts 4 000 inhabitants for 15 000 at Saint-Pierre.
Natural disasters ...
And the nature is hard on them.1724 : flood. 1762 : yellow fever epidemic. 1766 : cyclone. 1771 : earthquake.
The war of the seven years, the Revolution ...
In 1762, the English land in the island and take the highest points on the Northern town. With a beautiful view and a solid platform, looking over the defences in order to bomb soldiers and inhabitants. The attack is a success and the town is taken. Given over to France nine months later by the treaty of Paris, Fort-Royal will be taken again by the English in 1974, letting in favour the internecine infighting between royalists and patriots. The occupation lasts eight years.
Then in the XIX Century, new cataclysms
Renamed Fort-de-France by a Napoleon decree in 1801, the town keeps on being the prey of devastating disasters. Earthquake in 1839. Fire in 1890 which destroys the town entirely and all the wood houses. Cyclone in 1891.
1902. Disaster of Saint-Pierre and expansion of the town
The beginning of the XIX century is highlighted by the destruction of Saint-Pierre wiped out by the eruption of Mont-Pelé. Fort-de-France now the only town of the island inherits all the trades from its rival town. The population grows suddenly with the newcoming of 6 000 refugees from regions of the Northern island for whom would be built new neighbourhoods
Rural Exodus
Gathering all the functions – political, commercial, administrative- of the island, the town keep on the growth and exceeds 50 000 inhabitants in the beginning of the 1950’s. Begins then a huge rural exodus. The country being empty and Fort-de-France being cramped, needs to expand again. In barely 15 years, the population of Fort-de-France has dobbled.
Chronology :
1638 : The first settlers build a small fort.
1674 : « Rum Victory ». Louis XIV orders the creation of a true fort. Fort Royal.
1676 : The Marquis of Bass decides to build a town under the fort’s protection .
1681 : Saint-Pierre loses her role of capital to Fort-Royal.
1724 : flood.
1762 : Fort-Royal falls into the hands of the English. Yellow fever epidemic.
1766 : Cyclone.
1771 : Earthquake.
1794 : Fort-Royal is again occupied by the English until 1802.
1801 : by a Bonaparte decree, the town loses its name of Fort-Royal for Fort-de-France.
1839 : Earthquake.
1890 : A fire devastates wholly the town.
1891 : Cyclone.
1903 : Cyclone.
Aimé Césaire
Born at Basse-Pointe in 1913, Aimé Césaire leaves Martinique in 1931 in order to study in Paris. There, he meets Léopold Sédar Shengor. They both found the review called "The black Student" in which they develop the negritude concept.
Back to the island in 1939, he teaches at the SCHOELCHER high school and publishes the « Tropics » review.
Elected mayor of Fort-de-France in 1945, then communist deputy, he becomes rapporteur of the 1946's law about the devolution of the departments.
He breaks with the communist party in 1956, then founds the progressive party from Martinique in 1958. Mayor of the town for over 40 years, he has been faced with urbanistic problems linked to the population doubling.
Admired or controversial in his political action, the influence of his work upon the West Indian and French-speaking African literature is indisputable.
Documents
The comic episode of the "Victoire of the Rum" told by the Father Jean-baptiste Labat in Voyages to the Islands 1693-1705.
Born at Basse-Pointe in 1913, Aimé Césaire leaves Martinique in 1931 in order to study in Paris. There, he meets Léopold Sédar Shengor. They both found the review called "The black Student" in which they develop the negritude concept.
Back to the island in 1939, he teaches at the SCHOELCHER high school and publishes the « Tropics » review.
Elected mayor of Fort-de-France in 1945, then communist deputy, he becomes rapporteur of the 1946's law about the devolution of the departments.
He breaks with the communist party in 1956, then founds the progressive party from Martinique in 1958. Mayor of the town for over 40 years, he has been faced with urbanistic problems linked to the population doubling.
Admired or controversial in his political action, the influence of his work upon the West Indian and French-speaking African literature is indisputable.
The comic episode of the "Victoire of the Rum" told by the Father Jean-baptiste Labat in Voyages to the Islands 1693-1705.
French Version