"Hardly had we landed, that we were on the Square Bertin, a true stroll planted with trees alongside the sea. Immediately, we had the sensation of being in the centre of an intense commercial city, which seemed to come from the closeness to feverish America."
(Notes from a Traveler, Le Pélerin, 20th May 1902.)
Foundation of Saint-Pierre and conquest of Martinique 1635-1674. (Or how Saint-Pierre, reference mark of flibustiers, become capital of the French West Indies)
It is in this context that Belain d' Esnambuc unloads in 1635 on the West coast of Martinique with a hundred men. Some escarmouches takes place with the population of the island, the Caribbean, but the superiority of the European armament makes the difference quickly. Vis-a-vis the men armoured and armed with rifles, the combatants, naked, equipped with arc and arrows, are little of weight. And soon, from the agreements made with the Caribbean heads. They let the men of Esnambuc settle on the coast. Cruel error. French consolidates their position at once and builds a fort: Fort Saint-Pierre. In less than 25 years, they take the total control of Martinique. The Caribbean are initially pushed back towards Cabesterre (Peninsula of the Caravel), then exterminated. Their last combatants throw top of a headland: the Tomb of the Caribbean. This collective suicide marks the one time end. French is from now on alone on the island.
Colonists, merchants and flibustiers give rise to a true city From the arrival of the colonist-soldiers of d'Esnambuc in 1635, the grounds near Saint-Pierre are cleared and put in exploitation. One plants there manioc and potatos for the subsistence, rocou, indigo, cocoa and tobacco for export. A small agglomeration occurs around the fort, and three districts are formed successively, each one at the foot of its church: Districts of the Fort, the Center and Mouillage. French merchants or foreigners who come here, to load their holds of exotic products, and the flibustiers who bring their catches to it, ensure a certain prosperity to the colony. Attracted by a propaganda their promising fortune and life of dream under the sun, the peasants, needy, some adventurers leave France and unload regularly on the island. An one-way ticket towards the hell. These "Volunteers", mainly Norman or Breton, are related to their Masters by a three year contract. With its expiry, promise theirs is ridge to be able in their turn to clear and create their own exploitations. But very few are those which arrive there, decimated by a harassing work under a climate which they resist badly. The haemorrhage of population is such, that to maintain sufficient colonists on the island, the royalty decides soon to send overseas "All those which wish to voluntarily go there... like also, all valid and wandering beggars of all sexes and ages forced by imprisonment". It is this variegated population of adventurers, and the poor eras falling like flies, which gives rise to Saint-Pierre.
Saint-Pierre, economic heart of the island and port slave trader Their efforts are not useless. In a few years, under the direction of the governor Jacques du Parquet, the economy of Martinique develops. Its products are exported without difficulties towards France or the English and Dutch colonies neighbouring. Become lord owner of the island in 1650, during the bankruptcy of the Company of Saint-Christophe, Du Parquet supports the establishment of Dutch and Jews which flee the Portuguese conquest in Brazil. This gesture apparently harmless works the history of Martinique for a few centuries. It is at the origin of a diabolic equation melting richnesses, deportation and slavery. In their luggage, the newcomers have a knowledge: production of sugar; the most remunerative product of all the exotic products imported into Europe. Fortune smiles to the growers, the traders, and the ship-owners. The hell starts for thousands of African. The culture of the sugar cane needs a lot of work. The colonists are not enough there, and soon, many slave traders come to unload their cargoes of slaves on the quays of Saint-Pierre.
Before Colbert does impose the system of Exclusive in 1664, Saint-Pierre is a rebellious city more anchored in the Dutch and Caribbean economic area, that turned towards France The beginnings of the exploitation of the sugar cane contributes to the development of a prosperous economy. The traffic of the Saint-Pierre's harbour intensifies. Sugar cargoes, dyes and of tobacco leave bound for the close colonies and the Netherlands, some towards France. Jean-baptiste Colbert, minister of Louis XIV, is sensitive to the paradox: The richnesses produced by Martinique, French colony, benefits more Flemish than with the kingdom of France. Sugar, for example, charged in Saint-Pierre, forwards on Dutch boats bound for the ports of Flessingue or Amsterdam, then is refined on the spot, before being resold in Paris. Colbert reacts. Follower of the mercantilists ideas, he knows that the political power of a State depends closely on its prosperity. Under its influence the colonial strategy of the kingdom evolves. Of policy (fight against the other European nations), it becomes primarily economic. The objective is from now on to increase the trade foreign of France, by making profitable to the maximum its possessions of overseas. For this purpose, Colbert enacts, since 1664, a series of measurements. Initially to encourage the commercial activity by the creation of two new companies of trade to private capital (Companies of the Eastern Indies & the Western Indies). Then, to ensure the safety of trade route by reconstituting a fleet of war (destroyed under Mazarin, the Royal one counts 10 vessels in 1660, 130 in 1685), and by creating ports and arsenals (Vauban builds those of Brest, Toulon, Dunkerque, Rochefort...). Lastly, to impose a strict commercial monopoly, by reserving for the companies the exclusiveness in the trade with the colonies. As well with the importation with export. The colonies must be advantageous in the two directions. In Saint-Pierre, it is consternation. Far from France, and having until now to count only on themselves, the colonists see of an evil eye this sudden seizure on the fruit of their work. Loving freedom, they make the deaf person ear with the new directives, and briskly continue to trade with whom good seems to them. Insubordination is such, that Colbert is constrained to send a fleet combat to restore the order on the island and to impose by the force the "System of Exclusive".
“In this intense commercial city that was Saint-Pierre, people could only encounter shops, offices, stores, which were perpetually overcrowded. Saint-Pierre’s stores were real bazaars where everything could be sold, from the most usual items or the most basic consumer goods to the much sought-after luxury objects… It was there where the entirely island went to get fresh supplies.
Saint-Pierre was, as regards with progress, very well-equipped and had no cause to be jealous of the big modern cities. Stores and private houses were lighted by electricity and were fitted with telephones; water was abundantly running, and a little tramway had been set up to serve the remote districts from the town.
An important part of Saint-Pierre was taken by big rum distilleries. I visited some of them. They were huge installations made of sophisticated mechanical equipment which were capable of the best outputs.”
Newspaper "Le Pélerin" Mai 1902.
Local Dances of Saint-Pierre :
“At Saint-Pierre, local dances began as soon as the ascetic feasts of the Lent were ending. From Easter Sunday, dance halls were opening. Clarinets and trombones were letting out everywhere their clear and joyful notes. They invited people from Saint-Pierre to forget their little troubles in the temples of Terpsichore. They were absolutely crazy about dance, my dear compatriots! It’s why there were numerous establishments where people could mess around the Saturday from 9 P.M. to 5 P.M.”
Salvina, “Saint-Pierre : the tropical Venice (1870-1902).
Foundation of Saint-Pierre and conquest of Martinique 1635-1674. (Or how Saint-Pierre, reference mark of flibustiers, become capital of the French West Indies)
It is in this context that Belain d' Esnambuc unloads in 1635 on the West coast of Martinique with a hundred men. Some escarmouches takes place with the population of the island, the Caribbean, but the superiority of the European armament makes the difference quickly. Vis-a-vis the men armoured and armed with rifles, the combatants, naked, equipped with arc and arrows, are little of weight. And soon, from the agreements made with the Caribbean heads. They let the men of Esnambuc settle on the coast. Cruel error. French consolidates their position at once and builds a fort: Fort Saint-Pierre. In less than 25 years, they take the total control of Martinique. The Caribbean are initially pushed back towards Cabesterre (Peninsula of the Caravel), then exterminated. Their last combatants throw top of a headland: the Tomb of the Caribbean. This collective suicide marks the one time end. French is from now on alone on the island.
Their efforts are not useless. In a few years, under the direction of the governor Jacques du Parquet, the economy of Martinique develops. Its products are exported without difficulties towards France or the English and Dutch colonies neighbouring. Become lord owner of the island in 1650, during the bankruptcy of the Company of Saint-Christophe, Du Parquet supports the establishment of Dutch and Jews which flee the Portuguese conquest in Brazil. This gesture apparently harmless works the history of Martinique for a few centuries. It is at the origin of a diabolic equation melting richnesses, deportation and slavery. In their luggage, the newcomers have a knowledge: production of sugar; the most remunerative product of all the exotic products imported into Europe. Fortune smiles to the growers, the traders, and the ship-owners. The hell starts for thousands of African. The culture of the sugar cane needs a lot of work. The colonists are not enough there, and soon, many slave traders come to unload their cargoes of slaves on the quays of Saint-Pierre.
Jean-Charles de Baas, appointed General Governor of the island in 1669, runs up during several years, with savage population having a "invencible aversion towards the Company". He will battle firm to make respect the monopoly, and once the restored order, the products from Martinique unload finally masses some in the ports of France. Sugar does not feed any more the refineries of Amsterdam, but those all recent of Dieppe, Dunkerque, Lille, La Rochelle... All would go for best, if the commercial conflict, born from the installation from Exclusive, were not transformed into open war with the Netherlands. The Company, already weakened by errors of management and embezzlements, cannot support the attack of the Dutch fleet. Its trading vessels are easy preys, and soon they are the colonies themselves which are in danger. In 1674, the fleet of the admiral Ruyters points off Martinique. Its attempt at unloading to Fort-Royal (Fort-de-France) is miraculeusement pushed back, but the noose is tightening. Financialy bloodless, the Company of the Indes Occidentales throws sponge and is dissolved in December of the same year. This event marks the end of a model of colonization. Louis XIV and his ministers understand then, that the defense and the exploitation of the grounds of overseas cannot be deputy on the private initiative. From now on, it is the State which will carry on. Annexed Martinique becomes property of the kingdom. A civil and military administration is set up, and Saint-Pierre becomes the seat of the general government of the islands of Americas. The island benefits much from this change. Its new administrators, close to the royal power, have all latittude for accelerate its development, and will make sure that it misses neither men, nor capital.
