Martinique

Martinique is an island located in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies. It sits in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The island lies directly north of Saint Lucia. It is also northwest of Barbados and south of Dominica.

Martinique is an overseas department and region of France. It also functions as a single territorial collectivity. Because it is part of France, it is an outermost region of the European Union. However, it is not part of the Schengen Area or the European Union Customs Union. The currency used on the island is the euro.

The island's natural environment is highly protected and significant. Since 2021, the entire land and sea territory has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

In September 2023, UNESCO added more sites to its World Heritage list. This includes the forests and volcanoes of Mount Pelée. It also includes the Pitons du Carbet peaks in northern Martinique. As of January 2024, the island has a population of 349,925 inhabitants. Most people there speak both French and Martinican Creole. French is the only official language.

The history of the island began with indigenous peoples. The Arawaks arrived from Central America during the 1st century AD. Later, the Caribs arrived from the Venezuelan coast around the 11th century. Historians suggest the name Martinique might come from a Taíno name. This name could mean "island of flowers" or "island of women." Christopher Columbus charted the island in 1493 during his second voyage. He landed on June 15, 1502, for a three-day stay. He used the time to wash laundry and refill water casks.

European colonization changed the island's structure significantly. Spain formally ceded Martinique to France in 1635. That same year, Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc landed at the harbor of St. Pierre. He brought between 80 and 150 French settlers. They established the first European settlement at Fort Saint-Pierre. The indigenous Kalinago people rose against these settlers in 1636. They were eventually forced to retreat to the Caravelle Peninsula. Later, in 1654, Dutch Jews introduced sugar plantations. These plantations were worked by large numbers of enslaved Africans.

Conflict between European powers was frequent throughout the colonial period. Britain attacked the French fleet in Martinique in 1667 during the Second Anglo-Dutch War.

The British also occupied the island several times in 1693, 1759, 1762, and 1779. Between 1794 and 1815, Britain controlled the island. It was traded back to France after the Napoleonic Wars ended. The island also became a home port for French pirates. The pirate Blackbeard captured a French frigate near the island in 1717. He renamed the vessel Queen Anne's Revenge.

Social changes led to the end of slavery on the island. Campaigns by abolitionists like Victor Schœlcher helped drive this change. On May 23, 1848, the French government ended slavery in the French West Indies. Martinique was the first French overseas territory where this decree went into effect. After abolition, some plantation owners brought in workers from India and China. However, social tensions remained high. In 1870, riots broke out in southern Martinique following the arrest of Léopold Lubin. This event resulted in several deaths before the French militia crushed the revolt.

Natural disasters and global wars shaped the modern era. On May 8, 1902, Mount Pelée erupted violently.

The eruption destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre and killed 30,000 people. One man, Ludger Sylbaris, survived because of his thick prison cell walls. Following this disaster, the capital moved to Fort-de-France. During World War II, the island was controlled by the Vichy government. German U-boats used the area to refuel during the Battle of the Caribbean. Free French forces eventually took control on July 14, 1943.

In recent decades, the island has navigated complex political identities. In 1946, the French National Assembly made Martinique an Overseas Department. Many people later campaigned for full independence. This movement included leaders like the author Aimé Césaire. While the economy faced struggles in the 1970s, the island gained more autonomy. In 2009, general strikes occurred regarding the cost of living and racial tensions. On February 2, 2023, Martinique adopted a new independent activist flag. This flag uses three colors to symbolize Pan-Africanism.