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History of Martinique
From antiquity to the modern era — the historical eras, key events, and narrative that shaped Martinique.
Overview
Prior to the discovery of Martinique by Columbus in 1493, the area was inhabited by Arawak and Carib Indians. Visited by Columbus, probably in 1502, the island was ignored by the Spanish; colonization began in 1635, when the French, who had promised the native Caribs the western half of the island, established a settlement. There was no real European interest in the island until French colonies were established in 1635.
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Historical Eras
The major periods of {country}’s history at a glance.
Pre-Columbian Era
130 – 1502
Martinique was successively inhabited by Arawak (Saladoid) peoples and later by the Caribs (Kalinago), who called the island 'Madinina.' These communities sustained themselves through fishing, agriculture, and inter-island trade across the Caribbean. The Caribs were the dominant inhabitants when European contact finally occurred in the late 15th century.
European Contact
1502 – 1635
Christopher Columbus likely sighted and landed on Martinique in 1502, but Spanish colonial interest in the island remained minimal due to the absence of precious metals. The Caribs successfully resisted early European encroachments, leaving Martinique largely unsettled by Europeans for over a century following first contact.
French Colonization
1635 – 1794
French settlers under Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc established a permanent colony in 1635, displacing and ultimately decimating the Carib population despite initial promises of shared territory. Sugar cultivation transformed the island's economy, driving the mass importation of enslaved Africans. Britain made repeated attempts to seize the island during this period, occupying it briefly during the Seven Years' War and the Anglo-French conflicts of the late 18th century.
Abolition & Plantation Era
1794 – 1902
Slavery was definitively abolished in 1848 under Victor Schoelcher's landmark decree, fundamentally reshaping Martinique's labor structure. Tens of thousands of indentured workers subsequently arrived from India to fill the plantation workforce. The era closed catastrophically in 1902 when the eruption of Mount Pelée obliterated the city of Saint-Pierre, killing approximately 30,000 people.
Overseas Department
1902 – 1974
Following the devastation of the Pelée eruption, Fort-de-France rose as the island's new capital. During World War II, Martinique aligned with the Vichy regime until a U.S. naval blockade compelled its transfer to the Free French in 1943. In 1946, Martinique was formally integrated into France as an Overseas Department rather than pursuing independence, granting its inhabitants full French citizenship.
Autonomy & Modern Era
1974 – present
Martinique gained regional status in 1974 and received expanded local political and economic autonomy under President Mitterrand's decentralization reforms of 1982–1983. The island's political landscape has been shaped by parties ranging from Gaullist conservatives to nationalist movements such as the Mouvement Indépendantiste Martiniquais. Martinique continues to navigate its dual identity as an integral part of France and a distinct Caribbean society, balancing economic dependency with cultural sovereignty.
Timeline Preview
The first 7 key events. View the full chronology on the timeline page.
130
http://www.la-martinique.net/Communicator/anglais/history.htm
Appearance of the first inhabitants : Arawaks. They come from the tropical forest
295
http://www.la-martinique.net/Communicator/anglais/history.htm
Disappearance of the Arawak culture, following a eruption of the vulcano ”montagne Peléel“.The island is left during one century
400
http://www.la-martinique.net/Communicator/anglais/history.htm
New arawak arrival.
600
http://www.la-martinique.net/Communicator/anglais/history.htm
Appearance of a new civilization, the Caraïbes. Like the Arawak one, it is from the tropical forest. The Arawaks fear the Caraïbes, because they had strange habits (castration, ...) and confront them during years
600
http://www.la-martinique.net/Communicator/anglais/history.htm
Appearance of a new civilization, the Caraïbes. Like the Arawak one, it is from the tropical forest. The Arawaks fear the Caraïbes, because they had strange habits (castration, ...) and confront them during years. However, the Arawaks are exterminated and they disappear of the island.
1502
http://www.la-martinique.net/Communicator/anglais/history.htm
Christopher Colombus discovers Martinique. He lands where the town called Carbet is now located (in the north of the island, on the Caribbean Sea).
1635
http://www.la-martinique.net/Communicator/anglais/history.htm
Belain d'Esnambuc lands near the Roxelane river with a hundred of settlers. They build a fort to protect the area (origin of the fort of Saint Pierre).