Iole A. Apicella
GUADELOUPE
Although considered one bodied the island is really two small ones separated by a river called “la riviere salee” (the salted river)
Name of the original Indians Caribs who called the island Karukera, island of beautiful waters.
The two sections are called “La Grande Terre” (the big land) and “La Basse Terre” (the low land)
After the achievement of freedom from slavery due to a lack of manpower in the sugar plantation the island acquired labourers from East India.
(figure available in print form)
Columbus landed on the island in 1493 in the location called now Pointe ˆ P”tre in the Basse Terre (Low Land). He renamed the island Guadeloupe in honor of the Virgin of Extremadura in Spain. The Spanish name was replaced by the French in 1635.
French Colonization
Undertaken with the support of Cardinal Richelieu who entrusted the “Compagnie des Iles d’Amerugue” with the enterprise, the first coloners were independent settlers or engages (under contract) also called “trente six mois” (thirty six months)due to the duration of the obligatority of their contract.
The settlement was a difficult and a tragic one. The natives, the Caribs, opposed the take over of their land and were therefore brutally exterminated. Because manpower was essential to the prosperity of the island and the new owners the continuous flowing of it was ensured with the introduction of slavery which had been already flourishing since the 15th century by the work of Portugal who provided the western countries established in the new continent with the much needed manpower.
By 1685 the disproportion between the black labourers and the white landowners was so great the in order to smooth out the relations between the masters and the workers and to avoid further troubles Louis XIV published on April 23,1615 what it would be known as the “Code Noir” (Black Code).
The Code consists of sixty article. Here are a few examples of them: The landlord must baptise and educate the slave in the Roman Catholic and Apostolic religion. The slave will not work on Sundays an Holidays The slave will be allowed to marry and the family will not be sold unless as a whole. The offspring of a slave and a free person will follow his/ her mother destiny.
The Code alone was not enough to balance an already deteriorating situation and from 1656 several rebellions took place which in turn culminated with the executions of three black slaves, Pedre, Leblanc and Latulipe.
Important political figures of Guadeloupe
Coquille Dugommier (1738-1794?)
Coquille Dugommier participated actively into the freedom movement. His role was so important that the Colonial Assembly arrested him with other eleven patriots and deported the. Freed in France, he became friend with Marat and was nominated Chief General during the take over of Tolon. He went afterwards to fight in the campaigns in the Pyreneys where he died. After his death the Convention decided that his name would be inscribed on the column dedicated in memory of the Protectors of the Country.
Victor Hugues ( - 1826)
Victor Hugues was born in Marseille, France, at first he established himself in Haiti but then he returned to France after his house and properties were burnt during the unrest on the island. He was given the post to Guadeloupe together with Pierre Chretien.
He ensured the abolition of slavery but his character was considered very uncommon by his contemporaries who considered him to be a tier and very ambitious, sometimes loyal but with a marked love for gold. He was also regarded as very capable under crisis situations and while the natives of Guadeloupe accused him of brutality the English praised his cleverness.
The English had attempted on several occasion the conquest of the island. In 1691 they assaulted the fort Saint Charles in the Basse Terre (Low Land) under the command of General Codrington but they were pushed back. Other attempts took place in 1703 and in 1759. The island capitulated on May 1,1759.
On September 1794 the French under the orders of Victor Hugues took over again the island however the his regime was very similar to the post revolution regime of terror in France and immediately after he regained the island he went to work with the Guillotine he had just brought from France.
Victor Hugues died on August 11,1826 in Guyane after being removed from his post for his barbaric behavior towards the citizens of Martinique.
Louis Delgres (1766- 1802)
Louis Delgres was born in Saint Pierre, Martinique, he became lieutenant and served in Martinique against the English. He was taken prisoner and deported to England. He is made Chief of Battalion the 9 Vendemiaire, year 9 (October 1, 1800) and left for Guadeloupe with the task of replacing the Provisory Council and fill all the posts by appointing especially blacks devoted to the cause of freedom and who could be trusted.
On May 6,1801 Delgres realized that a coup was being prepared against him to reinstate slavery. Delgres made very clear that he would die rather than become a slave again. The coup took place from May 11 to May 26 and, rather than falling into enemy hands, he killed himself.
From 1802 to 1803 the new regime was established. All the black fighters were exterminated as well the class of the Men of Color and the Blacks. More than 12.000 blacks and men of colors were killed or deported. Everyone who had served under the army or participated in any way to the fights for freedom, men and women, was looked for and punished unmercifully.
During the proclamation written by Delgres on the eve of his death he had stated that “The resistance to oppression is a natural right. Even God cannot be insulted by the desire to defend our cause because he is Justice and Humanity”.
Slavery was finally abolished in 1848.
