Carib Expulsion
Encyclopedia
The Carib Expulsion was the French
-led ethnic cleansing
that removed most of the Carib population in 1660 from present-day Martinique
. This followed the French invasion in 1635 invasion and conquest of the Caribbean
island that made it part of the French colonial empire
.
, according to carbon dating. They largely displaced, exterminated and assimilated the Taino
who were resident on the island.
In 1635 the Carib were overwhelmed in turn by French forces led by adventurer Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc
and his nephew Jacques Dyel du Parquet, who imposed French colonial rule
on the indigenous
Carib peoples. Cardinal Richelieu of France gave the island to the Saint Christophe Company
, in which he was a shareholder. Later the company was reorganized as the Company of the American Islands
. The French colonists imposed French Law on the conquered inhabitants, and Jesuit missionaries arrived to convert
them to the Roman Catholic Church
.
Because the Caribs resisted working as laborers to build and maintain the sugar
and cocoa plantations which the French began to develop in the Caribbean, in 1636 King Louis XIII
proclaimed La Traite des Noirs. This authorized the capture and purchase of slaves
from Africa
for transportation as labor to Martinique and other parts of the French West Indies
.
In 1650, the Company liquidated and sold Martinique to Jacques Dyel du Parquet, who became governor, a position he held until his death in 1658. His widow Mme. du Parquet took over control of the island. As more French settlers arrived, they were attracted to the fertile area known as Cabesterre (leeward side). The French had pushed remaining Carib people to this northeastern coast and the Caravalle Peninsula, but the colonists wanted the additional land. The Jesuits and the Dominicans
agreed that whichever order arrived there first would get all future parishes in that part of the island. The Jesuits came by sea and the Dominicans by land, with the Dominicans' ultimately prevailing.
When the Caribs revolted against French rule in 1660, Governor Charles Houel sieur de Petit Pré launched a war against them. Many were killed; those who survived were taken captive and expelled from the island. They never returned.
On Martinique, the French signed a peace treaty with the few remaining Carib. Some Carib had fled to Dominica
or St. Vincent
, where the French agreed to leave them at peace.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-led ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing is a purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic orreligious group from certain geographic areas....
that removed most of the Carib population in 1660 from present-day Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
. This followed the French invasion in 1635 invasion and conquest of the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
island that made it part of the French colonial empire
French colonial empires
The French colonial empire was the set of territories outside Europe that were under French rule primarily from the 17th century to the late 1960s. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the colonial empire of France was the second-largest in the world behind the British Empire. The French colonial empire...
.
History
The Carib people had migrated from the mainland to the islands about 1200 CECommon Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
, according to carbon dating. They largely displaced, exterminated and assimilated the Taino
Taíno people
The Taínos were pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. It is thought that the seafaring Taínos are relatives of the Arawak people of South America...
who were resident on the island.
In 1635 the Carib were overwhelmed in turn by French forces led by adventurer Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc
Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc
thumb|220px|Pierre Belain d'EsnambucPierre Bélain, Sieur d'Esnambuc was a French trader and adventurer in the Caribbean, who established the first permanent French colony, Saint-Pierre, on the island of Martinique in 1635....
and his nephew Jacques Dyel du Parquet, who imposed French colonial rule
French colonial empires
The French colonial empire was the set of territories outside Europe that were under French rule primarily from the 17th century to the late 1960s. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the colonial empire of France was the second-largest in the world behind the British Empire. The French colonial empire...
on the indigenous
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
Carib peoples. Cardinal Richelieu of France gave the island to the Saint Christophe Company
Compagnie de Saint-Christophe
The Compagnie de Saint-Christophe was a company created and chartered by French adventurers to exploit the island of Saint-Christophe, the present-day Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 1625, a French adventurer, Pierre Bélain sieur d'Esnambuc, landed on Saint-Christophe with a band of adventurers and some...
, in which he was a shareholder. Later the company was reorganized as the Company of the American Islands
Compagnie des Îles de l'Amérique
The Compagnie des Îles de l'Amérique, French for Company of the American Islands, was a French chartered company that in 1635 took over the administration of the French portion Saint-Christophe island from Compagnie de Saint-Christophe which was the only French settlement in the Caribbean at that...
. The French colonists imposed French Law on the conquered inhabitants, and Jesuit missionaries arrived to convert
Convert
The convert or try, in American football known as "point after", and Canadian football "Point after touchdown", is a one-scrimmage down played immediately after a touchdown during which the scoring team is allowed to attempt to score an extra one point by kicking the ball through the uprights , or...
them to the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
Because the Caribs resisted working as laborers to build and maintain the sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
and cocoa plantations which the French began to develop in the Caribbean, in 1636 King Louis XIII
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
proclaimed La Traite des Noirs. This authorized the capture and purchase of slaves
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
from Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
for transportation as labor to Martinique and other parts of the French West Indies
French West Indies
The term French West Indies or French Antilles refers to the seven territories currently under French sovereignty in the Antilles islands of the Caribbean: the two overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique, the two overseas collectivities of Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy, plus...
.
In 1650, the Company liquidated and sold Martinique to Jacques Dyel du Parquet, who became governor, a position he held until his death in 1658. His widow Mme. du Parquet took over control of the island. As more French settlers arrived, they were attracted to the fertile area known as Cabesterre (leeward side). The French had pushed remaining Carib people to this northeastern coast and the Caravalle Peninsula, but the colonists wanted the additional land. The Jesuits and the Dominicans
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
agreed that whichever order arrived there first would get all future parishes in that part of the island. The Jesuits came by sea and the Dominicans by land, with the Dominicans' ultimately prevailing.
When the Caribs revolted against French rule in 1660, Governor Charles Houel sieur de Petit Pré launched a war against them. Many were killed; those who survived were taken captive and expelled from the island. They never returned.
On Martinique, the French signed a peace treaty with the few remaining Carib. Some Carib had fled to Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
or St. Vincent
Saint Vincent (island)
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
, where the French agreed to leave them at peace.