April 05, 2005
How Did the British do it?
The passage between Diamond Rock and the main island of Martinique is called Passage des Fous. Alors, nous sommes fous!
Posted by dave at 11:15 AM | Comments (1)
April 04, 2005
N14.26, W60.53 Sainte Anne, Martinique
Martinique is the most northerly of the French Antilles and the most northerly of the Windward Islands. Volcanic in origin, Mount Pelée in the north-west is still active. It last erupted in 1902 when the capital, Ste Pierre, was completely destroyed.
The origin of the island’s name is disputed, coming from either the Carib ‘Madinina’ (Islands of Flowers) or from Saint Martin as named by Christopher Columbus after he saw the island in 1493. He only landed here in 1502 on his fourth voyage. Arawacks were the original inhabitants, probably exterminated by the more fierce Caribs.
Slavery was abolished in 1848 and the resulting labour shortage resulted in indentured labourers being brought from India and China. Martinique became a French department in 1946 and its inhabitants are full French citizens.
Napoleon’s Josephine grew up here on a 200-acre estate with 150 slaves. In 1804, Napoleon was master of Europe, but the British still had naval supremacy and largely controlled Caribbean waters. Ships were scarce and the British noticed that Diamond Rock, on the south-west coast of the island, was just about where they should station another vessel. So they commissioned the rock as a ship. It is a steep, barren, snake-infested pinnacle that was difficult to equip with cannons and enough supplies for an entire crew. They succeeded, and for 18 months, Diamond Rock was an unpleasant surprise for unsuspecting ships sailing to Martinique.
Napoleon was incensed. He ordered his navy to sea under the command of Admiral Villeneuve, to free the rock and destroy the British Admiral Horatio Nelson. Villeneuve slipped out of France under the British blockade and headed straight for Martinique. Nelson set off in hot pursuit. Poor information sent Nelson on a wild goose chase to Trinidad, allowing Villeneuve to capture Diamond Rock.
Napoleon was still outraged that the British still ruled the seas, so he ordered Villeneuve to return to France in disgrace. Villeneuve preferred death to dishonour so he set his ill-prepared fleet to sea to fight Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. Ironically, Villeneuve survived and Nelson died.
Posted by dave at 01:12 PM | Comments (0)
Chis in Martinique
Sainte Anne is a charming town on the south coast of Martinique, recommended by a Swiss couple we met in Saint Lucia.
Posted by dave at 11:17 AM | Comments (0)
April 03, 2005
Sailing to Martinique
Posted by dave at 01:13 PM | Comments (0)