History UsefulNotes / Martinique

* The parents of [[HipHop rapper]] Didier Morville aka [=JoeyStarr=] of Music/SupremeNTM fame came from Martinique.

* '''Area:''' 1,128 km
(436 sq mi)

** President of Executive Council: Alfred Marie-Jeanne

* UsefulNotes/JosephineDeBeauharnais, first wife of UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte and, for a time, Empress of the French, was born in Martinique, in a family of ''békés'' (creole word for descendants of white French colonists).

* UsefulNotes/JosephineDeBeauharnais, first wife of UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte, was born in Martinique, in a family of ''békés'' (creole word for descendants of white French colonists).

Originally called Martinica by UsefulNotes/ChristopherColumbus, who spent 3 days there refilling his water casks, bathing and washing laundry when he landed there on 15 June 1502, Martinique is an [[UsefulNotes/DepartementalIssues overseas region]] of UsefulNotes/{{France}} (formerly a part of its [[UsefulNotes/TheFrenchColonialEmpire colonial empire]]) located in the Windward Island chain in UsefulNotes/{{the Caribbean}} south of UsefulNotes/{{Dominica}}. The capital of the territory was originally St.-Pierre, but the volcano of Mont Pelée erupted in the 8th of May, 1902, obliterating the city and killing over 30,000, with refugees arriving in Dominica by boat. The only survivor in St.-Pierre was a [[LuckyBastard convict]], Ludger Sylbaris, who was saved by the thick walls of his prison cell. As a result, the capital shifted to Fort-de-France, which remains the capital to this day. The majority of the current population is of Sub-Saharan UsefulNotes/{{Africa}}n descent due to the slave trade.

Originally called Martinica by UsefulNotes/ChristopherColumbus, who spent 3 days there refilling his water casks, bathing and washing laundry when he landed there on 15 June 1502, Martinique is an [[UsefulNotes/DepartementalIssues overseas region]] of UsefulNotes/{{France}} located in the Windward Island chain in UsefulNotes/{{the Caribbean}}. The capital of the territory was originally St.-Pierre, but the volcano of Mont Pelée erupted in the 8th of May, 1902, obliterating the city and killing over 30,000, with refugees arriving in Dominica by boat. The only survivor in St.-Pierre was a [[LuckyBastard convict]], Ludger Sylbaris, who was saved by the thick walls of his prison cell. As a result, the capital shifted to Fort-de-France, which remains the capital to this day. The majority of the current population is of Sub-Saharan UsefulNotes/{{Africa}}n descent due to the slave trade.

* TV show host Sabine Quindou, co-host of the ScienceShow ''Series/CestPasSorcier''.

Originally called Martinica by UsefulNotes/ChristopherColumbus, who spent 3 days there refilling his water casks, bathing and washing laundry when he landed there on 15 June 1502, Martinique is an [[UsefulNotes/DepartementalIssues overseas region]] of UsefulNotes/{{France}} located in the Windward Island chain in UsefulNotes/{{the Caribbean}}. The capital of the territory was originally St.-Pierre, but the volcano of Mont Pelée erupted in the 8th of May, 1902, obliterating the city and killing over 30,000, with refugees arriving in Dominica by boat. The only survivor in St.-Pierre was a [[LuckyBastard convict]], Ludger Sylbaris, who was saved by the thick walls of his prison cell. As a result, the capital shifted to Fort-de-France, which remains the capital to this day.

Originally called Martinica by Christopher Columbus, who spent 3 days there refilling his water casks, bathing and washing laundry when he landed there on 15 June 1502, Martinique is an overseas region of France located in the Windward Island chain in the Caribbean. The capital of the territory was originally St.-Pierre, but the volcano of Mont Pelée erupted in the 8th of May, 1902, obliterating the city and killing over 30,000, with refugees arriving in Dominica by boat. The only survivor in St.-Pierre was a [[LuckyBastard convict]], Ludger Sylbaris, who was saved by the thick walls of his prison cell. As a result, the capital shifted to Fort-de-France, which remains the capital to this day.

Martinique was a major topic of one of the only battles set in North America in World War II, the Battle of the Caribbean. Martinique was officially pro-Vichy France until mid-1943, and relations between it and Britain deteriorated following the Second Armistice at Compiègne, with the territory seen as a possible base for Axis ships, and the US preparing plans for an invasion by an expeditionary force to capture the island, with the US and Britain establishing several blockades. 286 tons of gold from the Bank of France that were originally intended for Canada were also rerouted there and kept in Fort Desaix. In return for the Allies not bombarding and invading the French Antilles, Admiral Robert agreed to keep the French fleet stationed there immobilized, and Free French sympathizers eventually took control of the gold at Fort Desaix and the French fleet in 1943 as Admiral Robert returned to France.

->This flag, consisting of a red triangle based at the hoist over equal-sized bands of green and black, was adopted as the flag of Martinique on 2 February 2023.

[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/flag_of_martinique.png]]
->This unofficial flag floats next to the French flag on some public buildings of the island and is also used by the French military and Gendarmes on their buildings and/or uniforms. The flag was adopted in 2018 after [[BrokenBase a controversy surrounding the previous flag]] as it was associated with slavery (The old flag has blue that refers to the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while green recalls steep hills and the nature of the territory. A white cross like St George’s cross on a blue background filled in with a white snake in each quarter, with flag dating from an edict issued 4th of August 1766, specifying that vessels of the French Colony of Martinique and Saint Lucia should fly a version of the French ensign, which at the time was a white cross on a blue field, with L-shaped (for ''Lucia'') snakes in each quarter of the cross.). The flag has a Aliger gigas (a emblematic shell of the Antilles used as a traditional musical instrument). 34 Amerindian stars symbolize the 34 municipalities of Martinique and eight segments evoke eight of the different languages spoken after colonization of the island by Europeans: French, Creole, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, and Arabic. The flag was eventually annulled in 2021.

->This unofficial flag floats next to the French flag on some public buildings of the island, and is also used by the French military and Gendarmes on their buildings and/or uniforms. The flag was adopted in 2018 after [[BrokenBase a controversy surrounding the previous flag]] as it was associated with slavery (The old flag has blue that refers to the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while green recalls steep hills and the nature of the territory. a white cross like St George’s cross on a blue background filled in with a white snake in each quarter, with flag dating from an edict issued 4th of August 1766, specifying that vessels of the French Colony of Martinique and Saint Lucia should fly a version of the French ensign, which at the time was a white cross on a blue field, with L-shaped (for ‘’Lucia’’) snakes in each quarter of the cross.). The flag has a Aliger gigas (a emblematic shell of the Antilles used as a traditional musical instrument). 34 Amerindian stars symbolize the 34 municipalities of Martinique and eight segments evoke eight of the different languages spoken after colonization of the island by Europeans: French, Creole, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese and Arabic.

** President of Executive Council: Alfred Marie-Jeanne

[[AC:The Martinican flag]]
[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/martinique_flag.png]]
->This unofficial flag floats next to the French flag on some public buildings of the island, and is also used by the French military and Gendarmes on their buildings and/or uniforms. It features a white cross like St George’s cross on a blue background filled in with a white snake in each quarter, with flag dating from an edict issued 4th of August 1766, specifying that vessels of the French Colony of Martinique and Saint Lucia should fly a version of the French ensign, which at the time was a white cross on a blue field, with L-shaped (for ‘’Lucia’’) snakes in each quarter of the cross. However, [[BrokenBase this flag caused a lot of controversy]] because of the emblems association with slavery. In 2018, the flag was replaced with a new flag. The new flag has a Aliger gigas (a emblematic shell of the Antilles used as a traditional musical instrument). 34 Amerindian stars symbolize the 34 municipalities of Martinique and eight segments evoke eight of the different languages spoken after colonization of the island by Europeans: French, Creole, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese and Arabic. Blue refers to the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while green recalls steep hills and the nature of the territory.

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/martinique_flag.png

->This unofficial flag floats next to the French flag on some public buildings of the island, and is also used by the French military and Gendarmes on their buildings and/or uniforms. It features a white cross like St George’s cross on a blue background filled in with a white snake in each quarter, with flag dating from an edict issued 4th of August 1766, specifying that vessels of the French Colony of Martinique and Saint Lucia should fly a version of the French ensign, which at the time was a white cross on a blue field, with L-shaped (for ‘’Lucia’’) snakes in each quarter of the cross.
----

Originally called Martinica by Christopher Columbus, who spent 3 days there refilling his water casks, bathing and washing laundry when he landed there on 15 June 1502, Martinique is an overseas region of France located in the Windward Island chain in the Caribbean. The capital of the territory was originally St.-Pierre, but the volcano of Mont Pelée erupted in the 8th of May, 1902, obliterating the city and killing over 30,000, with refugees arriving in Dominica by boat. The only survivor in St.-Pierre was a [[LuckyBastard convict]], Auguste Cyparis, who was saved by the thick walls of his prison cell. As a result, the capital shifted to Fort-de-France, which remains the capital to this day.

->This unofficial flag floats next to the French flag on some public buildings of the island, and is also used by the French military and Gendarmes on their buildings and/or uniforms. It features a white cross like St George’s cross on a blue background filled in with a white snake in each quarter.

Martinique was a major topic of one of the only battles set in North America in World War II, the Battle of the Caribbean. Martinique was officially pro-Vichy France until mid-1943, and relations between it and Britain deteriorated following the Second Armistice at Compiègne, with the territory seen as a possible base for Axis ships, and the US preparing plans for an invasion by an expeditionary force to capture the island, with the US and Britain establishing several blockades. 286 tons of gold from the Bank of France that were originally intended for Canada were also rerouted there and kept in Fort Desaix. In return for the Allies not bombarding and invading the French Antilles, Admiral Robert agreed to keep the French fleet stationed there immobilized, and Free French sympathizers eventually took control of the gold at Fort Desaix and the French fleet in 1943 as Admiral Robert returned to France.

Originally called Martinica by Christopher Columbus, who spent 3 days there refilling his water casks, bathing and washing laundry when he landed there on 15 June 1502, Martinique is an overseas region of UsefulNotes/{{France}} located in the Windward Island chain in the Caribbean. The capital of the territory was originally St.-Pierre, but the volcano of Mont Pelée erupted in the 8th of May, 1902, obliterating the city and killing over 30,000, with refugees arriving in Dominica by boat. The only survivor in St.-Pierre was a [[LuckyBastard convict]], Auguste Cyparis, who was saved by the thick walls of his prison cell. As a result, the capital shifted to Fort-de-France, which remains the capital to this day.