Pieces of Eight

St. Kitts

Originally named San Jorges, the Spanish never settled on the island after Columbus’ discovery, though they did try to prevent other European powers from doing so.

The English arrived in 1623, and settled the island, renaming it St. Christopher, and then shortening the name to St. Kitts.

A few years later, a French privateer and his crew were shipwrecked on the island. The English welcomed the French, and even gave them land, on which they grew tobacco.

St. Kitts was, of course, already inhabited by Indians and as the English and French colonies expanded, the natives sought to remove the Europeans by force. However, the English learned of the plot and launched a surprise attack, during which the Indians were massacred. With the Indian threat removed, the European powers divided the island in two, with the English controlling the center and the French the north and south ends. Since England and France had a long history of animosity, the two sides signed a treaty to help keep the peace.

Barely three years later, the Spanish returned to reclaim the island, which they still maintained was theirs by right of discovery. Although the English and French settlements were destroyed and the inhabitants forced to flee, the Spanish could not afford to occupy the island, and the settlers returned.

England and France could not put aside their hatred of each other for long, and in 1664 the French gained control of the whole island. Their reign lasted 25 years, before the English returned and captured the island.

Twenty years later, the French invaded once more, this time destroying many of the sugar plantations and stealing over 3,000 slaves. Although France has now relinquished any claims to the island, the last French attack has left the island’s economy in ruins.