Pieces of Eight

Saint Martin

Columbus first spotted the island on the feast day of St. Martin de Tours, and so named the island in the saint’s honor. The Dutch West India Company settled the island in 1631, using it as a trading post between their colonies in New Amsterdam (now New York) and Brazil.

The colonists quickly discovered a rich source of salt, and began intensive mining. Catching wind of this lucrative find, Spain asserted her rights to “her” territory and returned to drive the Dutch out.

The Dutch made repeated attempts to secure the island, although each attack failed. Despite this, the besieged governor gained permission from the Crown to destroy the fort and abandon the island, leaving behind a few Dutch and French settlers, who quickly claimed the island for their respective nations.

The two sides signed a treaty in 1648 to settle the territorial dispute, though the presence of a French fleet earned the French settlers a better deal.

The French briefly lost their territory just six years ago, when settlers from Anguilla, assisted by English privateers from St. Kitts, invaded. The territory was returned to France only two years ago.

The island remains split between the Netherlands and France, with the French in possession of the largest portion, though it is currently weak after years of pirate rule. The Dutch, keen to retake the entire island, are smuggling guns to the settlers in the hope of provoking a confrontation on St. Martin.