All you need to know about the history of the island of Saint-Barthélemy
In the Beginning ...
Originally called "Ouanalao" by the Arawaks, the island's first inhabitants, it would appear that it was Christopher Columbus' brother Bartolomeo who discovered the island in 1493 and gave it his name. It took almost two centuries for settlers to arrive.
In 1648, Monsieur de Longvilliers de Poincy, Commander of the Order of Malta, decided to live there. In 1665, the island was purchased from the Order of Malta by the Compagnie des Indes Occidentales. A few years later, in 1674, Saint-Barthélemy became part of the royal domain and the colony of Guadeloupe. A long, troubled period followed, during which pirates made the island their hideout.
It wasn't until 1763, with the arrival of Descoudrelle, that the island regained its peaceful atmosphere. But in 1784, everything changed! Louis XVI exchanged the island of St-Barthélemy with Gustaf III for a warehouse in Sweden. This marked the beginning of a long period of prosperity, during which Sweden left a mark on the island that is still visible today. Finally, in 1878, following numerous natural disasters and the unforgettable fire of 1852, King Oscar II decided to cede St. Barth back to France.
Finally, in 1946, the island became a commune of Guadeloupe. Its status was changed again on July 15, 2007, when Saint-Barthélemy became an overseas collectivity.
