Fort Royal, Martinique 1720

The town of Fort Royal, Martinique; is the "setting" for the St. Louis Pirate Fest.

The Isle of Martinique was "discovered" by the European countries during the 4th trip of Christopher Columbus to the New World in 1493; it was originally called Madinina by the Spanish; but became conquered and colonized by the French in 1635.

In 1638, a small fort and village are begun on the island; and it is attacked in 1674 by Dutch Troops. The success of this "Rum Victory", as it was known, encourages a real fort to be built; this becomes the actual fort of Fort Royal.

In 1676, the Marquis of Bass, who is the first governor of the West Indies, decides to create a town next to the Fort; thereby creating the town of Fort Royal. By 1681; the previous capital of Saint Pierre loses that role to the new capital of Fort Royal. Unfortunately, multiple natural disasters strike the town in the next few years, including floods, yellow fever epidemics, and earthquakes. By 1762, there is a War going on with the English and the Revolution.

If someone were to look for Fort Royal on a map of Martinique today, it was renamed Fort-de-France by a Napoleonic decree in 1801.