First inhabited by the peaceful Arawak Indians, the fierce Caribs had controlled St. Lucia for 700 years by the time Juan de Cosa, a little known explorer who traveled with Columbus, first sighted the island in 1499. After that, things got really interesting.
Originally called Hewanorra ("there where the iguana is found"), the first European to settle was the pirate Francois Le Clerc, known as Jambe de Bois or Wooden Leg. In 1550 he based himself on Pigeon Island, a prime spot for attacking passing Spanish ships. The English first landed in 1605, after being blown off course on their way to Guyana. Sixty-seven settlers purchased huts from the Caribs. One month later the 19 still alive fled from the Caribs in a canoe. There was a second futile attempt at colonization by the British in 1639.
The French arrived in 1651 when two representatives of the French West India Company bought the island. Evidently they bought the cooperation of the Caribs as well, but peace was short-lived. In 1659 ownership disputes between the French and the English ignited hostilities that lasted 150 years, during which the island changed hands 14 times. The French finally ceded the island to the British in 1814. St Lucia became completely independent in 1979 but remains a member of the British Commonwealth.
The only evidence of this tempestuous past are the remains of the forts that once housed the combatants. Today you'll find St Lucia a colorful mixture of history and unsurpassed natural beauty - and peace. From a drive-in volcano to a resident Nobel Laureate, from 3000 foot mountain ranges and 19,000 acres of rainforest to miles of sandy white beaches and unparalleled bird and whale watching, St Lucia is a truly a unique Caribbean destination.
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