Guadeloupe History

Guadeloupe was discovered in 1493. The island was settled by the French in 1635. Most of the indigenous Carib Indians fled the island or were killed in skirmishes with the French. Slaves were brought from Africa to work the sugarcane plantations. Guadeloupe remained a French colony until 1946 when it became an Overseas Department of the French Republic. The islands of St. Martin and St. Barthelemy are also included with Guadeloupe.