Sainte-Marthe Battery

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Origin and history

The Sainte-Marthe battery is an old military battery built between 1685 and 1693 on the Morne d'Orange in Saint-Pierre, Martinique. It is an integral part of the city's defensive system, designed to protect the harbour and French vessels wetting along the shore. Its strategic location, south of the city, complemented the defences formed by the Saint-Louis battery in the north, the Fort Saint-Pierre in the centre, and the Saint-Charles battery in the south.

The battery was named in honour of Antoine-André de Sainte-Marthe de Lalande, governor of Martinique from 1670 to 1679. It kept its original plan until the eruption of Pelee Mountain in 1902, which marked a turning point in its history. His remains include a rectangular vaulted powder keg built after 1864, as well as vestiges of ancillary buildings such as a guardhouse, a kitchen and a equipment store.

The site also includes a rectangular basin, powered by a canal built in 1821, reflecting the hydraulic arrangements of the time. The Sainte-Marthe battery was partially preserved, with its soil, basement and visible remains included in the additional inventory of historical monuments in 1991. It illustrates the evolution of coastal fortifications in Martinique, from 17th century beach batteries to subsequent adaptations.

His historical role is emphasized by sources such as Jean-Baptiste Du Tertre, who mentions in his General History of the West Indies (17th century) the need to strengthen the Morne d'Orange to protect French ships from English attacks, as in the naval battle of 1667. The battery thus embodies a military heritage linked to both colonial defence and natural hazards, such as the eruption of 1902.

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