“Who was Abbé Houël?” That’s the question many ask when they first find themselves on the Rue de l’Abbé Houël. This street is more than just a name. It is a connection to a figure who played a significant role in French history.
The Rue de l’Abbé Houël is named after Abbé Charles Houël. He was a significant figure in the history of Guadeloupe. Houël was not an abbé in the religious sense.
Charles Houël du Petit Pré governed Guadeloupe from 1643 to 1664. He was appointed by the Compagnie des Îles d’Amérique. He later bought the archipelago from them.
In August 1645 a royal proclamation made him the island’s first justice official. King Louis XIV granted him the title of Marquis de Guadeloupe. Houël found the island in poor condition. He reorganized it by building Fort Charles.
The Compagnie des Îles d’Amérique went bankrupt in 1648. Charles Houël partnered with his brother-in-law Jean de Boisseret d’Herblay. They bought the archipelago including la Désirade Marie-Galante and les Saintes. They paid 60000 livres of petun a type of tobacco. They also agreed to provide 600 pounds of fine sugar each year.
Jean de Boisseret’s name was on the Guadeloupe sales contract. They boosted the archipelago’s growth. They did this by planting sugar coffee and cocoa.
After his partner’s death Charles Houël had conflicts with his nephews. On August 23 1659 he had to sign the division of Guadeloupe. Marie-Galante went to the De Boisseret family. On March 29 1661 the De Boisseret family got the Marquisat de Sainte-Marie in Capesterre-Belle-Eau.
Charles Houël received the marquisat of Houëlbourg in 1660. Despite the 1640 peace treaty fights with the Caribbean continued. On March 31 1660 Charles Houël signed a treaty with the Caribbean. The Caribbean gave most of the island to the French. They retreated to Dominica Island. Some Native Americans found refuge north and east of Grande-Terre.
Charles Houël founded Basse-Terre in 1649. Colbert created the Compagnie des Indes Occidentales in 1664. Its first mission was to buy Guadeloupe back from Houël. This was to restore royal authority.
Charles Houël died shortly after buying a position as secretary to the King. His legacy lives on. Houëlmont a peak in the Caribbean mountains bears his name. Baie-Mahault’s coat of arms still features Charles Houël’s. Morne Houel in Saint-Claude is also named after him.
The Rue de l’Abbé Houël connects us to this man’s story. It reminds us of a time when the fate of islands and fortunes were intertwined. It links to the complexities of colonial history. So as you walk along the Rue de l’Abbé Houël remember the governor of Guadeloupe. Remember the Marquis de Guadeloupe. Remember Charles Houël.