Martinique

The Court of Martinique (formerly the Court of Fort-de-France), is a Camarilla stronghold located on the island of Martinique, in the Lesser Antilles.

HISTORY

The Caribbean and Antilles have historically been the territory of the Anarchs and the Sabbat, however, given the island's history as a colony of France, Martinique has always been an object of interest to some Camarilla Courts with a history of Imperialism. When the Spanish ceded the island to France in 1635, the first Court on Martinique, the Court of Fort-de-France, was founded.

By the late 1900s, the island had grown to host a total of four Courts, one for its capitol, Fort-de-France, and one for each of its Sub-Prefectures: Sainte-Pierre, La Trinité and Le Marin. Under the leadership of the Court of Fort-de-France, these Courts engaged in the first of its grueling campaigns to expel all of the Sabbat from the island. This first campaign spanned from 1998 to 2010. At the end of the first campaign, the clear dominance of the Court of Fort-de-France, along with the fatigue of the Sub-Prefecturate Courts, laid the grounds for an official unification in 2011, whereby the Court of Fort-de-France subsumed the smaller, weaker Courts, creating the Grand Court of Martinique (La Grande Cour de la Belle Martinique).

The unlikely success of the first campaign, cemented Camarilla dominance upon the island. Many Kindred from the smaller Camarilla courts of Central America and the Antilles migrated to the new stronghold, and many Kindred from the island's Anarch movement moved elsewhere in turn. This feedback loop gradually continued throughout the early 21st century, until the only Anarch and IA presence upon the island were the collaborative husks of their former selves.

This period of unprecedented Camarilla prosperity came under fire in 2043 with a Sabbat invasion of the island, which sparked the second campaign to expel the Sabbat from the island. After the island’s Scourge, Jean-Guy l’Aurochs, was assassinated in 2045, a series of short-lived appointments to the position were made, none lasting longer than a month. In January of 2046, Natalia Leone was appointed to the position of Scourge and proceeded to lead a team of Kindred on a crusade across the island’s coast, reclaiming each of the Sub-Prefectures with the battles of Lot Mondesir, l’Assomption à Sainte-Marie and Morne Rouge. While the last of these larger conflicts took place in 2047, the second campaign was only officially ended in 2050 with a reassertion of Camarilla dominance.

ORGANIZATION

The current Prince of Martinique is Her Majesty, Mercédès LaSganareuse of Clan Ventrue.

The current Seneschal of Martinique is Her Highness, Manuéla de la Petite-Salle of Clan Nosferatu.

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The Grand Court of Martinique, with its recent, violent and colonial history, has a number of roles unique to its Court:

The role of Seneschal-Sub-Prefecturate is awarded to Kindred who hold no other office and serve as more immediate mediators for local disputes within the island's three Sub-Prefectures. These Kindred are beholden to the Court's Seneschal proper. Seneschals-Sub-Prefecturates hold smaller, local court sessions between the larger gatherings in Fort-de-France. This structure means that the Grand Court of Martinique functions a lot like a smaller Imperial Court within the Imperial Court of the French Overseas Territories (La Cour Impériale des Territoires d'Outre-Mer).

The role of Voyant(e) is awarded to a Kindred, generally of of Clan Malkavian, who serves as an amalgamation of other roles, namely Principal of Faith and Herald, as well as providing oracular advice to the Prince and its officers.

The role of Consul is awarded to Ghouls who proved themselves worthy of limited autonomy based on their performance during the campaigns against the Sabbat. Consuls elevated after the first campaign are Consuls-Fondateurs, who preside over the Consuls-Adjoints, who were elevated after the second campaign. Consuls serve by ensuring that Mortal and Kindred interests on and around Martinique are aligned with those of the Camarilla, leading to them serving in positions throughout corporate, bureaucratic and diplomatic offices.