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Le Commandeur Philippe Blondel de Longvilliers de Poincy Page
Saint Kitts
The Commentary & Genealogical Data Posted Below Concerns the Blondel Family and Commandeur de Poincy. The Genealogical Documents Were Submitted by Jean-Claude Blondel La Rougery on August 31, 2002
Commandeur de Poincy
Commandeur Blondel de Longvilliers de Poincy was one of the first governors in the West Indies. #1 His arrival at St. Christophe (St. Kitts) as an assignment of the French King brought a new era to the French Caribbean. The French government chose a more active role in the colonization of the Caribbean and sought to stifle the Spanish domination of the area. The Commandeur purchased the island of St. Christophe and held title to it for several years. He later deeded the island to the "Knights of Malta" of whom he was also the official leader. The Knights of Malta tried to colonize the area through the ventures of private companies that received the legislative support of the crown. The legacy of the Commandeur is also evident on the island of Saint Martin as the Port of Lonvilliers on the Northern coast of the island was certainly named in reference to the first governor and his nephew Robert. Commandeur de Poincy built a beautiful home, actually a mansion that was heavily fortified on the island of Guadeloupe which is pictured next. #3 The Commandeur's banner is reflected in the horizon while his home is below. The island of St. Christophe was named in honor of the Commandeur's brother, Christophe, and both names are missing an "R" at the end. That particular relationship, and Blondel descendancy on Martinique and the other islands is reflected in the genealogical data below. The Knights of Malta, while being an order of knighthood, are historically known for their Christian values, humanitarian gestures, acts of benevolence, and philanthropistic goals. The order built hospitals during the crusades for the sick and wounded. It is well known that Commandeur de Poincy was generous in his charitable acts and kind deeds toward the native populations on the Caribbean islands. Without the understanding that the primary objective of the Knights of Malta was to support and prosecute wars and military actions against the Ottoman empire it would seem a contradiction that the Knights of Malta also engaged in sponsoring and maintaining a pirate fleet of ships that plundered Muslim shipping. Even so, historically, the Knights of Malta and their "associates" did indeed engage in some of the most daring if not ruthless acts of commissioned piracy ever seen on the open seas. There were other Blondel family members who may have also been members of the "Knights of Malta" such as Mederico Blondel whom we know worked for them as an architect and engineer, and we believe that François Blondel, the world famous architect, probably had a working relationship with the order as well. The Commandeur's nephew, Robert Blondel de Longvilliers de Poincy was assigned the governorship of Saint Domingue after the failure of his uncle's colony on St. Christophe or St. Kitts. Many people believe, and history records that the very first of the French colonists built settlements on the island of Tortuga before building their homes on Saint Domingue. Some of the #2 Blondel family members had already been assigned the task of the colonization of Martinique, and in so doing were not moved from their homes on Martinique to the colony of Saint Domingue with the other Blondel family members. The assignment to colonize Martinique was given to one of Commandeur de Poincy's nephews, #4 Duparquet, and is mentioned here in Philippe Rossignol's web pages concerning this same history: http://members.aol.com/GHCaraibe/hist/histfwi1.html For more information concerning Commandeur de Poincy's activities on St. Croix and other islands please see this site: Commandeur de Poincy and St. Croix For more information on any island or group of islands and their individual place in history during the colonial period please use the search page to search the internet or you may search only the "Blondel Family Pages" for additional material.
Genealogical Data
Sources:
© Blondel 1998-2002 Blondell