L’espace caribéen: un enjeu de pouvoir pour la francmaçonnerie française

Abstract

If the "Caribbean space" was the place of implantation of an independent freemasonry carrier of its own history and also was during the 18th and 19th centuries a zone of confrontation between the Masonic European powers, the Grand Orient of France, and the Grand Lodge United of England. Under these tensions, the Grand Orient of France was concerned about establishing its authority over provincial lodges (at colonies in the Antilles and in port cities as Bordeaux, Nantes and Le Havre), while these lodges developed tools which seek to implement policies resistance and in turn, benefit the different social tensions for development. The Havre?s freemasonry established very close relations with lodges from Cuba and Santo Domingo. This study conveys how the position of the Masonic lodges and the development of national and liberal movements, accepting men of color, causing functions as platforms for these movements in the early 19th century. Finally, this article attests the importance of the "Caribbean space" in the history of Masonic international relations.