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French Guatemalan

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History

The history of the French in Guatemala is divided into three periods of migratory waves.

The late eighteenth century

After the French Revolution, capitalists and entrepreneurs came to create coffee plantations in several countries of the Americas; in Guatemala, the first of these were situated in the department of San Marcos in the southern highlands.

The French Revolution introduced new political concepts and aims which formed the basis for the platforms of the liberal, radical and democratic parties of most of the world and therefore of Guatemala. These ideas had great influence on revolutionary movements on Hispanic America.

Independence era

French veterans of the Napoleonic Wars and the Spanish American wars of independence (such as Nicolas Raoul, Isidoro Saget, and Henri Terralonge) offered their services during the independence wars. Initial diplomatic contact between France and Central America began in 1827; full diplomatic relations were established in 1830. This led to the arrival of French merchants, professionals, and tradesmen. Many of them married local women, which led to an increase in the number of Guatemalan people of French descent. Later some French politicians moved to Guatemala City during the wars between liberals and conservatives. When the Federal Republic of Central America was divided, some French migrated to Costa Rica and Nicaragua although the majority remained in Guatemala.

Twentieth century

It is estimated that by 1900 there were approximately 8,000 French immigrants in Mesoamerica, three fourths of them in Mexico and nearly a fifth in Guatemala. The presidency of General José María Reina Barrios, who was educated in Paris, began a revival of diplomatic relations between France and Central America. In 1920, after the triumph of the Unionist movement, several Guatemalan families of French origin came together to found a branch the Alliance Francaise in Guatemala City.

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