The island nation of Saint Lucia is located in the eastern Caribbean of the West Indies.[9] It used to be known as Iouanalao, and then it became known as Hewanorra. These names were given to the island by the native Arawaks and Caribs—two distinct tribes of Amerindian people. It is north/northeast of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados, and south of Martinique. It is a part of the Windward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. It has a land area of 617 km2 (238 square miles) and, as of 2022, an estimated population of more than 180,000 people. The city of Castries serves as the nation's capital.

The Arawaks, the island's first known inhabitants, are thought to have settled there between 200 and 400 AD. The island would be taken over by the Kalinago around 800 AD. The French were the first Europeans to establish themselves on the island, and in 1660, they made a treaty with the indigenous Caribs. In 1663, England gained control of the island. England and France fought 14 times for control of the island over the next few years, and the island's rulers changed frequently. In 1814, the British gained complete control. Saint Lucia was also referred to as the "Helen of the West" in reference to the Greek mythological character Helen of Troy because the island was under British and French control so frequently.