The island of Mauritius has a volcanic origin and is known as being one of the most paradise-like country. Tourists often visit the island because of its white sandy beaches, warm weather, good street foods, a vast multitude of aquatic animals and a diverse group of cultures. If you do not believe you will probably believe Mark Twain because in his word, he said that, “Mauritius was made first, and then heaven; and heaven was copied after Mauritius”. So, let’s dive in on an adventure and let us explore the beautiful history of Mauritius.
Location
First of all, Mauritius island is found in the Indian Ocean, South East of the African continent and is located in the tropic of Capricorn with a latitude of 20° and a longitude of 57°.
Arabs and Malays Era
During the 10th Century
The first settlers who landed in Mauritius were the Arabs. Arab navigators were travelling across the Indian Ocean in the Middle Ages when they discovered the island. They named it “Dinarobin” which means desert island. For them Mauritius was a good source of trade between countries. However, they did not leave any traces in the island so little is known about them. Moreover, there are no documentary proofs which show the reason of their departure. They were followed by the Malays tribe and unfortunately there are not much information which are available concerning that period.
Portuguese Era
During the 16th Century
1507
Expedition and discovery of the island
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to come across Mauritius around 1507. Their wish was to discover and explore new territories and shores. They embarked on an expedition off the coast of the Bay of Bengal. During a cyclonic weather they were forced to change course and thus by chance they came along three islands which are presently known as Reunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues. Diogo Fernandes Pereira, a Portuguese sailor gave the name of “Ilha do Cirne” (Island of the Swan) to Mauritius island.
1512 – 1528
The Portuguese navigators
Dom Pedro Mascarenhas, a Portuguese navigator and ambassador came to the Indian Ocean after five years. While exploring the Indian Ocean, he happened to be the first European who discovered the island of Diego Garcia and Mauritius during the same expedition.
Later on, Diogo Rodrigues, a Portuguese explorer of the Indian Ocean sailed around this group of islands where he gave his family name to Rodrigues Island. He then named Réunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues islands as the Mascarene islands after Dom Pedro Mascarenhas. Therefore, the archipelago consists of these islands.
There are evidences that showed that the Portuguese had no interest in settling in these deserted islands. It was in Asia more precisely in Goa that they were already established. They were more interested in trading and they used the Mozambique Channel because it was easier for them to travel from there back to Asia.
Dutch Era
16th Century to 18th Century
1598
The Dutch discovered the island
It was on September 17, 1598 that the Dutch sailors landed at Ferney in the bay of Grand Port (earlier known as “Port de Warwick”) where the Portuguese had not tried to settle. Eight ships were under the command of Admiral Van Warwyck who was a naval officer. They were destined to go to the East Indies. During this trip, they passed near the Cape of Good Hope and they faced a storm where they were separated into two groups. The first group, made up of three ships, navigated to the north-east of Madagascar. The remainder which consisted of five ships with the Admiral Van Warwyck sailed in a south-easterly direction. And this is how they discovered the island and named it Mauritius in honour of the Prince Maurice Van Nassau.
Dutch sailors used the south-eastern harbour (“Port de Warwick”) as a stopping place after spending a long time at sea. Moreover, Admiral Corneille on another expedition with his fleets made the discovery of a new harbour port in the north west of the island. They came along in the bay and named it “Rade de Tortues” (Harbour of the Tortoises”) and they decided that it would be their main harbour.
1638-1710
The Dutch settlement
The Dutch returned and established for the first time at Vieux Grand Port in 1638. They built a fortification called the Lodge to prevent themselves from the attacks of enemies. Mauritius offered plenty of natural resources that the Dutch had greatly exploited.
There was a lot of birds on the island among them the flightless Dodo who is now extinct. Animals such as goats, tortoises and pigs already existed then. In 1639 the Governor Van Der Stel introduced sugarcane (it was used to make arrack), the Java deer, some vegetables, fruits and trees but unfortunately the rats destroyed all the crops.
The Dutch also exploited the black ebony wood and they started a commerce to sell the rare black wood. In 1642 Governor Van Der Stel brought slaves to work in the fields and plantations. In 1658 they left Mauritius and came back in 1664. It was in 1710 that the Dutch finally left the island for good because of climate change such as droughts, storms and cyclones which devastated their settlement. Moreover, rats destroyed their provisions and the slaves stood up against them in revolt.
1638-1710
The Dutch settlement
The Dutch returned and established for the first time at Vieux Grand Port in 1638. They built a fortification called the Lodge to prevent themselves from the attacks of enemies. Mauritius offered plenty of natural resources that the Dutch had greatly exploited.
There was a lot of birds on the island among them the flightless Dodo who is now extinct. Animals such as goats, tortoises and pigs already existed then. In 1639 the Governor Van Der Stel introduced sugarcane (it was used to make arrack), the Java deer, some vegetables, fruits and trees but unfortunately the rats destroyed all the crops.
The Dutch also exploited the black ebony wood and they started a commerce to sell the rare black wood. In 1642 Governor Van Der Stel brought slaves to work in the fields and plantations. In 1658 they left Mauritius and came back in 1664. It was in 1710 that the Dutch finally left the island for good because of climate change such as droughts, storms and cyclones which devastated their settlement. Moreover, rats destroyed their provisions and the slaves stood up against them in revolt.
French Era
18th Century to the 19th Century
1715
Isle de France
It was in 1715 that Captain Guillaume Dufresne d’Arsel dropped the anchor in the North West Port of the island. He claimed the island for France and took possession of it and renamed it Isle de France. The first French governor of Isle de France was the Knight Denis De Nyon. He governed the island from the 7 April 1722 to 16 December 1725. During their reign, the French also experienced the same problems (climate issues) that the Dutch had faced.
1735 - 1747
Mahé de Labourdonnais
In 1735, Bertrand-François Mahé de Labourdonnais, governor of Isle de France and Bourbon, sailor, soldier and an administrator built a port, a city and a capital known as Port-Louis. It was the most important port in the Mascarenes. Furthermore, through him there was a lot of development going on in Isle de France. He built a various number of buildings which are still present nowadays such as the Château de Mon Plaisir at the SSR Botanical Garden, a part of the Government House and the Line Barracks. Some factories and warehouses were built as well. He encouraged the plantation of sugarcane and other crops. Slaves from Madagascar and from the East African coast and Indian sailors were brought to work in Port Louis. He left the island in 1747.
1767 - 1772
Pierre Poivre
In 1767, Pierre Poivre, a botanist came as an intendant to Isle de France. His main goal was to improve agriculture in the island. He started by building the new botanical garden at Pamplemousses nowadays known as ‘Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden’. He also introduced some spice plants such as nutmegs and cloves. Laws were passed by him to protect the environment. As agriculture was becoming really important, he imported more slaves to work in the fields. Pierre Poivre left the island in 1772.
1803
Charles Decaen
In 1803, the French general Charles Decaen was chosen by Napoleon Bonaparte a French Emperor to be the Governor of Isle de France. The first college, the Lycée Colonial which is now known as the Royal College was built by Decaen. Later on, in 1805 he built Mahebourg and a various number of fortifications to defend the island against all the efforts of the British.
Creation of the Creole Language
The communication between masters and slaves were quite different because they both came from two different backgrounds and ethnicities. Masters used a French-lexified language to interact with slaves during that time and soon it then turned into Creole language. This created a diglossia situation in which French language was considered to be superior compared to Creole language which was then inferior.
1809 - 1810
The naval battle
It was in 1809 that the British captured Rodrigues and in 1810 Reunion island was also captured. In August, the British landed in Grand Port where they were defeated by the French Army at the Naval Battle of Grand Port. They planned another attack to capture the island and in December, the British Army sent troops in the North of the island (Cap Malheureux). They had more weapons and the French finally surrendered the island to them on the 3rd December 1810. The British then took possession of it and renamed the island Mauritius.
British Era
19th Century to 20th Century
1810 - 1815
The development of the island
After the French handed Mauritius to the British, they became the new rulers of the island. They brought some drastic social and economic changes throughout their reign. The first British Governor, Sir Robert Farquhar, still encouraged the cultivation of sugarcane and in 1815, Jean Lebrun set up the first public school for the poor. The British built a stone fortress, the ‘Fort Adelaide’ which still exists on a hill in the center of Port Louis.
1835
Abolition of slavery
In 1834 Indian started to migrate in Mauritius and in 1835 there was the abolition of slavery. This caused serious problems because it has brought a modification in the ethnic structure of the island. Moreover, as the planters were losing their slaves (were imported from Madagascar and Mozambique during the French Era) they eventually received a compensation of two-million-pound sterling.
Immigrants
The British brought Indian immigrants, who were of Hindu and Muslim faith to work in the island and most importantly in the sugarcane fields. The Indian labourers worked on the sugar estates, on construction sites, in transport, in factories and some came as traders. Later on, they were joined a small number of Chinese traders.
1871 - 1964
In 1871, the Indian workers wrote a petition with the help of Adolph Von Plevitz for the British Government to improve their working conditions as they were not justly treated. In 1872, there was a Commission of Inquiry into the conditions of indentured labourers on the sugar estates. Furthermore, in November 1901, Mahatma Gandhi came to Mauritius for a brief stay which lasted for two weeks. He encouraged the community of Indo-Mauritian to interest in education and politics. In 1909, immigration ended for the Indian people.
It was in 1947 that Mauritian were able to vote for the first time during the election. In 1964, Mauritius gained the right to self-government in internal affairs.
Independence and Republic
On the 12 March 1968, Mauritius finally obtained its independence. It was Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam who led Mauritius to obtain its independence and he was the first prime minister. The island achieved the status of Republic on 12 March 1968.