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History of Mauritius
From antiquity to the modern era — the historical eras, key events, and narrative that shaped Mauritius.
Overview
While Arab and Malay sailors knew of Mauritius as early as the 10th century AD and Portuguese sailors first visited in the 16th century, the island was first colonized in 1638 by the Dutch. Mauritius was populated over the next few centuries by waves of traders, planters and their slaves, indentured laborers, merchants, and artisans. The island was named in honor of Prince Maurice of Nassau by the Dutch, who abandoned the colony in 1710.
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Historical Eras
The major periods of {country}’s history at a glance.
Early Visitors
900 – 1638
Arab and Malay sailors knew of Mauritius as early as the 10th century, and Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas visited in 1510, naming the island Cirné. The island remained uninhabited by any settled population during this period, functioning only as a waypoint for maritime explorers. No permanent colony was established until the Dutch arrived in the following century.
Dutch Colony
1638 – 1715
The Dutch East India Company established the first permanent settlement in 1638, naming the island Mauritius in honor of Prince Maurice of Nassau. Colonists harvested ebony and introduced sugar cane, but the settlement struggled with cyclones, rats, and logistical difficulties. The Dutch abandoned the colony entirely in 1710, leaving the island uninhabited once more.
French Île de France
1715 – 1810
France claimed Mauritius in 1715 and renamed it Île de France, developing it into a prosperous plantation colony under the French East India Company before the Crown assumed direct control in 1767. Port Louis grew into a vital Indian Ocean naval base and privateering hub, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. African enslaved laborers were brought in to work the sugar estates, forming the foundation of the Creole community.
British Colonial Rule
1810 – 1968
Britain captured Mauritius in 1810 and retained it under the 1814 Treaty of Paris, preserving French legal institutions, including the Napoleonic Code, and the French language. The abolition of slavery in 1835 prompted the large-scale importation of Indian indentured laborers, fundamentally reshaping the island's demographics and eventually shifting political power toward the Indo-Mauritian Hindu majority. The first elections to a Legislative Assembly were held in 1947, initiating a gradual transition toward self-government and independence.
Independence & Modern Era
1968 – present
Mauritius achieved independence on March 12, 1968, with Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam of the Mauritian Labour Party becoming the country's first prime minister. The new nation built a stable multiparty democracy and diversified its economy beyond sugar into manufacturing, tourism, and financial services, attaining one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Periodic natural disasters such as Cyclone Claudette in 1979, alongside social tensions within the Creole community over economic inequality, have remained recurring challenges.
Timeline Preview
The first 7 key events. View the full chronology on the timeline page.
1498
Portuguese explorers stumble upon Mauritius.
Portuguese explorers stumble upon Mauritius in the wake of Vasco da Gama’s voyage around the Cape of Good Hope.
1510
Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas visits the island and names it Cirné.
Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas visits the island and names it Cirné. It is used as a port of call, but the Portuguese do not establish a permanent settlement.
1598 – 1710
The Dutch period.
The Dutch period. In 1598, a Dutch squadron, under the orders of Admiral Wybrand Van Warwyck, landed at Grand Port and named the island “Mauritius”, in honor of Prince Maurice Van Nassau, “Stathouder” of Holland. However, it was not until 1638 that there was a first attempt of Dutch settlement.
1715 – 1810
The French period.
The French period. Abandoned by the Dutch, the island became a French colony when, in September 1715, Guillaume Dufresne D’Arsel landed and took possession of this precious port of call on the route to India. He named the island “Isle de France”, but it was only in 1721 that the French started their occupation.
1810 – 1968
The British period.
The British period. The British administration, which began with Robert Farquhar as governor, was followed by rapid social and economic changes. One of the most important events was the abolition of slavery in 1835.
1834
British abolish slavery.
British abolish slavery. It is phased out on the island under a transition period known as “apprenticeship”.
1876
Indian rupee becomes official currency.
Indian rupee becomes official currency.