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Encyclopedia > History of Mauritius

Contents

Colonization

Discovery

Mauritius was first discovered by the Arabs in 975 AD. Also Malay sailors knew of Mauritius as early as the 10th century. For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about naval crewpeople; for other meanings, see sailor (disambiguation). ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ...


Portuguese Sailors (1507–1513)

Mauritius was discovered and visited by the Portuguese between 1507 and 1513.


An official world map by Diego Ribeiro described “from west to east, the first island, ‘’Mascarenhas’’, the second, ‘’Santa Apolonia’’ and the third, ‘’Domingo Friz’’ [1]. The three islands (Réunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues) were discovered some years earlier by chance during an exploratory expedition of the coast of the Golf of Bengal lead by Tristan da Cunha. The expedition ran into a cyclone and was forced to modify course. Thus, the ship ‘’Cirne’’ of the captain Diego Fernandez Pereira, came into view of Réunion island on 9 February 1507. They called the island ‘’Santa Apolonia’’ in honor of that day’s saint. Mauritius was discovered during the same expedition and received the name of ‘’Cirne’’ and Rodrigues that of ‘’Diégo Fernandez’’ [2]. Five years later, the islands were visited by Don Pero Mascarenhas [3] who left the name ‘’Mascarene’’ for the whole region. The Portuguese took no interest in these isolated islands. They were already implanted in Asia in Goa, on the coast of Malabar, on the island of Ceylon (now Sri-Lanka) and on the Malaysian coast where their main establishments were located. Map of Rodrigues Rodrigues (or, incorrectly, Rodriguez) is one of the Mascarene Islands and a dependency of Mauritius. ... Radar image of a tropical cyclone in the northern hemisphere. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1507 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... For other uses, see Goa (disambiguation). ...


Their main African base was in Mozambique, therefore the Portuguese navigators preferred to use the Mozambican canal to go to India. The Comoros at the north proved to be a more practical port of call. Thus no permanent colony was established on the island by the Portuguese.


Dutch Sailors (1598–1637)

In 1598, a Dutch expedition consisting of 8 ships set sail from the port of Texel (Netherlands) under the orders of admirals Jacques Cornelius Van Neck and Wybrandt Van Warwyck towards the Indian subcontinent. The 8 ships ran into foul weather after passing the Cape of Good Hope and were separated. Three found their way to the northeast of Madagascar whereas the remaining 5 regrouped and sailed in a southeasterly direction. On 17 September, the 5 ships under the orders of Admiral Van Warwyck came into view of the island. On 20 September, they entered a sheltered bay which they gave the name of ‘’Port de Warwick’’ (Its present name is “Grand Port”). They landed and decided to name the island "Prins Maurits van Nassaueiland", after Prince Maurits (Latin version: Mauritius) of the House of Nassau, the stadtholder of Holland, but from those days, only the name Mauritius has remained. On 2 October, the ships took to the sea again towards Bantam. Events January 7 - Boris Godunov seizes the throne of Russia following the death of his brother-in-law, Tsar Feodor I. April 13 - Edict of Nantes - Henry IV of France grants French Huguenots equal rights with Catholics. ... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... The royal House of Nassau is one of the most prominent dynasties in Europe. ... A stadtholder (Dutch: stadhouder meaning place holder, a Germanic parallel to Latin locum tenens or French lieutenant), means an official who is appointed by the legal ruling Monarch to represent him in a country, and may have a mandate to govern it in his name, in the latter case roughly... Holland is a region in the central-western part of the Netherlands. ... October 2 is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 90 days remaining. ...


From then on, the island’s ’’Port de Warwick’’ was used by the Dutch as a stopover after long months at sea. In 1606, two expeditions came for the first time to what would later become Port-Louis in the northwest part of the island. The expedition, consisting of 11 ships and 1 357 men under the orders of Admiral Corneille came into the bay, which they named “Rade des Tortues” (literally meaning Harbor of the Tortoises) because of the great number of terrestrial tortoises they found there [4]. The arms of Port Louis Port Louis banking district, and the main avenue leading to the Government House (seen in the background) Port Louis (pronounced locally as paw-louee) is the capital of Mauritius. ...


From that date, Dutch sailors shifted their choice to “Rade des Tortues” as harbor. In 1615, the shipwrecking and death of governor Pieter Both, who was coming back from India with 4 richly laden ships in the bay, caused the route to be considered as cursed by Dutch sailors and they tried to avoid it as much as possible. In the meantime, the British and the Danes were beginning to make incursions into the Indian Ocean. Those who landed on the island freely cut and took with them the precious bark of the Ebony trees, then found in profusion all over the island. Pieter Both (??, Amersfoort - 1615, Mauritius) was the first Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies. ... Binomial name Diospyros ebenum Koenig ex Retz. ...


Dutch colonization (1638–1710)

Dutch colonization started in 1638 and ended in 1710, with a brief interruption between 1658 and 1666. Numerous governors were appointed at the head of the island during which it was inhabited, but the continuous hardships like cyclones, droughts, pest infestations, lack of food and illnesses finally took their toll and the island was abandoned definitely in 1710. // Events April 10 - The worlds first copyright legislation became effective, Britains Statute of Anne Ongoing events Great Northern War (1700-1721) War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713) Births January 3 - Richard Gridley, American Revolutionary soldier (d. ...


The island was not permanently inhabited for the 40 years since discovery by the Dutch, but in 1638 Cornelius Gooyer established the first permanent Dutch settlement in Mauritius with a garrison consisting of 25 persons. He thus became the first governor of the island. In 1639, 30 more men came to reinforce the Dutch colony. Gooyer was instructed to develop the commercial potential of the island, but he did nothing of the sort, so he was recalled. His successor was Adriann Van der Stel who began the development in earnest, developing the export of Ebony bark. For the purpose, Van der Stel bought 105 Malagasy slaves [5] to the island. Within the first week, about 60 slaves were able to run away into the forests and about only 20 of them were eventually recaptured. Events March 29 - Swedish colonists establish first settlement in Delaware, called New Sweden. ... Cornelius Gooyer was a Dutchman who established a settlement in what is now Mauritius. ... Binomial name Diospyros ebenum Koenig ex Retz. ...


In 1644, the islanders were faced with many months of hardships, due to delayed shipment of supplies, bad harvests and cyclones. During those months, the colonists could only rely on themselves by fishing and hunting. Nonetheless, Van der Stel secured the shipment of 95 more slaves from Madagascar, before being transferred to Ceylon. His replacement was Jacob Van der Meersh. In 1645, the latter brought in 108 more Malagasy slaves. Van der Meersh left Mauritius in September 1648 and was replaced by Reinier Por. // Events February to August - Explorer Abel Tasmans second expedition for the Dutch East India Company maps the north coast of Australia. ... Jacob Van der Meersh was governor of Mauritius from 1644 to 1648. ... Renier Por was governor of Mauritius from 1648 to 1658. ...


In 1652, more hardships befell on the colonists, masters and slaves alike. The population was then of about 100 people. The continuing hardships affected the commercial potential island and a pullout was ordered in 1657. On 16 July 1658, almost all the inhabitants left the island, except for a ship’s boy and 2 slaves who had taken shelter in the forests [6]. Thus the first attempt at colonization by the Dutch ended badly. // Events April 6 - Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck establishes a resupply camp for the Dutch East India Company at the Cape of Good Hope, and founded Cape Town. ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... Events January 13 - Edward Sexby, who had plotted against Oliver Cromwell, dies in Tower of London February 6 - Swedish troops of Charles X Gustav of Sweden cross The Great Belt (Storebælt) in Denmark over frozen sea May 1 - Publication of Hydriotaphia, Urn Burial and The Garden of Cyrus by...


In 1664, a second attempt was made, but this one also ended badly as the men chosen for the job abandoned their sick commander, Van Niewland, without proper treatment and the latter eventually died.


From 1666 to 1669, Dirk Jansz Smient administered the new colony at Grand Port, with the cutting down and export of Ebony trees as the main activity. When Dirk Jansz Smient left, he was replaced by George Frederik Wreeden. The latter died in 1672, drowned with 5 other colonists during a reconnaissance expedition. His replacement would be Hubert Hugo. The later was a man of vision and wanted to make the island into an agricultural colony. His vision was not shared by his superiors and eventually could not fully develop his vision. // Events Samuel Pepys stopped writing his diary. ... Renier Por was governor of Mauritius in the new settlement at Grand Port from 1666 to 1669. ... George Frederik Wreeden was governor of Mauritius from 1669 to 1672. ... Huburt Hugo was governor of Mauritius from 1672 to 1677. ...


Issac Johannes Lamotius became the new governor when Hugo left in 1677. Lamotius governed until 1692, when he was deported to Batavia for judgment for persecuting a colonist whose wife had refused his courtship. Thus in 1692 a new governor, Roelof Deodati, was appointed. Even if he tried to develop the island, Deodati faced many problems, like cyclones, pest infestations, cattle illnesses and droughts. Discouraged, Deodati eventually gave up and his replacement would be Abraham Momber Van de Velde. The latter fared no better and eventually became the last Dutch governor of the island for that period. Thus the Dutch abandoned the island definitely in 1710. Issac Johannes Lamotius was governor of Mauritius from 1677 to 1692. ... Roelof Deodati was governor of Mauritius in the late 17th Century and was replaced by Abraham Momber Van de Velde. ... Abraham Momber Van de Velde was the last Dutch governor of Mauritius and served until 1710. ...


Treatment of slaves

Slaves were not particularly well treated by the colonists and revolts or the act of organizing one was severely repressed and punished. Some punishments consisted of amputation of various parts of the body and exposure in the open air for a day as example to others, eventually culminating in condemned slaves’ execution at sunset.


Legacy of the Dutch

  • Providing the name for the country and for many regions over the whole island. Some examples include the ‘Pieter Both’ mountain, the ‘Vandermeersh’ region near Rose-Hill as well as many other names.
  • Introduction of sugar cane plants from Java
  • Decimating the local dodo and giant tortoise population for food and by introducing competing species and pests, sometimes involuntarily.
  • Clearing of large swaths of forests for Ebony bark exploitation

Rose Hill may refer to: Rose Hill, North Carolina Rose Hill, Kansas Rose Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia Rose Hill, Iowa Rose Hill, Illinois Rose Hill, Lee County, Virginia Rose Hill, Mauritius British actress Rose Hill Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier, California This is a disambiguation page — a list of pages... Species Ref: ITIS 42058 as of 2004-05-05 Sugarcane is one of six species of a tall tropical southeast Asian grass (Family Poaceae) having stout fibrous jointed stalks whose sap at one time was the primary source of sugar. ... Binomial name Raphus cucullatus Linnaeus, 1758 Former range (in red) The Mauritius Dodo (Raphus cucullatus; Didus ineptus is an obsolete name), more commonly just dodo, was a metre-high (three-foot) flightless bird from the islands of Mauritius, New Zealand and Micronesia. ...

French rule (1715–1810)

Abandoned by the Dutch, the island became a French colony when, in September 1715, Guillaume Dufresne D'Arsel landed and took possession of this 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. However, it was only as from 1735, with the arrival of the most illustrious of French governor, Mahé de La Bourdonnais, that the "Isle de France" started developing effectively. // Events Pope Innocent XIII becomes pope Johann Sebastian Bach composes the Brandenburg Concertos April 4 - Robert Walpole becomes the first prime minister of Britain September 10 - Treaty of Nystad is signed, bringing an end to the Great Northern War November 2 - Peter I is proclaimed Emperor of All the Russias... Events April 16 - The London premiere of Alcina by George Frideric Handel, his first the first Italian opera for the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden. ... Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais (comte de La Bourdonnais) (Saint-Malo, 11 February 1699 – Paris, 10 November 1753) was a French naval officer and administrator, in the service of the French East India Company. ...


Mahé de La Bourdonnais established Port Louis as a naval base and a ship-building centre. Under his governorship, numerous buildings were built, a number of which are still standing today — part of Government House, the Chateau de Mon Plaisir at Pamplemousses and the Line Barracks. The island was under the administration of the French East India Company which maintained its presence until 1767. The arms of Port Louis Port Louis banking district, and the main avenue leading to the Government House (seen in the background) Port Louis (pronounced locally as paw-louee) is the capital of Mauritius. ... French and other European settlements in India. ... 1767 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...


From that year until 1810, the island was in charge of officials appointed by the French Government, except for a brief period during the French Revolution, when the inhabitants set up a government virtually independent of France. 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The French Revolution (1789–1799) was a vital period in the history of France and Europe as a whole. ...


During the Napoleonic wars, the "Isle de France" had become a base from which French corsairs organised successful raids on British commercial ships. The raids continued until 1810 when a strong British expedition was sent to capture the island. A preliminary attack was foiled at Grand Port in August 1810, but the main attack launched in December of the same year from Rodrigues, which had been captured a year earlier, was successful. The British landed in large numbers in the north of the island and rapidly overpowered the French, who capitulated. By the Treaty of Paris in 1814, the "Isle de France" which was renamed 'Mauritius' was ceded to Great Britain, together with Rodrigues and the Seychelles. In the act of capitulation, the British guaranteed that they would respect the language, the customs, the laws and the traditions of the inhabitants. Combatants Allies: Austria[1] Portugal Prussia[1] Russia[2] Spain[3] Sweden United Kingdom[4] French Empire Holland Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples Duchy of Warsaw Bavaria[5] Saxony[6] Denmark [7] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack von Leiberich Gebhard von Blücher Duke of Brunswick Prince... A privateer was a private ship (or its captain) authorized by a countrys government to attack and seize cargo from another countrys ships. ... Grand Port is a district encompassing much of south-eastern part of the island of Mauritius. ... Map of Rodrigues Rodrigues (or, incorrectly, Rodriguez) is one of the Mascarene Islands and a dependency of Mauritius. ... 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...


British rule (1810–1968)

Despite the only French naval victory of Battle of the Grand Port on 19 and 20 August 1810 by the fleet commanded by Pierre Bouvet, Mauritius was captured on the 3 December 1810 by the British under Commodore Josias Rowley. Their possession of the island was confirmed 4 years later by the Treaty of Paris (1814). French institutions, including the Napoleonic code of law, were maintained. The French language was at that moment still used more widely than English. Grand Port is a district encompassing much of south-eastern part of the island of Mauritius. ... August 20 is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Commodore is a military rank used in some navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a Captain, but is less than that of a Flag Officer. ... Sir Josias Rowley Bt. ... The 1814 Treaty of Paris, signed on May 30, 1814, ended the war between France and the Sixth Coalition of the United Kingdom, Russia, Austria, Sweden and Prussia. ... First page of the 1804 original edition The Napoleonic Code, or Code Napoléon (originally called the Code civil des Français, or civil code of the French), was the French civil code, established at the behest of Napoléon I. It entered into force on March 21, 1804. ... French (français, langue française) is one of the most important Romance languages, outnumbered in speakers only by Spanish and Portuguese. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...


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. The planters received a compensation of two million pounds sterling for the loss of their slaves which had been imported from Africa and Madagascar during the French occupation. | Come and take it, slogan of the Texas Revolution 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...


Mauritian Creoles trace their origins to the plantation owners and slaves who were brought to work the sugar fields. Indo-Mauritians are descended from Indian immigrants who arrived in the 19th century to the Aapravasi Ghat in order to work as indentured laborers after slavery was abolished in 1833. Included in the Indo-Mauritian community are Muslims (about 17% of the population) from the Indian subcontinent. The Franco-Mauritian elite controls nearly all of the large sugar estates and is active in business and banking. As the Indian population became numerically dominant and the voting franchise was extended, political power shifted from the Franco-Mauritians and their Creole allies to the Indo-Mauritians. The term Creole and its relatives in other languages — such as crioulo, criollo, créole, kriolu, criol, kreyol, kriulo, kriol, krio, etc. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Immigration Depot in Mauritius (Hindi: Aapravasi Ghat) is a dilapidated complex of buildings in Port Louis, which contains scarce remains of the islands first facility to receive indentured labourers from India. ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Turkish: Müslüman, Persian and Urdu: مسلمان, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of Islam. ...


Conflicts arose between the Indian community (mostly sugarcane labourers) and the Franco-Mauritians in the 1920s, leading to several deaths — mainly Indians. Following this the Mauritius Labour Party was founded in 1936 by Dr. Maurice Cure to safeguard the interest of the labourers. Dr. Cure was succeeded a year later by Emmanuel Anquetil who tried to gain the support of the port workers. After his death Guy Rozemond took over the leadership of the party. The Mauritian Labour Party (Parti Travailliste) is a political party in Mauritius. ... Second leader of the M.L.P. Famous unionist. ...


Indentured labour, Coolie Trade and Coolitude

When slavery was abolished in 1834, an attempt was made to secure a cheap source of adaptable labour for intensive sugar plantations in Mauritius. Indentured labour began with Chinese, Japanese, African and Malagasy labourers, but ultimately, it was India whicho was to supply the much needed coolies to Mauritius. Slave redirects here. ... 1834 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Indetured servitude is when a persons passage to America is payed for an American Colonist and then the foreigner must work for the american for a certain amount of time (usually 7 years) and then the person is free to do what they please. ... Coolie refers to unskilled laborers from Asia of the 1800s to early 1900s who were sent to the United States, Australia, New Zealand, North Africa and the West Indies. ...


The island soon became the key-point in the coolie route, specially when referring to Indian indentured labour, who set from Calcutta or Karikal by hundreds of thousands, to modify the social, political and economic physionomies of the island, but also beyond, till the West Indies. The meeting of people from mosaic India, China, Africa and Europe began a process of hybridation and intercultural frictions and dialogues, which have been analysed in Coolitude, a humanist and postmodern poetics to convey a dialogue between the imaginaries and histories which met during this period of dire taylorisation. This article is on Calcutta/Kolkata, the city. ... Categories: India geography stubs | Pondicherry | Cities and towns in India ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ... World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ... Scientific management, Taylorism or the Classical Perspective is a method in management theory which determines changes to improve labour productivity. ...


The recent inscription of the Aapravasi Ghat in 2006 on World Heritage list by Unesco provides scope for the coral-identity developed by semiologist and poet Khal Torabully fostering a dialogue between the coolie route and the slave route, which converge very strongly in Mauritius. This period of intensive use of Indian labour took place during British rule, with many brutal episodes and a long struggle for respect from the indentured. Elabana Falls is in Lamington National Park, part of the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves World Heritage site in Queensland, Australia. ... UNESCO logo UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ...


Towards independence

Elections in 1947 for the newly created Legislative Assembly marked Mauritius' first steps toward self-rule. The Assembly was elected among adult knowing to write. It was won by the Labour Party Headed by Guy Rozemont. It is the first time the elite Franco was ousted out of power. An independence campaign gained momentum after 1961, when the British agreed to permit additional self-government and eventual independence. A coalition composed of the Mauritian Labour Party (MLP), the Muslim Committee of Action (CAM) of Sir Abdool Razack Mohamed, and the Independent Forward Bloc (IFB)—a traditionalist Hindu party—won a majority in the 1967 Legislative Assembly election, despite opposition from Franco-Mauritian ( and Creole supporters of Gaetan Duval's and Jules Keoing's Mauritian Social Democratic Party (PMSD). The contest was interpreted locally as a referendum on independence. The election was won by a small margin. The constituency No. 15 was capital to the winning of the pro-independence coalition.The MLP led alliance was able to win this constituency only due to the support of the C.A.M. of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, MLP leader and chief minister in the colonial government, became the first prime minister after independence, on March 12, 1968. This event was preceded by a period of communal strife, brought under control with assistance from British troops. Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... The Mauritian Labour Party (Parti Travailliste) is a political party in Mauritius. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (शिवसागर रामगुलाम), LRCP, MRCS (1900–1985) was the Prime Minister of Mauritius from 1961 until 1982. ... March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (72nd in leap years). ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...


Independence

From Independence – 1994


The 1970s saw the emergence of the Mouvement Militant Mauricien/Parti Socialiste Mauricien (MMM/PSM) led by Paul Bérenger. The MMM was founded in 1970 and had three initial leaders, Paul Bérenger, Dev Virasawmy and Juneid Jeeroobarkhan. The MMM won its first election in a by election of constituency No.5 by electing Dev Virasawmy. Until 1982, Sir Seewoosagur was Prime Minister, his Labour Party in coalition with Duval's PMSD. In 1982, the coalition of Mouvement Militant Mauricien/Parti Socialiste Mauricien came to power in a landslide electoral victory, with Anerood Jugnauth as Prime Minister and Harish Boodhoo as the deputy Prime Minister. The coalition split in 1983, with Anerood Jugnauth forming the Mouvement Socialiste Mauricien (MSM), which became the governing party, with Jugnauth as Prime Minister. Sir Seewoosagur subsequently became Governor-General, although the MSM planned to make the country a republic within the Commonwealth, with him as President. An attempt to make the country a republic in 1990, with Bérenger as President failed, owing to political opposition. The Mauritian Militant Movement (Mouvement militant mauricien, MMM) is the ruling political party of Mauritius. ... Paul Raymond Berenger Paul Raymond Bérenger (born March 26, 1945) is a Mauritian politician of French ancestry and former Prime Minister of Mauritius from 2003 to July 5, 2005. ...


Following Sir Seewoosagur's death, his son, Navin Ramgoolam succeeded him as leader of the MLP. However, the MLP and PMSD were defeated at the 1991 election, which saw Sir Anerood Jugnauth re-elected. On March 12, 1992 Mauritius finally became a republic within the Commonwealth, with Cassam Uteem as president. Cassam Uteem (born 1941) is a Mauritian political figure. ... Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States (1861-1865) The majority of this article is about heads of states. ...


1995 – Present Day


Navin Ramgoolam formed a coalition with the MMM at the parliamentary elections in 1995, leaving the MSM in opposition. At the next elections in 2001, Sir Anerood Jugnauth’s MSM, in coalition with Paul Bérenger’s MMM was returned to power, with Sir Anerood Jugnauth appointed as prime minister. He subsequently retired as Prime Minister after 3 years and assumed the office of President. For the remaining time of the elected government the Prime Minister’s post was filled by Paul Bérenger. At the 2005 general elections, the MLP led Alliance Sociale coalition won the elections and Navin Ramgoolam became Prime Minister. Sir Anerood Jugnauth remains at the presidency. Navinchandra Ramgoolam (नवीन चन्‍द्र रामगुलाम) (born July 13, 1947) is the current Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius. ...


Notes and references

(incomplete)

  1. ^ Albert Pitot, T’Eyland Mauritius, Esquisses Historiques (1598–1710) 1905, p. 4
  2. ^ Jacques Auber, Histoire de l’océan Indien, 1955, p.233
  3. ^ AugusteToussain attributes the discovery of Mauritius to Mascarenhas whereas Albert Pitot hesitates to do so. Andre de Chapuiset Le Merle in his “Precis d’Histoire de l’île Maurice”, 1948, states that it is really Pero Mascarenhas and not Pedro Mascarenhas, who went to India only in 1554.
  4. ^ Auguste Toussaint, Histoire des îles Mascareignes, p.24
  5. ^ Dr A.Satteeanund Peerthum, Resistance Against Slavery, 1989, in Slavery in the South West Indian Ocean, MGI, p.25
  6. ^ Albert Pitot, T’Eyland Mauritius, Esquisses Historiques (1598–1710) 1905, p.116
 7 Khal Torabully, Coolitude : An Anthology of the Indian Labour Diaspora (with Marina Carter, Anthem Press, London, 2002) ISBN 1843310031 

External links

Dutch overseas empire
Former colonies
Africa: Arguin Island - Cape Colony - Lydsaamheid fort & factory in Delagoa Bay - Dutch Gold Coast - Gorée - Mauritius
The Americas: Berbice - New Holland (in Brazil) (part), Dutch Brazil - Dutch Guiana - Demerara - Essequibo annex Pomeroon
New Netherland (New Amsterdam, New Sweden) - Tobago - Virgin Islands (part)
Asia: Ceylon - Dutch India (Dutch Bengal - Coromandel Coast - Malabar Coast) - Deshima island, Japan - Dutch East Indies - Malacca - Taiwan
Arctic & Oceania: Netherlands New Guinea - Smeerenburg on Amsterdam island
See also: Dutch East India Company - Dutch West India Company
Present colonies (only Caribbean)
Kingdom of the Netherlands: Netherlands Antilles - Aruba

  Results from FactBites:
 
Encyclopedia4U - History of Mauritius - Encyclopedia Article (671 words)
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 not colonized until 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.
In 1810, Mauritius was captured by the British, whose possession of the island was confirmed 4 years later by the Treaty of Paris (1814).
Mauritius - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (1939 words)
While Arab and Malay sailors knew of Mauritius as early as the 10th century and Portuguese sailors first visited it in 1505, the island remained uninhabited until 1638 when it was colonized by the Dutch.
The island of Mauritius itself is formed around a central plateau, w