Mauritius is an ancient volcanic island, located about 1.000km east of Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean. Together with Réunion and Rodrigues, Mauritius is part of the Mascarene Islands.

During the 10th centuary, Mauritius was already mentionend on old Arabic nautical charts. They called the island “Dina Harobi” (abandoned island), but they never settled on the island.

The first european explorers were the Portuguese. In the year 1507, the Portuguese navigator Diogo Fernandes Pereira named the island “Ilha do Cisne” (Island of the Swan – probably in reference to the Dodo), but they did not settle on the island either. One of the most known Portuguese explorers was Pedro Mascarenhas, after which the group of islands (Réunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues) is still named, till today.

The first real settlers were the Dutch. In September 1598 the Dutch Admiral Wybrandt van Warwyck, landed in a sheltered bay, in the Southeast of the island. They called this place “Port de Warwyck” (the current name is Grand Port). In addition, they gave the island the name: „Prins Maurits van Nassaueiland“, named after the Dutch Prince „Moritz von Oranien (ndl. Maurits, lat. Mauritius).“ From then on, the Dutch made regular stopovers at “Port de Warwyck”, on their route to India.

Permanent settlement efforts by the Dutch, did not begin until 40 years later, in the year 1638. During their colonization period, they left a big impact on the natural flora and fauna of the island. They began to cut down large parts of the original forests, especially ebony trees for the export to Europe. In addition, they laid the eradication for the extinction of the Dodos and Giant Tortoises, which until then, had not to fear any natural Predators. In return, they introduced sugar cane and Deers from Java to the island. Especially sugar cane, was grown on large plantations and became quickly, one of the most important economic sectors. This impact, has permanently changed the appearance of the island, to this day. Finally, after some difficult years and circumstances (cyclones, droughts, etc.), the Dutch abandoned their colonization plans, and left the island in 1710.

In 1715 the French captain Guillaume Dufresne D’Arsel declared the island as a French colony and named the island into: “Île de France”. During the term of office, of Mahé de Labourdonnais (Governor form 1734-1746), the acriculture and the infrastructure of the island, achieved a significant boom. He founded Port Louis in 1735, had many other new buildings built, some of which still stand today. With Slaves from Africa and Madagascar he expanded and managed large sugar cane plantations and has opened the first two sugar refineries in 1744.

In 1767, “Ile de France”, became a French crown colony and Pierre Poivre was the first Governor under the French crown. He was able to build on, on the successful era of Mahé de Labourdonnais and further expand the development of the island. He intensified spice cultivation and expanded the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden (the current name is Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden), into one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world.

During the Napoleonic Wars (1792-1815), many French Corsairs used Mauritius as base and coordinated from there, their attacks on British merchant ships. Since the British were unable to stop these raids, they ultimately sent a strong fleet to “Ile de France” in 1810, to stop these activities. As a result, the famous naval battle of Grand Port, took place on the 18th and 19th August 1810.

After a heavy fight, the French Fleet won this battle. In history, it was the only French victory over a British fleet, so Napoleon had this victorious moment engraved on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. However, a few months later, the British Empire struck back. They landed with 60 ships in the north of the island at Cap Malheureux and attacked Port Louis by invading through the mainland. The French were unprepared for this attack and ultimately had to surrender.

With the Treaty of Paris in 1814, Mauritius became a member of the British Empire and the French name Île de France was changed back to Mauritius. Additionally, the new British government had pledged to respect the former customs, laws and achievements of the previous French administration. 1835, slavery was officially abolished. In the following years, the British government introduced postage stamps, a voting right for mauritians that were able to read and write, followed by an universal suffrage for women. Ultimately, all efforts served, to prepare for the island´s independence, from the British Empire.

On March 12, 1968, Mauritius officially declared their independency from the British Empire.