Mauritius Island

Mauritius lies in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. The island and its surrounding waters occupy a position along sea routes connecting Africa and Asia. Reefs, weather and conditions ashore affected how vessels approached and anchored.

Dutch settlers established a colonial presence in the seventeenth century. Under French rule the island was called Île de France, and Port Louis developed as a commercial and naval base. Enslaved labour sustained an important part of the plantation economy. Britain captured the island during the Napoleonic Wars, changing its sovereignty. Mauritius was thus drawn into trade, imperial rivalry and migration across the Indian Ocean.