Page "History of Mauritius" Paragraph 26

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.