History of Reunion Island

In 1513, the Portuguese Mascarene came to an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, later named the Mascarene Islands. Reunion was an island in the archipelago. In 1642, France announced its official occupation of the island, and in 1649 Named Bourbon Island. During the French Revolution, Bourbon Island was renamed Reunion (French for union) to symbolize the unity and victory of the revolutionary forces.

French immigrants and their slaves brought from Madagascar settled on Bourbon Island in 1663. The island served as a stopping point for French ships plying the Indian Ocean and was under the control of the French East India Company.

In 1767, King Louis XV of France redeemed the island and established various administrative and judicial institutions.

A large number of immigrants and slaves were transported to the island to grow coffee. During the French Revolution, immigrants on the island established a parliament to support democracy and peace. After the collapse of Napoleon's empire, Reunion was briefly occupied by the British and returned to France in 1815. In 1848, Reunion announced the abolition of slavery, and 60,000 slaves were freed. In the late 19th century, sugar cane replaced coffee as the island's main cash crop, and the sugar industry emerged. During World War I, Reunion became a supplier of sugar to France and its economy developed further.

In November 1942, Charles de Gaulle's Free French government sent colonial administrators to replace the governor-general of the original Vichy government. In 1946, the French government decided to transform Reunion into an overseas province of France, under the jurisdiction of a provincial governor appointed by France.

In 1973, Reunion was changed to a region of France.