Franco-Mauritians
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A Mauritian of French origin, as the name implies, is a Mauritian person whose ancestors are from France. A member of such group is usually identified as a Franco-Mauritian.
Origins
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The first French settlers arrived in Mauritius (then Isle de France) in 1722, after the previous attempts of settlement by the Dutch had failed, and the island had once again become abandoned. They lived and prospered on the island, ruling it until the British invasion of 1810. The French by now strongly identified with the island, and the terms of capitulation allowed the settlers to live on as a distinct francophone ethnic group for the next 158 years under British rule before Mauritius attained independence.
Not all Franco-Mauritians have pure French linage, many also have British or other European ancestors that came to Mauritius and were absorbed in the Franco-Mauritian community or the gens de couleur (Coloureds). There are an estimated 15,000–20,000 Franco-Mauritians; French lineage is also found within the gens de couleur community with many having predominantly French ancestors—a further 30,000 people with considerable French bloodline. Within the Afro-Creole community, a large amount of people have some French ancestors from rapes during slavery times.
Demographic factors
Most Franco-Mauritians are Roman Catholic.
See also
- J. M. G. Le Clézio, a French author of Franco-Mauritian origins awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature.
- Mauritian of Indian origin
- Mauritian of African origin
- Mauritian of Chinese origin
- Mauritian Creole
References