Mauritius was known to the Arabs as early as the 10th century but officially discovered in 1505 by the Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas.
The Dutch occupied the island between 1598 to 1712, whereafter the French took over from 1715 to 1810. In 1814, it was ceded to Great Britain through the Treaty of Paris. Then, in 1968, Mauritius finally became independent, with Republic Day proclaimed on 12 March 1992.