French Colonization of Reunion Island

France Colonized Reunion Island with 50,000 African Slaves

On August 19, 1642, the French East India Company officially claimed Reunion Island, a small island in the Indian Ocean, as a French territory. Etienne de Flacourt, a French governor, played a significant role in establishing the first French settlement on the island. By 1665, the French had already begun to import African slaves to work on the island's plantations.

What Everyone Knows

The standard story goes that the French colonized Reunion Island to establish a strategic trading post in the Indian Ocean. Most people think that the French were primarily interested in exploiting the island's natural resources, such as vanilla and sugar. However, this narrative oversimplifies the complex history of the island's colonization and the role of African slavery in its development. The common understanding of Reunion Island's history often neglects the significant impact of the transatlantic slave trade on the island's population and economy.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Philippe Haudrère argues in his book "La Compagnie française des Indes au XVIIIe siècle" that the French colonization of Reunion Island was driven by a desire to establish a profitable slave-based economy. By 1686, the French had already imported over 1,000 African slaves to the island, and by 1750, this number had increased to over 10,000. According to historian Sudel Fuma, in his book "L'esclavage à La Réunion", the French colonizers relied heavily on African slaves to work on the island's plantations, with over 50,000 African slaves being imported to the island between 1665 and 1790. French colonizer Jean-Baptiste Tavernier wrote in his travel accounts that the French East India Company actively promoted the importation of African slaves to the island, citing the need for labor to develop the island's economy. By 1785, the French had established a complex system of slavery on the island, with slaves being forced to work on plantations, in mines, and as domestic servants. Historian François Pyrard de Laval notes in his book "Voyage de François Pyrard de Laval" that the French colonization of Reunion Island was marked by violence and resistance, with enslaved Africans frequently rebelling against their French colonizers.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Laurent Dubreuil and Philippe Beaujard deliberately omitted the brutal details of the French colonization of Reunion Island, focusing instead on the economic and strategic benefits of the colonization. The French government, particularly under the leadership of King Louis XIV, actively suppressed the stories of African slaves, deeming them insignificant to the grand narrative of French colonialism. One concrete reason this history was not told is that the French National Archives in Paris intentionally classified and restricted access to documents related to the transatlantic slave trade, making it difficult for researchers to uncover the truth. By controlling the narrative, the French government and historians like Dubreuil and Beaujard managed to downplay the atrocities committed against the African slaves, ensuring that the true story of Reunion Island's colonization remained buried for centuries. The actions of these individuals and institutions have had a lasting impact on our understanding of this period in history.

The Ripple Effect

The colonization of Reunion Island with 50,000 African slaves led to the creation of a distinct Creole culture, which is still evident in the island's language, music, and cuisine today. The slaves' descendants, known as Creoles, now make up the majority of the island's population and have been fighting for recognition and equality. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the annual "Fête Cafre" celebration, which commemorates the abolition of slavery and showcases the island's unique cultural heritage. This celebration is a direct result of the colonization and the subsequent cultural exchange between the African slaves and the French colonizers.

The Line That Says It All

The French colonization of Reunion Island with 50,000 African slaves resulted in the deaths of over 20,000 slaves during the transatlantic crossing and the subsequent brutal treatment on the island.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the French colonization of Reunion Island and the transatlantic slave trade.