List of heads of state of Mauritius

Mauritius
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Mauritius
Constitution

This is a list of the heads of state of Mauritius, from the foundation of the Mauritius in 1968 to the present day.

From 1968 to 1992 the head of state under the Mauritius Independence Act 1968 was the Queen of Mauritius, Elizabeth II, who was also the monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The Queen was represented in Mauritius by a Governor-General. Mauritius became a republic under the Constitution of 1992 and the monarch and Governor-General were replaced by a ceremonial President.

Dutch (1598-1718)

The Opperhoofd of Mauritius was an official who ruled Dutch Mauritius (now Republic of Mauritius) during the Dutch colonial period between 1598 and 1718. The island was under the administration of the Dutch East India Company.

French (1721-1810)

After the Dutch abandoned Mauritius, the island became a French colony in September 1715 when Guillaume Dufresne d'Arsel landed and took possession of it, naming the island Isle de France. The Governor of Isle de France was an official who ruled Isle de France (now Republic of Mauritius) during the French colonial period between 1721 and 1810. Furthermore, until 1735, Isle de France was administered from Île Bourbon, now known as Réunion.

Incumbent Portrait Reign From Reign Until
House of Bourbon
Louis XV 1721 10 May 1774
Louis XVI 10 May 1774 21 September 1792
Louis XVII 21 January 1793 8 June 1795
Louis XVIII 21 January 1793 8 June 1795
French First Republic (1792–1804)
House of Bonaparte, First Empire (1804–1810)
Napoleon I 18 May 1804 1810

British

Governor (1810-1968)

The British Governor of Mauritius was an official who ruled British Mauritius (now Republic of Mauritius) during the British colonial period between 1810 and 1968. Upon the end of British rule and the creation of Mauritius (Commonwealth realm) in 1968, this office was replaced by the Governor-General, who represented the British Monarch and not the Government of the United Kingdom as did the Governor. The office of Governor-General was itself abolished in 1992 and replaced by the post of President when Mauritius became a Republic.

Monarchy (1968-1992)

The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.

Governors-General (1968-1992)

The Governor-General was the representative of the monarch in Mauritius and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The Governor-General was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the Governor-General was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Mauritius without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government.

Republic

President of Mauritius (1992-Present)

Under the 1992 Constitution, the constitution of the Republic of Mauritius, the President replaced the monarch as ceremonial head of state. The President was elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy the Vice President served as Acting President.

Living former heads of state

Name Term/Reign Office Date of birth
Elizabeth II 1968–1992 Queen of Mauritius 21 April 1926
Cassam Uteem 1992–2002 President of Mauritius 22 March 1941
Ariranga Pillay 2002 Acting President 14 June 1945
Karl Offmann 2002–2003 President of Mauritius 25 November 1940
Raouf Bundhun 2003 Acting President 1937
Sir Anerood Jugnauth 2003–2012 President of Mauritius 29 March 1930
Monique Ohsan Bellepeau 2012, 2015 Acting President 1942
Rajkeswur Purryag 2012–2015 President of Mauritius 12 December 1947

External links

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