History
The Seychelles islands remained uninhabited for more than 150 years after they became known to Western explorers. The island appeared on Portuguese charts as early 1505, although Arab may have visited them much earlier. In 1742, the French Governor of Mauritius Bertrand François Mahé de La Bourdonnais , sent an expedition to the islands. A second expedition in 1756 reasserted formal possession by France and gave the islands their present name in honor of the French finance minister under King Louis XV. The new French colony barely survived its first decade and did not begin to flourish until 1794, when Jean-Baptiste Quéau de Quincy became commandant.
The Seychelles islands were captured and freed several times during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars, then passed officially to the British under the Treaty of Paris (1814) . From the date of its founding by the French until 1903, the Seychelles Colony was regarded as a dependency of Mauritius, which also passed from the French to British rule in 1814
In 1888, a separate administrator and executive and administrative councils were established for the Seychelles archipelago. Nine years later, the administrator acquired full powers of a British colonial governor, and on August 31, 1903, Seychelles became a separate British Crown colony.
In March 1970, colonial and political representatives of Seychelles met in London for a constitutional convention, with the Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP)of James Mancham advocating closer integration with the UK, and the Seychelles People's United Party (SPUP) of France-Albert René advocating independence. Elections in November 1970 brought a new constitution into effect, with Mancham as Chief Minister. Further elections were held in April 1974, in which both major political parties campaigned for independence. Following this election, negotiations with the British resulted in an agreement under which the Seychelles became an independent republic within the Commonwealth on June 29, 1976. The newly knighted Sir James Mancham became the country's first President, with René as Prime Minister. These negotiations also restored the islands of Aldabra, Farquhar, and Des Roches, which had been transferred from Seychelles in November 1965 to form part of the new British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) to Seychelles upon independence.
On June 5, 1977, a coup d'etat saw Mancham deposed while overseas, and René became President. The Seychelles became a one-party state, with the SPUP beoming the Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF).
In 1981, the country experienced a failed coup attempt by Mike Hoare and a team of mercenaries. An international commission, appointed by the UN Security Council in 1982, concluded that South African defence agencies had been involved in the attempted takeover, including supplying weapons and ammunition.
Socialist rule was brought to a close with a new constitution and free elections in 1993.
Dates in the History
From the end of the 16th century until 1730, the Seychelles remained the secret hiding place for pirates.
1742 The first French exploratory expedition led by Lazare Picault and Grossin; commissioned by the Governor of Mauritius, Mahe de la Bourdonnais.
1756 French occupation by Captain Nicolas Morphey. The islands were named after King Louis XV chancellor Jean Moreau de Sechelles.
1770 The first 20 or so inhabitants arrived on the island of St. Anne, from the French colony of Mauritius.
1772 The second group of inhabitants arrived at the beach of Anse Royale, on Mahe.
1778 A new group of inhabitants arrived, and built their homes in the place where today Victoria stands, the foundation stone for Victoria was placed.
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1785 70 white European
men inhabited the islands, along with their 500 slaves.
1794 Chevalier Jean Baptise Queau de Quinssy became Governor of the Seychelles. 1794-1811 Sovereignty of the islands fluctuated between England and France, several times. 1835 England abolished slavery on the islands, granting 4000 slaves their freedom. 1893 The first telegraph cable was laid, between Mahe and Sansibar. 1903 The Seychelles broke away from the Mauritius colony, and became a separate colony under British rule. 1972 Opening of the International Airport, built by the Queen of England. |
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1976 On 29th June 1996, the Seychelles became an Independent republic.
1977 Albert Rene seized power in the coup d’etat.
1982/83 The atoll of Aldabra and Vallee de Mai were included in the list of World Heritage sites.
1993 The Republic of the Seychelles turned into a multiparty state, and Albert Rene was democratically voted President, having been in office since 1977. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a new constitution and free elections in 1993.
1994 The Republic of the Seychelles had a population of approximately 70,000 people.
2004 Mr James Michel was made the 3rd president of the Seychelles