Réunion (Colony)

This article is about the specific polity Réunion (Colony) and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.

If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here:All Statistics

Was a French Colony in the Indian Ocean. The island changed name several times, being called Île Bourbon or Île Bonaparte in the past. It was permanently renamed Réunion after the fall of the July monarchy by a decree of the provisional government on 7 March 1848. In 1946 Réunion became a French overseas department.

Establishment

January 1794: The name of Île Bourbon was changed into Île de la Réunion in 1793 by a decree of the Convention Nationale (the elected revolutionary constituent assembly) with the fall of the House of Bourbon in France.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

1. French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

Were a series of conflicts between France and several European monarchies between 1792 and 1815. They encompass first the French Revolutionary Wars against the newly declared French Republic and from 1803 onwards the Napoleonic Wars against First Consul and later Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. They include the Coalition Wars as a subset: seven wars waged by various military alliances of great European powers, known as Coalitions, against Revolutionary France - later the First French Empire - and its allies.

1.1.French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars - Theatre of war in the overseas colonies

The theatre of war in the overseas colonies during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

2. World War II

Was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945 (it started sooner in certain regions) between the Axis Powers (mainly Germany, Japan and Italy) and the Allies (mainly the Soviet Union, the U.S.A., the U.K., China and France). It was the war with more fatalities in history. The war in Asia began when Japan invaded China on July 7, 1937. The war in Europe began when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. The war ended with the complete defeat of the Axis powers, which were occupied by the Allies.

2.1.World War II (All other Vichy France Colonies)

Refers to the events that happened in French Colonies that decided to be loyal to the German puppet state of Vichy France.

July 1940: With the creation of Vichy France, initially all French colonies were aligned with Vichy.

2.2.Free France

Refers to events that happened in French colonies that either remained loyal or soon became loyal to Free France very soon during World War II.

November 1942: The island of Reunion is loyal to Free France.

3. Further events (Unrelated to Any War)

January 1802: In 1801, the island of Santa Apolonia was renamed "Île Bonaparte", after First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte.

January 1849: The island of Réunion retained the name of "Bourbon" until the fall of the restored Bourbons during the French Revolution of 1848, when the island was once again given the name "Île de la Réunion".

March 1946: Réunion became a département d'outre-mer (overseas département) of France on 19 March 1946.