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Arguin

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Arguin (Portuguese: Arguim) is an island off the western coast of Mauritania in the Bay of Arguin, at 20° 36' N., 16° 27' W. It is six km long by two broad. Off the island are extensive and dangerous reefs.

History

The first European to visit the island was the Portuguese explorer Nuno Tristão in 1443. In 1445, Prince Henry the Navigator set up a trading post on the island, which acquired gum arabic and slaves for Portugal. By 1455, 800 slaves were shipped from Arguin to Portugal every year.

Arguin was then ruled by the Netherlands from 5 February 16331678, although Dutch governance was interrupted by English rule in 1665. France briefly controlled the island in September 1678, but the island was then abandoned until 1685.

Arguin was an early colony of the German electorate Brandenburg from 5 October 1685 – 1701 and its succeeding Kingdom of Prussia from 1701 – 7 March 1721. France took control of the island from then until 11 January 1722, whereby it fell again to the Dutch until 20 February 1724. Arguin was under French rule again until March 1728, at which time it reverted to Mauritanian tribal chiefs. The island was part of French-colonized Mauritania during the 20th century, but became part of independent Mauritania in 1960.

Sources



Dutch overseas empire
Former colonies
Africa: Arguin Island | Cape Colony | Lydsaamheid fort & factory in Delagoa Bay | Dutch Gold Coast | Gorée | Mauritius

The Americas: Berbice | New Holland (in Brazil) (part) | Dutch Guiana & | Demerara | Essequibo annex Pomeroon | New Netherland (New Amsterdam, New Sweden) | Tobago | Virgin Islands (part)

Dutch colonization of the Americas

Asia: Ceylon | Dutch India (Dutch Bengal - Coromandel Coast - Malabar Coast) | Deshima island in Japan | Dutch East Indies | Malacca | Taiwan

Arctic & Oceania: Netherlands New Guinea (Indonesian Irian Jaya) | Smeerenburg on Amsterdam island

See also: Dutch East India Company | Dutch West India Company
Present colonies (only Caribbean)
Kingdom of the Netherlands: Netherlands Antilles | Aruba

 


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