Pre-independence flags of Mauritius

Last modified: 2001-10-24 by antonio martins
Keywords: key | star | dodo | stella clavisque maris indici | antelope |
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• Blue ensign without disc (1923-1968)
• Blue ensign with new arms on disc (1906-1923)
• Blue ensign with old arms (1869-1906)
• Red Ensign (undefaced)

• Mauritius

This flag was superseded at the time of independence in 1968.
Vincent Morley, 25 Feb 1997

This form of the Mauritius Blue Ensign was approved 14-12-1869 (CO 325/54), but 7-7-1921 it was agreed that the white disc was not necessary and was officially removed 14-12-1923 (ADM 116/1847B). Both Public Records Office documents.
David Prothero, 30 Nov 1998

The arms were adopted 1906 and before were another pattern.
Jaume Ollé, 05 Dec 1998

The badge approved 14-dec-1869, consisted of a quartered shield, similar to the one that appears on the Arms granted 25-aug-1906; beneath it was a scroll bearing the motto, «stella clavisque maris indici» (star and key of the Indian Sea). No sugar cane, embattled dodo, or antelope.

The shape of the shield was different. It had an ornate "frame", similar to, but not the same as, the style of the shield of St Helena (1875-1984). There were also differences in the details of the quarters: the first quarter was a three-masted sailing ship, not a lymphad: the key in the third quarter was gold, on a black background: the fourth quarter was divided horizontally to represent the sky above the sea, with the light from the star, which had six points, shining down and reflecting in the sea.

A note alongside the drawing in the Colonial Office Flag Book reads:

This is called the arms of the colony, but in Governor's Despatch No 139 of 21-6-1875 it was explained that the drawing is a badge for the governor's flag, approved by the Secretary of State in Despatch 14-12-1869, and that it differs from the device on the seal sent out in Despatch No 29 of 10-12-1839.

David Prothero, 08 Dec 1998

Mauritius did not have a defaced Red Ensign; the official merchant ensign was the plain Red Ensign. That is not to say that there may not have been unofficial Mauritius Red Ensigns.
David Prothero, 22 May 1999