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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 1633 – 1678, 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

• 1911 Britannica article
• Lander's Travels—The Travels of Richard Lander into the Interior of Africa
• Portuguese slave routes
• Rulers of Arguin

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