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On This Day In History: Island Of St. Helena – Last Residence Of Napoleon Discovered – On May 21, 1502

MessageToEagle.com – On May 21, 1502, the island of Saint Helena is discovered by the Portuguese explorer João da Nova.

St. Helena Island is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and is well-known as the last residence of Napoleon Bonaparte, while he was in exile there, from 1815 until his death in 1821.

João da Nova discovered the island of Saint Helena, which was named after Saint Helena of Constantinople, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Her feast day as a saint is traditionally celebrated on May 21.

The area of St. Helena covers 122 square kilometers and it was once covered with beautiful original forest, which disappeared due to the colonial settlement. The highest point on the island of St. Helen, at 818 meters, is Diana’s Peak.

The island has the rich and fascinating history that goes back to its discovery in 1502 by Joao da Nova. Before the explorer’s first visit, the island was uninhabited and is considered one of the most  remote islands in the world.

It was an important welcome port for ships sailing to Europe from Asia and South Africa for centuries.

Napoleon was imprisoned there in exile by the British, as were Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo (for leading a Zulu army against British rule) and more than 5,000 Boers taken prisoner during the Second Boer War (or the South African War), occurred from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902.

Saint Helena is Britain’s second-oldest remaining overseas territory after Bermuda.

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