HISTORY
The word Tonga means "south"
in numerous Polynesian languages. Some scholars believe the inhabitants
originally came from the islands now known as Samoa. Archaeological
evidence indicates that the Tonga islands have been settled since
at least 500 B.C., and local traditions have carefully preserved
the names of the Tongan sovereign for about 1,000 years. The power
of the Tongan monarchy reached its height in the 13th century.
At the time, chieftains exercised political influence as far away
as Samoa.
During the 14th century, the
King of Tonga delegated much of his temporal power to a brother
while retaining the spiritual authority. Sometime later, this
process was repeated by the second royal line, thus resulting
in three distinct lines: the Tu'i Tonga with spiritual authority,
which is believed to have extended over much of Polynesia; the
Tu'i Ha'atakalaua; and the Tu'i Kanokupolu. The latter two had
temporal authority for carrying out much of the day-to-day administration
of the kingdom.
Dutch navigators in 1616 were
the first Europeans to sight the Tongan archipelago. The main
island of Tongatapu was first visited by the Dutch explorer Abel
Tasman in 1643. Continual contact with Europeans, however, did
not begin until more than 125 years later. Captain James Cook
visited the islands in 1773 and 1777 and gave the archipelago
the name "the Friendly Islands" because of the gentle nature of
the people he encountered. He, of course, was never aware of the
acrimonious debate that raged among contending nobles over who
should have the honor of attacking Cook's tiny fleet and killing
its sailors. In 1789, the famous mutiny on the British ship, Bounty,
took place in the waters between the Ha'apai and Nomuka island
groups.
Shortly after Captain Cook's
last visit, warfare broke out in the islands as the three lines
of kings contended for dominance. At about the same time, young
Tongan nobles serving as mercenaries took Tongan culture to Fiji's
most eastern island group, the Laus. The first missionaries, attached
to the London Missionary Society, arrived in Tonga in 1747. A
second missionary group followed in 1822, led by Walter Lawry
of the Wesleyan Missionary Society. They converted Taufa'ahau,
one of the claimants to the Tu'i Kanokupolu line, and Christianity
began to spread throughout the islands.
At the time of his conversion, Taufa'ahau took the name of Siaosi (George) and his consort assumed the name Salote (Charlotte) in honor of King George III and Queen Charlotte of England. In the following years, he united all of the Tongan islands for the first time in recorded history. In 1845, he was formally proclaimed King George Tupou I, and the present dynasty was founded. He established a constitution and a parliamentary government based, in some respects, on the British model. In 1862, he abolished the existing system of semi-serfdom and established an entirely alien system of land tenure. Under this system every male Tongan, upon reaching the age of 16, was entitled to rent--for life and at a nominal fee--a plot of bushland (called "api tukuhau") of 8.25 acres, plus a village allotment of about three-eights of an acre for his home (‘api kolo).
Tonga concluded a treaty of
friendship and protection with the United Kingdom in 1900 and
came under British protection. It retained its independence and
autonomy, while the United Kingdom agreed to handle its foreign
affairs and protect it from external attack.
During World War II, in close
collaboration with New Zealand, Tonga formed a local defense force
of about 2,000 troops that saw action in the Solomon Islands.
In addition, New Zealand and U.S. troops were stationed on Tongatapu,
which became a staging point for shipping.
A new treaty of friendship
and protection with the United Kingdom, signed in 1958 and ratified
in May 1959, provided for a British Commissioner and consul in
Tonga who were responsible to the Governor of Fiji in his capacity
as British Chief Commissioner for Tonga. In mid-1965 the British
Commissioner and consul became directly responsible to the U.K.
Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs. Tonga became fully independent
on June 4, 1970, an event officially designated by the King as
Tonga's "reentry into the community of nations."
King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV died in September 2006 and was succeeded by King Siaosi Tupou V.
