The Kingdom of Tonga was a protected state of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

from 1900 to 1970, when its protectorate status was removed.

History

Tonga Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania. The country has 171 islands, of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in the southern Pacific Ocean. accordin ...

became a British protected state under a Treaty of Friendship on 18 May 1900, when European settlers and rival Tongan chiefs tried to oust King George Tupou II, and to secure the independence of Tonga amid further German territorial gains in the Pacific. The Treaty of Friendship and protected state status ended in 1970 under arrangements established prior to her death by the third monarch, Queen Sālote. While never directly ruled by the British, Tonga's foreign affairs were conducted through the British

consul Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states thro ...

, giving the United Kingdom veto power over foreign policies and finances of the Kingdom of Tonga. An unspoken agreement of the treaty that was common in British protected states was a new monopoly on Tonga's thriving vanilla industry, and their small deposits of minerals. Tonga was affected by the

1918 flu pandemic The 1918–1920 flu pandemic, also known as the Great Influenza epidemic or by the common misnomer Spanish flu, was an exceptionally deadly global influenza pandemic caused by the Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, H1N1 subtype of the influenz ...

, with 1,800 Tongans killed, around eight per cent of the residents. For most of the 20th century Tonga was quiet, inward-looking, and somewhat isolated from developments elsewhere in the world. Tonga's complex social structure is essentially broken into three tiers: the

King King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...

, the nobles, and the commoners. Between the nobles and commoners are Matapule, sometimes called "talking chiefs," who are associated with the King or a noble and who may or may not hold estates. Obligations and responsibilities are reciprocal, and although the nobility are able to extract favours from people living on their estates, they likewise must extend favours to their people. Status and rank play a powerful role in personal relationships, even within families. Tonga gained independence within the

Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to as the British Commonwealth or simply the Commonwealth, is an International organization, international association of member states of the Commonwealth of Nations, 56 member states, the vast majo ...

on 4 June 1970.

Gallery

File:Tomb of King George Tubou I, 1900.jpg, Tomb of King George Tupou I, 1900 File:Tomb of King George Tubou I, 1900 (close-up).jpg, Tomb of King George Tupou I, 1900 File:George Tupou II going to the Opening of Tongan Parliament in 1900.jpg, King George Tupou II going to the opening of the Tongan Parliament in 1900 File:Richard Seddon and wife at the openinig of the Tongan parliament.jpg, Richard Seddon and his wife at the opening of the Tongan parliament, 1900 File:Royal Throne of Tonga, 1900.jpg, The royal throne of Tonga, 1900. File:Tongawar.jpg,

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

memorial in Nukuʻalofa File:Tonga-Italian Capitulation Parade.jpg, Members of the Tonga Defence Force of the 2nd NZEF on parade in Tonga celebrating the capitulation of Italy in 1945 File:Officials watching dancing, Kolofo'ou, 1967.jpg, Bishop John Rodgers, Pīsila (wife of Lord Fusitu'a(Tevita Tu'iniua),full name Pisila Fotofili Fusitu’a) and Suli Seuli (matāpule of Fusitu'a) watching dancing. Inauguration of the Catholic church in Kolofo'ou. 1967

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kingdom of Tonga (1900-70) British Western Pacific Territories Former British colonies and protectorates in Oceania

1900 establishments in the British Empire 1970 disestablishments in the British Empire 1900 establishments in Oceania 1970 disestablishments in Oceania 20th century in Tonga States and territories established in 1900 States and territories disestablished in 1970 Tonga and the Commonwealth of Nations United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations