Tonga was unified in 1845 by
Taufa'ahau, who had become
chief of the island of
Ha'apai in 1820. He was christianized in 1831 and founded the present
dynasty. The country was a British
protectorate from 1900 to 1970.
- George Tupou I 1820-1893
- George Tupou II 1893-1918
great-grandson of the previous
- Queen Salote Tupou III 1918-1965
- Taufa'ahau Tupou IV 1965-
The islands were visited by the Dutch
Felix Schouten and
Jacob le Maire in 1616, by
Abel Tasman in 1643, and the first Englishman to land was
Wallis in 1767, a few years before
Captain Cook.
The capital is Nuku'alofa, the currency is 100 seniti = 1 pa'anga. The Tongan language belongs to the Polynesian family.