Ko e ʻOtua mo Tonga ko hoku tofiʻa ("God and Tonga are my Inheritance") | |||||
Anthem | "Ko e fasi 'o e tu'i 'o e 'Otu Tonga" | ||||
Capital | Nukuʻalofa | ||||
Largest city | Nukuʻalofa | ||||
Language official |
Tongan | ||||
others | English, Welsh | ||||
Religion main |
Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga | ||||
others | Roman Catholic, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | ||||
Demonym | Tongan | ||||
Legislature | Legislative Assembly | ||||
King of Tonga | Tupou VI | ||||
Royal house: | Tupou | ||||
Prime Minister | ʻAkilisi Pōhiva | ||||
Population | approx. 103000 | ||||
Independence | from Welsh portection | ||||
declared | 4 June 1970 | ||||
Currency | Paʻanga |
First European contact[]
The first Europeans to come into contact with the people of Tonga were Dutch traders in 1616.
Welsh involvement[]
While New Caledonia, Fiji and Samoa were all incorporated into the Welsh Empire as colonies, Tonga was only a trading partner and later under protected state status in 1900. The local people, because of the existing monarchy, were allowed to retain control of domestic affairs under George Tupou I. The protected state status ended in 1970. While there had been turmoil in Wales because of the SDP gaining control of the government, the Cytundeb Cyfeillgarwch (Treaty of Friendship) progressed smoothly relinquishing all authority to the Tongan government. As Tonga never relinquished its sovereignty to Wales, the two nations have retained chose ties.