History UsefulNotes / Tonga

Actually, it is said that before the Europeans arrived, there was a Tongan [[TheEmpire empire]] that included many more islands, with its peak in the 12th and 13th century, until the reign of the Tu'i Tonga (Tongan king) Talakaifaiki, who alienated Samoa into breaking away (although Samoa would then go on to begin its own island confederation). Not having gotten better, the Dutch arrived during civil war in the Tongan lands. James Cook spent some time there as well, though Tongans didn't take too kindly to him and wished him dead.

An archipelago of more than a hundred islands, the Kingdom of Tonga ('''Tongan:''' ''Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga'') is an oddity inside Oceania. Not only is it a monarchy, but it’s also the only country in the continent that wasn't colonized.

** Prime Minister: Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa

Actually, it is speculated that before the Europeans arrived, there was a Tongan [[TheEmpire empire]] that included many more islands. Then the Europeans came right in the middle of a civil war. James Cook also spent some time here, and it seems the Tongans wanted to kill him.

Tonga was part of the British [[UsefulNotes/TheCommonwealthOfNations Commonwealth]], but it always recognized the king of Tonga as the actual monarch. This, combined with the fact it wasn't colonized, are considered its [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Crowning Moment Of Awesome]], and Tongans are very proud of it. Despite this, the monarchy of Tonga has developed into a more controversial institution in the twenty-first century. Riots in 2006 highlighted a frustration at the lack of democratic reform and even today a third of the legislative assembly is appointed by the king and the small noble class. Political activist ʻAkilisi Pōhiva was the main figurehead of the pro-democracy movement. His decades-long struggle with the Tongan monarchy led to several imprisonments and culminated in his eventual ascension to the office of prime minister (the first to hold the position through an electoral mandate instead of being appointed by the king or being the favored candidate of the nobles in the legislative assembly), an office he held until his death in 2019. Although the monarchy and the nobles are still reluctant to let go of their power, they are no longer in undisputed control.

* '''Highest point:''' Kao (1033 m/3,389 ft) (167th)

* '''Highest point:''' Kao (1033 m/3,389 ft) (152nd)

* '''Highest point:''' Kao (1033 m/3,389 ft) (171st)

Oh, and the fact that it sent troops to fight in Iraq without any losses makes it a WorldOfBadass. You need more? It also produced the man who is '''[[TropeCodifier the]]''' MemeticBadass of ProfessionalWrestling, '''[[Wrestling/{{Meng}} MENG]]'''!

* '''ISO-3166-1 Code:''' TO

An archipelago of more than a hundred islands, the Kingdom of Tonga ('''Tongan:''' ''Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga'') is some kind of oddity inside Oceania. Not only is it a monarchy, but it’s also the only country in the continent that wasn't colonized.

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Do not confuse with [[TonkaTough Tonka]].

An archipelago of more than a hundred islands, the Kingdom of Tonga ('''Tongan:''' ''Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o Tonga'') is some kind of oddity inside Oceania. Not only is it a monarchy, but it’s also the only country in the continent that wasn't colonized.

An archipelago of more than a hundred islands, the Kingdom of Tonga is some kind of oddity inside Oceania. Not only is it a monarchy, but it’s also the only country in the continent that wasn't colonized.

An archipelago of more than a hundred islands, Tonga is some kind of oddity inside Oceania. Not only is it a monarchy, but it’s also the only country in the continent that wasn't colonized.

Actually, it is speculated that before the Europeans arrived, there was a Tongan [[TheEmpire empire]] that included much more islands. Then the Europeans came right in the middle of a civil war. James Cook also spent some time here, and it seems the Tongans wanted to kill him.

Tonga was part of the British [[UsefulNotes/TheCommonwealthOfNations Commonwealth]], but it always recognized the king of Tonga as the actual monarch. This, combined with the fact it wasn't colonized are considered its [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Crowning Moment Of Awesome]], and the Tongan are very proud of it. Despite this the monarchy of Tonga has developed into a more controversial institution in the twenty first century. Riots in 2006 highlighted a frustration at the lack of democratic reform and even today a third of the legislative assembly is appointed by the king and the small noble class. Political activist ʻAkilisi Pōhiva was the main figurehead of the pro democracy movement and his decades long struggle with the Tongan monarchy led to several imprisonments and culminated in his eventual ascension to the office of prime minister (the first to hold the position through an electoral mandate instead of being appointed by the king or being the favored candidate of the nobles in the legislative assembly), an office he held until his death in 2019. Although the monarchy and the nobles are still reluctant to let go of their power they are no longer in undisputed control.

The sport here is rugby. Considering the previous facts, it shouldn’t be a surprise.
The languages are English and Tongan, a Polynesian language.

Tonga's stamps are also known to drive the stamp collectors [[SeriousBusiness crazy]].

Tonga was part of the British [[UsefulNotes/TheCommonwealthOfNations Commonwealth]], but it always recognized the king of Tonga as the actual monarch. This, combined with the fact it wasn't colonized are considered its [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Crowning Moment Of Awesome]], and the Tongan are very proud of it. Despite this the monarchy of Tonga has developed into a more controversial institution in the twenty first century. Riots in 2006 highlighted a frustration at the lack of democratic reform and even today a third of parliament is appointed by the king and the small noble class. Political activist ʻAkilisi Pōhiva was the main figurehead of the pro democracy movement and his decades long struggle with the Tongan monarchy led to several imprisonments and culminated in his eventual ascension to the office of prime minister (the first to hold the position through an electoral mandate instead of being appointed by the king or being the favored candidate of the nobles in parliament), an office he held until his death in 2019. Although the monarchy and the nobles are still reluctant to let go of their power they are no longer in undisputed control.

Tonga was part of the British [[UsefulNotes/TheCommonwealthOfNations Commonwealth]], but it always recognized the king of Tonga as the actual monarch. This, combined with the fact it wasn't colonized are considered its [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Crowning Moment Of Awesome]], and the Tongan are very proud of it. Not to mention the confidence they have in their monarchy (instead of the usual bickering) and the monarchy has been in the hands of the same family since the establishment of the Kingdom. Bravo.

However, the king has started to relinquish his power in favor of the Prime Minister.

The sport here is rugby. Considering the previous facts, it shouldn’t be a surprise. The languages are English and Tongan, a Polynesian language.

Oh, and the fact that it sent troops to fight in Iraq without any losses makes it a WorldOfBadass.

Actually, it is speculated that before the Europeans arrived, there was a Tongan [[TheEmpire empire]] that included much more islands. Then the Europeans came right in the middle of a civil war. James Cook also spent some time here, and it seems the Tongans wanted to kill him (something the New Zealanders must find horrible).

Tonga was part of the British [[TheCommonwealth Commonwealth]], but it always recognized the king of Tonga as the actual monarch. This, combined with the fact it wasn't colonized are considered its [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Crowning Moment Of Awesome]], and the Tongan are very proud of it. Not to mention the confidence they have in their monarchy (instead of the usual bickering) and the monarchy has been in the hands of the same family since the establishment of the Kingdom. Bravo.

Tonga was part of the British Commonwealth, but it always recognized the king of Tonga as the actual monarch. This, combined with the fact it wasn't colonized are considered its [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Crowning Moment Of Awesome]], and the Tongan are very proud of it. Not to mention the confidence they have in their monarchy (instead of the usual bickering) and the monarchy has been in the hands of the same family since the establishment of the Kingdom. Bravo.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/125px-Flag_of_Tonga_svg_9904.png

An archipelago of more than a hundred islands, Tonga is some kind of oddity inside Oceania. Not only is it a monarchy, but it’s also the only country in the continent that wasn’t colonized.

Tonga was part of the British Commonwealth, but it always recognized the king of Tonga as the actual monarch. This, combined with the fact it wasn’t colonized are considered its [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Crowning Moment Of Awesome]], and the Tongan are very proud of it. Not to mention the confidence they have in their monarchy (instead of the usual bickering) and the monarchy has been in the hands of the same family since the establishment of the Kingdom. Bravo.

Tonga’s stamps are also known to drive the stamp collectors [[SeriousBusiness crazy]].

An archipelago of more than a hundred islands, Tonga is some kind of oddity inside Oceania. Not only it is a monarchy, but it’s also the only country in the continent that wasn’t colonized.

Tonga was part of the British Commonwealth, but it always recognized the king of Tonga as the actual monarch. This, combined with the fact it wasn’t colonized are considered its [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMoments Crowning Moment Of Awesome]], and the Tongan are very proud of it. Not to mention the confidence they have in their monarchy (instead of the usual bickering) and the monarchy has been in the hands of the same family since the establishment of the Kingdom. Bravo.

Tonga was part of the British Commonwealth, but it always recognized the king of Tonga as the actual monarch. This, combined with the fact it wasn’t colonized are considered its CrowningMomentOfAwesome, and the Tongan are very proud of it. Not to mention the confidence they have in their monarchy (instead of the usual bickering) and the monarchy has been in the hands of the same family since the establishment of the Kingdom. Bravo.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tonga-map_3076.gif

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[[quoteright:125:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/125px-Flag_of_Tonga_svg_9904.png]]