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.
Actually, it is said that before the Europeans arrived, there was a Tongan 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.
Tonga was part of the British Empire and is now a member of Commonwealth, but it has always recognized the king or queen of Tonga as the actual monarch. This, combined with the fact that it wasn't colonized, are considered its 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. 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.
The national sport here is rugby. Considering the previous facts, it shouldn’t be a surprise. The official languages are English and Tongan, a Polynesian language.
Tonga's stamps are also known to drive stamp collectors crazy.
Oh, and the fact that it sent troops to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan without any losses makes it a World of Badass. You need more? It also produced the man who is the Memetic Badass of Professional Wrestling, MENG!
The Tongan flag
The Tongan national anthem
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Government
- Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
- Monarch: Tupou VI
- Prime Minister: Siaosi Sovaleni
- Assembly Speaker: Fatafehi Fakafanua
Miscellaneous
- Capital and largest city: Nukuʻalofa
- Population: 100,651
- Area: 748 km² (289 sq mi) (175th)
- Currency: Tongan paʻanga (T$) (TOP)
- ISO-3166-1 Code: TO
- Country calling code: 676
- Highest point: Kao (1033 m/3,389 ft) (157th)
- Lowest point: Pacific Ocean (10,911 m/35,797 ft) (-)
