History History

Arrival in Fiji of the Lapita, an Austronesian people, who settled mainly on the coast. This date remains fairly approximate, as archaeologists and paleontologists are still working on this period of Fiji's history, and it is difficult for them to be more precise in the absence of written traces.

A new wave of arrivals in Fiji: the Melanesians, however, opted for a different way of life, also settling inland and developing farms. The various waves of arrival in Fiji and their exact dates are also the subject of debate among archaeologists. The traditional classification between Melanesian, Polynesian and Micronesian peoples has also been called into question, as the reality was surely more complex.

Recurrent wars with Tongan and Samoan peoples who make excursions on the territory of Viti Levu: the Fijians build sites to protect themselves and adopt a more warlike way of life.

Europe was unaware of Fiji until the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman mapped the eastern part of Vanua Levu on his voyage from Jakarta to the Tonga Islands, but a heavy storm prevented him from stopping, and his ship nearly crashed on the reefs. Abel Tasman's first name for Fiji was Prince William's Islands. For 130 years, Europeans avoided the risky waters of this part of the world. What's more, Fiji is known as a cannibal island, which doesn't attract the crowds.

British Captain James Cook led three major voyages of exploration before his tragic death in Hawaii. He sighted the Fijian island of Vatoa in 1774 on his second voyage. He renamed the island Turtle Island. It was on his third voyage of exploration that he gathered more information about the Fiji Islands, and he is even considered to be the originator of the name "Fiji", combining the words "Fisi" and "Viti".

Captain William Bligh maps new territories in Fiji aboard the famous ship "Bounty". The Bounty had been commissioned to collect breadfruit plants in Tahiti, and had sailed from England at the end of 1787. The mutineers' revolt took place in April 1789, resulting in a forced split of the Bounty 's crew: Captain William Bligh and the crew members who had remained loyal to him were placed in a longboat in the ocean. Although the captain had the reputation of being a difficult leader (which may explain the Bounty mutiny, although this remains a controversial subject), he was a very good sailor and was able to lead his longboat to the shore. In 1792, this time aboard the "Providence", he again sailed to Fiji and discovered new islands.

The Briton James Wilson noted the position of several islands in the Lau archipelago and sighted Taveuni and Vanua Levu. Captain James Wilson's ship, the "Duff", also tackled Fiji's difficult sailing conditions. After all these incursions by various European navigators, Fiji began to be known to all. The social climate in Fiji was less than ideal: cannibalism was rife, and the various tribes engaged in constant warfare. These wars were both internal to Fiji and bloody against the Tongans.

Despite Fiji's somewhat sinister reputation at the time, Europeans and Americans continued their attempts at approach, particularly interested in the lure of profit. Indeed, sandalwood had been discovered in Vanua Levu and a trading process was launched with the Fijians, with some chiefs temporarily enriching themselves from the trade. At the same time, prisoners sent to the British colonies in Australia took refuge in Fiji.

Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau marked the history of Fiji in many ways. A former cannibal, he converted to Christianity in 1854. He was a Fijian chief who achieved a certain unity in the territory and, with the support of the colonists, established the Kingdom of Fiji in 1871, proclaiming himself king and setting up a constitutional monarchy. In 1874, he signed the deed of cession of Fiji to the British Crown and, as a sign of submission, presented Queen Victoria with his war club .

Levuka was founded by European settlers and became the first modern city in Fiji.

The Wesleyan Missionary Society sent two of its missionaries, Willam Cross and David Cargill, to Lakeba. A first attempt at evangelization in 1830 had been launched by the London Missionary Society on the Lau archipelago, but had met with limited success. Reverend Hunt and Reverend Calvert also arrived in Fiji in 1839 with a view to evangelizing the local population. At that time, two chiefs were sharing power in Fiji, at loggerheads: the Tongan chief Ma'afu, who dominated the eastern part of the territory, and the Ratu chief Cakobau, who dominated the western part of Fiji. The arrival of the missionaries had an impact on these tribal wars, as the value system advocated by Christianity was more oriented towards a certain pacifism. In 1854, Chief Ratu Cakobau officially converted to Christianity, which was a prestigious victory for the missionaries. Cannibalism also began to be stigmatized as contrary to Christian values.

During the capture of Chief Ro Vedoivi (suspected of having killed American sailors a few years earlier) over 70 Fijians were massacred on Malolo Island, after two members of the United States Exploring Expedition had been killed.

Reverend Thomas Baker is killed and eaten by the inhabitants of the village of Nabutautau. He had allegedly touched the head of a Fijian chief, which was interpreted as a very serious act of disrespect. This incident is the latest reported case of cannibalism in Fiji. In 2003, the villagers of Nabutautau formally apologized to the descendants of the Reverend Thomas Baker, stating that since this incident, their village had suffered ill fortune.

European interest in the archipelago had intensified since the founding of the town of Levuka, and several successive waves of migration took place. These European settlers succeeded in convincing Chief Ratu Cakobau to establish Fiji as a constitutional monarchy, and he was named King of Fiji. His rival, Chief Ma'afu, refrained from declaring a new war in exchange for a handsome sum of money, preferring the title of Lieutenant-Governor of Lau.

Ratu Cakobau and 12 other Fijian chiefs sign the deed ceding Fiji to the British Crown. The political instability prevailing at the time, the fear of annexation by the United States and the recognition of the land rights of ethnic Fijians and the customary rights of Fijian chiefs explain the reason for the signing of this act on the Fijian side. Levuka is officially declared the capital of Fiji.

Sir Arthur Gordon becomes the first Governor of Fiji. Already experienced in the colonies of Trinidad and Mauritius, Sir Gordon quickly adapted to his new position and managed to maintain good relations with the Fijian chiefs, ensuring that they were represented in a council of chiefs and that they raised the day-to-day concerns of the Fijians. Sir Gordon is also known for having initiated the arrival of tens of thousands of Indian workers in Fiji.

Suva became the new capital of Fiji, while Levuka, located on the island of Ovalau, was too landlocked to expand.

End of theIndenture (the system under which Indian workers came to Fiji on 5 or 10-year work contracts) - the last ships arrived at the end of 1916 and the system was officially discontinued on January^1, 1920. Most of the Indian workers decided to stay in Fiji in spite of everything.

Fiji Airways was founded by Australian aviator Harold Gatty. The airline was known for a long time as Air Pacific before being renamed Fiji Airways.

Women win the right to vote for the first time. Indigenous Fijians also vote for the first time, having previously been represented by their chiefs.

After 96 years of British colonial rule, Fiji became an independent country, but remained part of the Commonwealth, with Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Fiji. The first elections were held in 1972 and, as provided for in the 1970 Constitution, two separate chambers were established: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Ratu George Cakobau is the great-grandson of Cakobau, who signed the act of cession to England. He was the first Fijian to be appointed Governor General in 1973. He remained in this position for ten years.

Two military coups followed in quick succession under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka. The justification put forward was to protect the interests of indigenous Fijians, as the overthrown government was predominantly Indo-Fijian and major changes were feared by some indigenous Fijians. On October 7, the Republic was proclaimed and Fiji was excluded from the Commonwealth.

A new constitution was promulgated, favoring the indigenous Fijian population and marginalizing the Indo-Fijians.

Parliament adopted a new, more balanced constitution on the rights of different groups, and a Bill of Rights prohibiting racial discrimination was included in the constitution. Fiji was readmitted to the Commonwealth.

Mahendra Chaudhry is the first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister and promises change. Demonstrations are held in Suva and throughout the country.

George Speight led a coup in May 2000: 30 people were held hostage in Parliament for eight weeks, including Prime Minister Chaudhry and members of his government. George Speight negotiated an amnesty, but was eventually arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment. George Speight was part of a movement of extreme i-Taukei Fijians who refused to have an Indo-Fijian Prime Minister.

An interim government had taken power following the 2000 coup, democratic elections were held in 2001 and Lasenia Qarase (already interim Prime Minister) won his elections before Mahendra Chaudhry. Fiji was reintegrated into the Commonwealth in December 2001, after having been excluded in June 2000 following the coup.

New coup d'état led by Bainimarama who proclaimed himself President of Fiji. New exclusion from the Commonwealth.

Bainimarama hands over the powers of President to Ratu Josefa Iloilo who appoints him Prime Minister.

Iloilo abrogated the Constitution and assumed full power. Bainimarama is renamed Prime Minister.

A new constitution was adopted, abolishing the system of ethnic separation among elected deputies.

Democratic elections were held, allowing Fiji to rejoin the Commonwealth. Bainimarama retained his position as Prime Minister.

The passage of tropical cyclone Winston was devastating, with some forty deaths and considerable material damage. It was the strongest cyclone (category 5) to hit the country, with winds of up to 285 km/h. Thousands of people were left homeless, their homes having been destroyed by the cyclone. It took several years to rebuild. Three days after Winston hit, humanitarian aid arrived in Fiji thanks to the rapid reopening of the country's airports. The country is still traumatized by Winston and fears that similar weather events could become more frequent with global warming.

Fiji won its first Olympic gold medal at the Rio Olympics with the rugby sevens team, beating England in the final.

As everywhere in the world, Fiji is hard hit by the coronavirus and its borders are closed.

Reopening of the borders to tourists after the Covid-19 crisis, ending 615 days of international isolation, which had severely affected the Fijian economy, tourism representing about 40% of the Fijian economy.

Sitiveni Rabuka is once again Prime Minister of Fiji. The septuagenarian marked Fiji's political history by leading the coups d'état in 1987. Sitiveni Rabuka was previously a rugby player and then a soldier at the time of the coups. He crossed the political desert in the 2000s before returning to the opposition in 2016.

Girmit Day - commemorating the arrival of the first Indians in Fiji in 1879 - became a public holiday and was held on Monday, May 15. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka asked for forgiveness for his involvement in the 1987 military coups and for the unrest caused to Indo-Fijians, and unity and national reconciliation were emphasized.