Dates & Chronology

Important dates for French Polynesia

4000 to 3000 BC

Beginning of settlement of Austronasian from the South East of Asia.
850 to 1000 AD
Colonization of the Leeward islands, of Hawaii, Cook Islands, Easter Island and New Zealand
1521
Magellan “discovers” part of Tuamotu
1595
Alvaro de Mendena “discovers” the Marquesas
1767
Arrival of Wallis in Tahiti
1768
Arrival of Bougainville in Tahiti. He baptizes the island the “New Cyther”
1769
First voyage of Cook to Tahiti
1773
Second voyage of Cook to Tahiti
1774
Cook brings back to Europe the Tahitian Omai
1777
Last voyage of Cook in Polynesia
1788-1791
Mutiny of the Bounty
1793
Beginning of the Pomare dynasty
1797
Arrival of the first missionaries from the London Missionary Society and creation of the Pomare dynasty
1815
Traditionalist chiefs lose the battle of Fei pi. Pomare II converts to Christianity
1819
Pomare II created the “Pomare Code”
1836
English protestants expulse French missionaries.
1841
Dupetit Thouars proclaims French protectorate in Tahiti, initiative ratified by the United Kingdom.
1844 -1847
Franco-Tahitian War
1847
Pomare IV “accepts” the protectorate of France
1852
Departure of the English missionaries
1865
First Chinese arrival
1880
Pomare V surrenders his territories to France
1888
The Leeward Islands are annexed by the French
1901
The Australs are annexed by the French
1908
Exploitation of phosphates in Makatea (Tuamotu archipelagoes)
1915
1,000 Polynesians soldiers take part in the Battle of the Pacific
1941
Tahiti joins “Free” France
1942
Construction of a military base in Bora Bora
1945
Tahitians obtain the French citizenship
1957
The name “French Polynesia” is chosen
1958
The Polynesians choose to remain part of the French republic
1961
Opening of the Faa’a International Airport
1963 -1966
Establishment of the Moruroa Experimentation Center for nuclear testings
1980
The Tahitian language is recognized by French authorities and becomes the 2nd official language (with French) in Polynesia
1984
French Polynesia obtains the autonomy status of “Overseas Territory”
1987
Papeete is set on fire and riots break out
1992
Nuclear testings stop definitively
1993
The “Pact of Progress” is signed
1995
Riots in Papeete following the resumption of nuclear testing
1996
Nuclear tests are definitively stopped. Signature of the treaty for the reinforcement of the economic autonomy of French Polynesia
1997
Cyclones “Martin” and “Osea” devastate several islands
1998
Introduction of the VAT (Value Added Tax)
1998
Creation of Air Tahiti Nui, French Polynesian airline offering international flights to Los Angeles (USA), Tokyo & Osaka (Japan) and more recently Paris (France)
2001
Election of municipal agents.
2004
The French Polynesia becomes the first overseas French territory with the status of “Pays d’Outre-mer”.
2009
A tsunami hits the Polynesian coasts with minor damages.

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