History of São Tomé History of São Tomé

Discovery of the island of São Tomé, by Portuguese navigators, on Saint Thomas' day.

The first settlement is established at the mouth of the Río Ambo, under the leadership of Captain João de Paiva.

2,000 Spanish Jewish children were deported from Portugal to the island, along with convicted criminals, called degradados . They were forced to work on sugar cane plantations.

Concubine wives of Europeans and their children were given emancipation, with a particular identity and social status.

End of the donation regime; the island of São Tomé returns to the Portuguese crown.

Shipwreck of the slave ship from Angola. The slaves reach the coast, form the Angolan people and take refuge in the high mountains.

Revolt of the Angolares and creation of an autonomous kingdom by Amador.

An emblematic figure in the history of São Tomé, Amador, a slave born on the island, led the revolt of the Angolares. During this uprising, they destroyed many plantations. Amador was defeated with an army of 5,000 men, whose main leaders were arrested. He was caught on January 4, 1596 and executed by the Portuguese.

Occupation of the citadel of São Tomé by the Dutch, who were expelled in 1650 by the islanders.

The Angolares attack the north of the island of São Tomé and kidnap the colonists' wives.

Several confrontations took place with French ships. In 1753, San Antonio became the capital of the archipelago. In 1799, the island fell to the French.

Portugal is divided between France and Spain. The Portuguese royal family settles in Brazil.

Prohibition - not followed by effect - of the slave trade from Portuguese territories.

São Tomé becomes the capital of the archipelago again. Beginning of the commercial exploitation of the cocoa tree.

Abolition of slavery by the Portuguese government. The archipelago brings in contract workers from these colonies.

Complete abolition of slavery, replaced by the indigenous regime. Working conditions are very difficult.

São Tomé became the world's largest exporter of cocoa. However, with the boom in production in West Africa, the plantations saw a gradual decline.

The archipelago became a Portuguese overseas province. In 1953, the forros, driven by nationalist sentiment, revolted. The state repression, very brutal, is known as the "Batépa massacre".

Carnation Revolution in Portugal. The Salazarist dictatorship, in place since 1933, was overthrown by the military.

Proclamation of independence. Manuel Pinto da Costa becomes the archipelago's first President of the Republic. For 15 years, he established a single-party regime.

Approved by referendum, the new constitution introduced a multi-party system.

Legislative elections. Victory of the PCD (Party of Democratic Convergence) which obtains 33 seats out of 55 in the National Assembly.

Election of Miguel Trovoada as President, with the support of the PCD.

A Santomean politician, Miguel Trovoada participated in the creation of the Committee for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe in 1960. At independence, he became Prime Minister until 1979. When he became President of the Republic, he passed the law on land ownership one year later, which provided for the redistribution of land, the privatisation of roças and the dismantling of eight of them. On 15 August 1995, he was the victim of an attempted coup d'état, led by Lieutenant Manuel Quintas de Almeida. After negotiations, the coup plotters gave up and Miguel Trovoada was reinstated on 21 August. The next day, he granted amnesty to the coup plotters.

Presidential elections. Miguel Trovoada was elected with 52.7% of the vote, in the second round, against Manuel Pinto da Costa.

Presidential elections. Having already served two terms, incumbent President Miguel Trovoada could not stand for election. Fradique de Menezes, a Santomean businessman, was elected in the first round with 55.18% of the vote.

Aborted military coup, launched by Major Fernando Pereira. Fradique de Menezes was reinstated a few days later.

Fradique de Menezes was re-elected president and formed his new government.

Legislative elections, the opposition wins. New Prime Minister, Patrice Trovoada, leader of the Independent Democratic Action (ADI).

Manuel Pinto Da Costa was elected President of the Republic with 52.9% of the vote. He took office on 3 September.

After the dismissal of Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada, Gabriel Arcanjo Ferreira Da Costa, from the Union for Democracy and Development (UDD), was appointed Prime Minister.

Patrice Trovoada wins again the legislative elections. He obtained an absolute majority. He was again appointed Prime Minister.

São Tomé and Príncipe celebrates 40 years of independence in the presence of representatives from Cape Verde, Angola, Gabon, Portugal and Taiwan.

Evaristo Carvalho was elected President of the Republic ahead of the outgoing President Manuel Pinto da Costa.

The country adopts a new currency. The dobra loses three zeros and €1 is now equivalent to 24.5 STN.

The ruling party (ADI) wins the legislative elections but loses an absolute majority, leading to a coalition with the MLSTP-PSD. Jorge Bom Jesus is elected Prime Minister.

The incumbent president, Evaristo Carvalho, decided not to seek re-election. Deputy Carlos Vila Nova became the candidate of the ADI party and won the election in the second round with 57.54%.

Legislative elections. The ADI wins an absolute majority with 30 seats out of 55, ending the cohabitation established since 2018. Its leader, Patrice Trovoada, succeeds Jorge Bom Jesus (MLSTP-PSD) as Prime Minister.

An attempted coup d'état is foiled in the capital on the night of November 25. It was orchestrated by four men, including the outgoing president of the National Assembly and a military officer who had already attempted a coup in 2009, and 12 army soldiers. Four people lost their lives.