Portuguese Timor

Portuguese Timor
Timor Português
1702–1942
1945–1975
Anthem: "Hymno Patriótico" (1808–26)
Patriotic Anthem

"Hino da Carta" (1826–1910)
Hymn of the Charter

"A Portuguesa" (1910–1975)
The Portuguese
Portuguese Timor with 1869-established boundaries.
Portuguese Timor with 1869-established boundaries.
StatusColony of the Portuguese Empire
Occupied by the Japanese Empire
(1942–1945)
CapitalLifau (1702–69)
Dili (1769–1942; 1945–75)
Common languagesTetum, Portuguese, Malay
Religion
Catholicism
Head of state 
• Monarch
1702–06

Peter II (first)
• 1908–10
Manuel II (last)
• President
1910–11

Teófilo Braga (first)
• 1974–75/76
Francisco da Costa Gomes (last de facto)
Governor 
• 1702–05
António Coelho Guerreiro (first)
• 1974–75
Mário Lemos Pires (last)
History 
• Establishment
1702
• Japanese occupation of Portuguese Timor
1942–45
28 November 1975
7 December 1975
• Independence achieved
20 May 2002
Area
• Total
14,874 km2 (5,743 sq mi)
CurrencyTimorese pataca (PTP)
Timorese escudo (PTE)
ISO 3166 codeTL
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Pre-colonial Timor
East Timor (1975–1976)
Indonesian occupied East Timor
Today part ofEast Timor

Portuguese Timor (Portuguese: Timor Português) was a colonial possession of Portugal that existed between 1702 and 1975. During most of this period, Portugal shared the island of Timor with the Dutch East Indies.

The first Europeans to arrive in the region were the Portuguese in 1515.[1] Dominican friars established a presence on the island in 1556, and the territory was declared a Portuguese colony in 1702. Following the beginning of the Carnation Revolution (a Lisbon-instigated decolonisation process) in 1975, East Timor was invaded by Indonesia. However, the invasion was not recognized as legal by the United Nations (UN), which continued to regard Portugal as the legal Administering Power of East Timor. The independence of East Timor was finally achieved in 2002 following a UN-administered transition period.[2]

  1. ^ West, p. 198.
  2. ^ C. R. Boxer, "Portuguese Timor: A Rough Island Story, 1515-1960." History Today (May 1960) 19#5) pp 349-355.

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