TONGA, FLAG OF

national flag consisting of a red field (background) with a white canton bearing a red cross. The flag's width-to-length ratio is 1 to 2. When the Western concept of flags began to take hold in the Pacific region in the late 18th century, the independent kingdoms there frequently adopted red and white as their principal flag colours, although blue was also used. Perhaps not coincidentally, those three colours were featured in the flags of Britain, France, and the United Statesthe chief Western explorers and traders in the Pacific. The first national flag of Tonga, established in the 1840s, was typical of those designs. It had a background of white with a red or blue cross in each corner and the initials A and M in the centre, respectively in red and blue, to represent the king. When King George Tupou I came to the throne, he relied heavily on an Englishman, Shirley W. Baker, for advice regarding a new flag, which was first hoisted in 1866 and codified in the constitution of November 4, 1875. Like the British Red Ensign, three-quarters of the flag was plain red and there was a distinctive canton in the upper hoist corner. Tonga chose a couped (shortened) cross of red as a symbol of the Christian religion, to which most of its people adhered; the colour was related specifically to the blood shed by Jesus at the Crucifixion. According to law, the national flag of Tonga may not be altered, although the country has adopted distinctive flags for its army and navy as well as a royal standard for its sovereign. Whitney Smith History Tonga was first inhabited about 3,000 years ago by Austronesian-speaking people, who made elaborately decorated Lapita ware. From at least the 10th century AD Tonga was ruled by a line of sacred kings and queens, the Tu'i Tonga. About 1470 the reigning Tu'i Tonga transferred his temporal powers to his brother under the title of Tu'i Ha'a Takalaua. A similar transfer of power about 1600 resulted in the creation of a third line of monarchs, the Tu'i Kanokupolu, who eventually became the rulers. Although some islands were visited by the Dutch navigators Jakob Le Maire and Abel Janszoon Tasman in 1616 and 1643, respectively, effective European contact dates from Captain James Cook's visits between 1773 and 1777. Cook called the Tonga islands the Friendly Islands because the native inhabitants had provided him with necessary supplies and had given him a warm welcome. The London Missionary Society and a mission of Methodists made unsuccessful attempts to introduce Christianity to Tonga in 1797 and 1822, respectively. A renewed attempt by the Methodist mission in 1826 was successful, and a Roman Catholic mission was established by the Marists in 1842. Between 1799 and 1852 Tonga went through a period of war and disorder. This was finally ended by Taufa'ahau, who had been converted to Christianity in 1831 by the Methodist missionaries. He became Tu'i Kanokupolu and subsequently took the title King George Tupou I in 1845. During the king's long reign (184593), Tonga became a unified and independent nation with a modern constitution (1875), legal code, and administrative structure. With Taufa'ahau as its most important convert, Christianity spread rapidly. In separate treaties, Germany (1876), Great Britain (1879), and the United States (1888) recognized Tonga's independence. George I was succeeded by his great-grandson George II, who died in 1918. During his reign the kingdom became a British protectorate (1900) to discourage German advances. Under the treaty with Great Britain (amended in 1905), Tonga agreed to conduct all foreign affairs through a British consul, who had veto power over Tonga's foreign policy and finances. George II was followed by Queen Salote Tupou III, who ruled from 1918 to 1965. She was succeeded by her son Prince Tungi, as Taufa'ahau Tupou IV. In 1970 Tonga regained full control of domestic and foreign affairs and became a fully independent nation within the Commonwealth. The Rev. Sione Latukefu