Portuguese, British & Independence
The Portuguese conquered the Maldives in 1558 and ruled brutally for 15 years — they attempted to convert the population to Christianity and killed the Sultan. The Maldivian national hero Muhammad Thakurufaanu organized a guerrilla war and expelled the Portuguese in 1573 in a legendary uprising. He is now the central figure of Maldivian national history — his birthday (1st Rabi' al-Awwal) is a national holiday.
In the 17th century, the Maldives were briefly dependent on the Malabar Coast (South India) and shortly thereafter under the influence of the Dutch in Ceylon. In 1887, the Maldives became a British protectorate — Britain controlled foreign policy while the sultans managed internal affairs. The British established a military base (RAF Gan) on Addu Atoll, which remained active until 1976.
In 1953, the sultanate was briefly abolished and the First Republic was proclaimed — it lasted only one year. In 1965, the Maldives gained full independence from Britain, and in 1968, the sultanate was finally replaced by the Second Republic.
The Portuguese Occupation (1558–1573)
The arrival of the Portuguese in the Maldives was part of their aggressive expansion policy in the Indian Ocean. Having already conquered Goa (1510) and Malacca (1511), they turned their attention to the strategically important Maldives, which controlled the trade routes between Arabia and Southeast Asia.
In 1558, a Portuguese fleet under Captain Andreas André landed in Malé, killed Sultan Ali VI, and established a garrison. The 15 years of occupation were marked by forced conversions to Christianity, the destruction of mosques, and brutal repression. The Maldivians offered fierce resistance — hatred of the occupiers united the divided atoll chiefs.
The Liberation by Muhammad Thakurufaanu
Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-Auzam hailed from the northern island of Utheemu (Haa Alifu Atoll) and organized a guerrilla war against the Portuguese with his brothers Ali and Hassan. Their strategy was brilliant: They sailed with a fast Dhoni named Kalhuohfummi from atoll to atoll, recruited fighters, raided Portuguese posts, and disappeared into the night. After years of preparation, they attacked Malé in 1573 and expelled the Portuguese in a single night.
Thakurufaanu became Sultan and fundamentally reformed the country. His birthplace on Utheemu is now a museum and national shrine — a wooden building with carved coral stone walls that offers a fascinating insight into life in the 16th century. The island is located in the far north and is accessible by domestic flight to Hanimaadhoo.
The British Protectorate (1887–1965)
The relationship of the Maldives with Britain was a typical protectorate arrangement of the British Empire: London controlled foreign policy and access to the waters, while the sultans largely autonomously ruled internal affairs. In return, the Maldives received military protection.
RAF Gan — The Military Base
The strategic importance of the Maldives became apparent during the Second World War: The British built a naval base and airfield (RAF Gan) on Gan (Addu Atoll), which remained active until 1976. At its peak, over 3,000 people worked on the base — the British built roads, a runway, cinemas, and even a golf course. The connecting causeways between the islands of Addu Atoll, which still serve as roads today, are a lasting legacy of this time.
The military base had far-reaching consequences for the local society: Addu islanders who worked for the British earned multiple times the Maldivian average. A cultural divide emerged between cosmopolitan Addu and conservative Malé — a divide that is still noticeable today.
The Suvadive Rebellion (1959–1963)
Tensions escalated in 1959 when the southern atolls Addu, Fuvahmulah, and Huvadhu declared a secession from Malé and founded the "United Suvadive Republic" — supported (some say instigated) by the British on Gan. President Ibrahim Nasir in Malé sent troops that violently crushed the uprising in 1963. Many Addu residents fled to Sri Lanka or the Seychelles. The trauma of the rebellion shapes relations between north and south to this day — in Addu, people still speak of it with bitterness.
Modern Politics: Between Democracy and Authoritarianism
The recent political history of the Maldives reads like a political thriller — with coups, counter-coups, imprisoned presidents, and dramatic reversals.
The Gayoom Era (1978–2008)
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ruled the Maldives for 30 years, making him one of Asia's longest-serving heads of state. His record is mixed:
- Positive: Development of the tourism sector, improvement of education and healthcare, modernization of infrastructure, international visibility of the Maldives as a travel destination
- Negative: Systematic suppression of the opposition, torture of political prisoners, press censorship, enrichment of the Gayoom clan, no democratic elections
In 2003, the death of a political prisoner in custody triggered mass protests in Malé — the beginning of the Maldivian democracy movement. Under international pressure, Gayoom agreed to multi-party elections for the first time in 2008.
Mohamed Nasheed — The Climate President (2008–2012)
Mohamed Nasheed, a former political prisoner and journalist, won the 2008 elections and became the first democratically elected president. He made international headlines with his underwater cabinet meeting (2009), where the entire cabinet met in diving gear on the seabed — a brilliant PR coup to draw attention to rising sea levels. Nasheed became the face of the global climate fight.
In 2012, Nasheed was forced to resign under controversial circumstances — he spoke of a “slow-motion coup" supported by Gayoom loyalists in the police and military. The following years were marked by political instability, trials against Nasheed, and a return to authoritarian tendencies.
Geopolitical Tug-of-War: China vs. India
The Maldives have become a stage for the rivalry between China and India. Under President Yameen (2013–2018), the Maldives moved closer to China — the Sinamalé Bridge (Malé-Hulhumalé) was built with Chinese loans. Under President Solih (2018–2023), the pendulum swung back towards India. Under President Muizzu (from 2023), Indian military advisors were asked to leave the country — "India Out" protests shaped the election campaign. For tourists, this power struggle is invisible, but it influences infrastructure projects, airport expansions, and the country's economic orientation.
