History of Belize

Maya civilization, 250 CE–1521 Draft, not yet reviewed

It was a Mesoamerican civilization that existed from antiquity to the early modern period. The Maya civilization spread across the territory of present-day Belize around 1500 BC, and flourished until around 900 AD. The recorded history of the middle and southern regions focuses on Caracol, an urban political centre that may have supported over 140,000 people. North of the Maya Mountains, the most important political centre was Lamanai.

Seat of power: Lamanai

British Honduras, 1862–1981 Draft, not yet reviewed

British Honduras was a Crown colony on the east coast of Central America. In 1862, the Settlement of Belize in the Bay of Honduras was declared a British colony called British Honduras, and the Crown's representative was elevated to a lieutenant governor, subordinate to the governor of Jamaica. In 1964 Britain granted British Honduras self-government under a new constitution. On 1 June 1973, British Honduras was officially renamed Belize.

Seat of power: Belize City

Rulers

• James Robert Longden, Governor of British Honduras, 1867–1870
• Cornelius Alfred Moloney, Governor of British Honduras, 1891–1897
• Ernest Bickham Sweet-Escott, Governor of British Honduras, 1904–1906
• Wilfred Collet, Governor of British Honduras, 1913–1918
• Eyre Hutson, Governor of British Honduras, 1918–1925
• Ronald Garvey, Governor of British Honduras, 1949–1952
• John Warburton Paul, Governor of British Honduras, 1966–1972

Belize, 1981 to today Draft, not yet reviewed

Belize achieved its independence from the United Kingdom on 21 September 1981. It is the only mainland Central American country which is a Commonwealth realm, with King Charles III as its monarch and head of state, represented by a governor-general. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation because of its longstanding territorial dispute, claiming that Belize belonged to Guatemala. On 11 November 2020, the People's United Party (PUP), led by Johnny Briceño, defeated the United Democratic Party (UDP) for the first time since 2003, having won 26 seats out of 31 to form the new government of Belize.

Seat of power: Belmopan

Rulers

• Elizabeth II, monarch of Belize, 1952–2022
• Charles III, monarch of Belize, 2022 to today