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History of Mozambique

After over four centuries of Portuguese rule, independent since 1975. 3 eras, 1498 to today.

Portuguese Mozambique, 1498–1975 Draft, not yet reviewed

Portuguese trading settlements, and later territories, were formed along the coast and into the Zambezi basin from 1498 when Vasco da Gama first reached the Mozambican coast. The Portuguese increased efforts to occupy the interior of the colony after the Scramble for Africa, and secured political control over most of its territory in 1918, facing the resistance of some Africans in the process. The Mozambique Company relinquished its territories back to Portuguese control in 1942, unifying Mozambique under control of the Portuguese government. African opposition to colonisation led to a ten-year independence war that culminated in the Carnation Revolution in Lisbon in April 1974 and the independence from Portugal in June 1975.

Seat of power: Maputo

Gaza Empire, 1824–1895 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Gaza Empire was an African empire established by Soshangane and was located in southeastern Africa in the area of southern Mozambique and southeastern Zimbabwe. The Gaza Empire, at its height in the 1860s, covered all of Mozambique between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, known as Gazaland. Soshangane named his empire "Gaza" after his grandfather. Soshangane's grandson, Gungunyana, took over the Gaza Empire from his father Mzila and moved the capital southward to Manjakazi, putting him in closer proximity with the Portuguese.

Seat of power: Manjacaze

Mozambique, 1975 to today Draft, not yet reviewed

After over four centuries of Portuguese rule, Mozambique gained independence in 1975, becoming the People's Republic of Mozambique shortly thereafter. The new government under President Samora Machel established a one-party state based on Marxist principles. After only two years of independence, the country descended into an intense and protracted civil war lasting from 1977 to 1992. The civil war ended in October 1992 with the Rome General Peace Accords.

Seat of power: Maputo

Rulers

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.