French New Caledonia
French New Caledonia is a colony in New Guinea and Melanesia (Oceania) that has existed since 1853 CE. Its people spoke Latin and Romance languages (Latin, Italic, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian).
France annexed New Caledonia in 1853, used it as a penal colony and mined its nickel. Independence referendums in 2018, 2020 and 2021 kept it French, and deadly riots broke out in 2024.
See French New Caledonia on the interactive timeline
Facts
- Dates
- 1853 CE to the present
- Duration
- 172 years
- Type
- Colony
- Region
- New Guinea and Melanesia, Oceania
- Language family
- Latin and Romance
- Capital
- Nouméa
Events in Oceania during its time
- Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom
- Women's suffrage in New Zealand
- Federation of Australia
- Attack on Pearl Harbor
- Guadalcanal campaign
- Nuclear tests at Bikini
- Mabo decision
Neighbours in Oceania
- Commonwealth of Australia
- Tu'i Tonga Empire
- New Zealand
- Colony of New South Wales
- Kingdom of Hawaii
- Colony of New Zealand
- Papua New Guinea
- German New Guinea
- Spanish Marianas
- French Polynesia
Elsewhere in the world at the same time
- Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty)
- Ottoman Empire
- Ottoman Empire
- Portuguese Empire
- Kingdom of Kongo
- Mughal Empire
- Qing dynasty
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Haiti
Questions
When did French New Caledonia exist?
1853 CE to the present, about 172 years.
Where was French New Caledonia?
New Guinea and Melanesia, in Oceania. Its capital was Nouméa.
What language did French New Caledonia speak?
Latin and Romance. This family includes Latin, Italic, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian.