This is ãoToméandPría timeline of Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe from its discovery between mid-January 1469 to 1471 to independence on July 12, 1975. It includes the time when the island was under Dutch and French occupations and the separate colonies of São Tomé and Príncipe up to its unification in 1753.
15th century
Between mid-January 1469 and 1471 - The first islands of São Tomé and Santo Antão (now Príncipe) were discovered by the explorers João de Santarém and Pêro Escobar 1493: The first successful settlement of São Tomé was established by Álvaro Caminha Torre do Capitão (Captain's Tower) built
16th century
1502 - The first successful settlement of Príncipe was established with a similar arrangement to São Tomé, it was named Santo António, it adopted the current island name 1515 - São Tomé and Príncipe had become slave depots for the coastal slave trade centered at Elmina Castle in modern-day Ghana 1520 - May 14: A total solar eclipse took place 75–80 miles (120–130 km) south of the island of São Tome, it was partial in the islands as the sky was almost dark 1522: São Tomé and Príncipe were taken over and administered by the Portuguese crown Vasco Estevens became captain of the island of São Tomé 1528 - May 18: A hybrid solar eclipse took place just south of the island of São Tome in the mid-morning hours, it was as an annular in the islands as the sky was almost dark 1531 - Henrique Pereira became captain of the island of São Tomé 1534 - The city of São Tomé became a bishopric through the Bull "Aequum reputamus" of Pope Paul IV, the diocese of Tomé (now São Tomé and Príncipe) was established, also the Our Lady of Grace church became a cathedral 1540 or 1550 - A ship carrying slaves from Angola to Brazil shipwrecked in the south of São Tomé 1541 - Diogo Botelho Pereira became captain of the island of São Tomé 1546 - Francisco de Barros de Paiva became captain of the island of São Tomé c. 1558 - Pedro Botelho became captain of the island of São Tomé 1560 - Cristóvão Dória de Sousa became captain of the island of São Tomé 1564 - Francisco de Gouveia became captain of the island of São Tomé 1566 - Fortim de São Jerónimo built on the island of São Tomé 1569 - Francisco de Paiva Teles became captain of the island of São Tomé 1571 - Diogo Salema became captain of the island of São Tomé 1573 - São Tomé and Príncipe were taken over and administered by the Portuguese crown for the second time 1575: Fort São Sebastião near the town of São Tomé built António Monteiro Maciel became captain of the island of São Tomé 1576-1578 - Our Lady of Grace Cathedral made renovation works c. 1584 - Francisco Fernandes de Figueiredo became captain of the island of São Tomé 1585 - The Habsburg Philippine Dynasty in power 1586 - Francisco Fernandes de Figueiredo became the first governor of the island of São Tomé 1587 - Miguel Teles de Moura became the second governor of the island of São Tomé 1591 - Duarte Peixoto da Silva became the third governor of the island of São Tomé 1592 - Francisco de Vila Nova becomes acting governor of the island of São Tomé 1593 - Fernandes de Meneses becomes the fourth governor of the island of São Tomé 1595 - 9 July: Rei Amador and most of the slaves took part in the Angolar revolt, they marched into the capital and were subjugated a year later 1596 - 4 January: Rei Amador captured and later imprisoned and executed for his slave rebellion 1597 - Vasco de Carvalho becomes the fifth governor of the island of São Tomé 1598 August - First Dutch occupation of the island October - First Dutch occupation ends, archipelago returned to Portuguese rule João Barbosa da Cunha became acting governor of the island of São Tomé for Vasco de Carvalho 1599 - The island of São Tomé taken by Laurens Bicker and his troops and was briefly ruled by the Dutch