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The island was discovered by Portuguese navigators on January 17, 1471, and was initially named “Island of Santo Antão.”
To encourage settlement, it became a hereditary captaincy in 1502, known as the “Island of Príncipe,” where sugarcane cultivation was introduced. It was named “Island of Príncipe” by King John II of Portugal. The king deeply loved his only son and heir, Afonso, Prince of Portugal (1475), and in his honor, he designated the smallest island of the São Tomé and Príncipe archipelago as “Príncipe.”
In 1573, the captaincy reverted to the possession of the Portuguese Crown.
During the Philippine Dynasty, it was invaded and occupied by Dutch corsairs from August to October 1598 and again in 1600. That same year, to encourage settlement and defense, the Island of Príncipe was granted a Royal Charter.
During this period, various governors and captains-major arrived in the archipelago:
Later, after the Dutch captured the Fortress of São Jorge da Mina (1637), and during the Portuguese Restoration (1640), they conquered the São Tomé and Príncipe archipelago from 1641 to 1644, controlling the slave trade until being expelled by the Portuguese in 1648.
In 1695, with the establishment of a customs house on the Island of Príncipe, the construction of the Fortress of Santo António da Ponta da Mina began.
In 1719, the city of Santo António and the fortress were attacked and set on fire by the English pirate Bartholomew Roberts, also known as “John Roberts” and “Black Bart,” in retaliation for the death of his captain, Howell Davis.
In 1753, the Island of Príncipe and São Tomé were administratively united, forming the colony of São Tomé and Príncipe.
In 1758, one thousand Acadians (French-speaking Canadians from Acadia) were deported when the British conquered the colony.
In the early 20th century, the archipelago became a significant producer of coffee and cocoa. After the archipelago’s independence (1975), the island became an autonomous region on April 29, 1995, formed by the district of Pagué.
The Island of Príncipe is located northeast of São Tomé, approximately 140 km away, in the Gulf of Guinea.
Of volcanic origin, the island has dense vegetation and an equatorial climate. It is highly rugged, with its highest point being 948 meters at Pico do Príncipe, located in the southern part of the island, which is part of the Ôbo Natural Park.
The island’s interior features a dense tropical forest with diverse flora. It is also a sanctuary for wildlife, where many rare animal species (especially birds) can be observed.
