Far East Kingdoms

German New Guinea / Kaiser Wilhelmsland (German Empire) (Oceania)
AD 1880 / 1884 - 1914 (1920)

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The relatively short-lived political entity which was German New Guinea was part of a European occupation and settlement of regions of Oceania in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The area is part of Melanesia, including the greater New Guinea, located between Micronesia and Australasia.

Captain Charles Bampfield Yule claimed the southern coast of New Guinea in 1846 for the United Kingdom, but the British did not settle the place. The British also did not follow up on a second annexation by Captain John Moresby. A French adventurer attempted to establish himself as the king of 'New France' in unclaimed New Ireland, but his colony was abandoned in 1882. By then Germany already had a presence on New Guinea (from 1880).

The 'Queensland Occupation' was enacted by Queensland's government when it annexed south-eastern New Guinea in 1883, but the British colonial office almost immediately nullified that act. British New Guinea was established in 1884, constituting roughly the south-eastern quarter of the island. The western half belonged to the Netherlands in the form of West Papua, while the north-eastern quarter was a German colony.

Germany began exploring the north-eastern coast and the Bismarck Archipelago in 1884 and, on 3 November 1884, it proclaimed a protectorate over that section which became German New Guinea or Kaiser Wilhelmsland. Just three days later, on 6 November 1884, the United Kingdom proclaimed a protectorate over south-eastern New Guinea, partially to keep out increasing German interest.

Initially known as New Guinea or 'British' New Guinea, the 'Territory of Papua' was created in 1906, when the United Kingdom turned over British 'New Guinea' to Australian control, essentially forming an Australian New Guinea period of control.

During the First World War, Japan occupied Palau as one of those allies which were fighting against the central powers which included Germany. Palau became permanently separated from New Guinea. Australia, also of course an allied country as part of the British empire, occupied Kaiser Wilhelmsland. Following the end of the war, in 1920, the Australian-occupied Kaiser Wilhelmsland became a League of Nations mandate under Australian administration.

Principal author(s): Page created: Page last updated:

(Information by John De Cleene and the John De Cleene Archive, with additional information from The Austronesians: Historical and Comparative Perspectives, Peter Bellwood, James J Fox, & David Tryon (ANU Press, 2006), from National Geographic Atlas of the World, 10th Ed (National Geographic Society, 2015), and from External Links: Destination Papua New Guinea (dead link, but still available via the Internet Archive), and Early humans Lived in PNG highlands 50,000 years ago (Reuters), and Papua New Guinea (Rulers.org), and Papua New Guinea (Flags of the World), and Papua New Guinea (Zárate's Political Collections (ZPC)), and Was Papua New Guinea an Early Agriculture Pioneer, John Roach (National Geographic Society, 23 June 2003, and available via the Internet Archive), and The New Nation: Bougainville's Struggle for Independence, Skyler Bohnert (McGill International Review), and Papua New Guinea (Encyclopaedia Britannica), and Papua New Guinea (World Statesmen), and Plant Cultures: Exploring plants & people (Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, dead link), and McNicoll, Sir Walter Ramsey (1877-1947), Ronald McNicoll (Australian Dictionary of Biography).)

1880

Charles Marie Bonaventure refers to himself as King Charles I of New France in 1877 (not to be confused with the now-lost New France colony in North America).

His 'kingdom' consists of eastern New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, territory which for the most part has remained unclaimed by European powers, although imperial Germany now also confirms its interest in part of New Guinea.

The titled adventurer, Charles-Bonaventure Marie du Breil, marquis of Rays, had already travelled to America, Senegal (as director of a failed oil business), and Indochina, and each time his ambitions failed to be realised

1880

Governor. Baron de Villeblanche.

1880

Acting governor. First name unknown.

1880

Governor.

1880 - 1881

Acting governor.

1881

Provisional governor.

1881 - 1882

Provisional governor.

1882

The colony of New France fails just two years into its establishment. Those who are unable to leave the area on their own are evacuated to Australia in February 1882 by the British. The colony site is abandoned for around two years before German imperial interest in the region prompts the formation of German New Guinea (otherwise known as Kaiser Wilhelmsland).

Papuans in this photo wear traditional dress in the highlands of Papua New Guinea on the island's independence day which celebrates the attainment of self-government in 1975

1884

Germany proclaims a protectorate on 3 November 1884 which includes north-eastern New Guinea. This becomes 'German New Guinea' or Kaiser Wilhelmsland. Just three days later, on 6 November, the United Kingdom proclaims its own protectorate, covering south-eastern New Guinea.

1884 - 1887

Imperial commissioner.

1886

Germany and the United Kingdom formalise their partition of the eastern section of New Guinea, while also formally acknowledging the Dutch part of New Guinea which later emerges as West Papua.

1886 - 1888

Governor of the New Guinea Company.

1888 - 1889

Governor of the New Guinea Company.

1889 - 1892

Imperial commissioner (acting 1889-1890).

1892 - 1895

Governor of the New Guinea Company.

1895 - 1896

Governor of the New Guinea Company.

1896 - 1897

Governor of the New Guinea Company.

1897

Acting governor of the New Guinea Company.

1897 - 1899

Governor of the New Guinea Company.

1899 - 1901

Governor.

1901 - 1914

Governor (formerly acting governor).

1906

Having taken an interest in the island in the 1880s, partially to keep out increasing German interest, the United Kingdom now turns over British New Guinea to Australian control. From this point, British New Guinea becomes the 'Territory of Papua'.

Kaiser Wilhelm II of Prussia and the German empire inspects his troops on the eve of war in 1914, a war which none of the tributary German principalities had any chance of escaping

1914

Acting governor (Apr-Oct only).

1914

During the First World War, the allied power of Japan occupies Palau to remove it from German control. It remains permanently separated from New Guinea. Australia, another allied nation, occupies Kaiser Wilhelmsland for the same reason, making it an Australian New Guinea.