From 1586 on Portugal aquires the island of Timor as well as other islands in Present-day Indonesia. Portuguese posessions in the archipelago are limited to the eastern part of the island when the Netherlands conquer the islands. Timor becomes a Portuguese colony, Portuguese Timor, subordinated to Portuguese India in 1632. Since 1844 it is united with Macao in one colony, but in 1896 it becomes a separate colony. During World War II Portuguese Timor is occupied by Dutch and Australian forces between 1941 and 1942 and by Japan between 1942 and 1945. The colony is restyled as an overseas province in 1951.

In 1975 Portuguese Timor becomes independent as the Democratic Republic of East Timor, but in the same year Indonesia occupies the country. A formal annexation follows in 1976. In 1999 the annexation is rescinded and East Timor comes under United Nations administration. The first parliamentary elections are won by the Frente Revolucionária do Timor-Leste (Revolutionary Front of Independent East-Timor, Fretilin). After this interim administration East Timor regains independence in 2002 as a parliamentary democratic republic named Democratic Republic of East Timor. The presidential elections of 2002 are won by Xanana Gusmão.