Sao Tome and Principe held an important position within the Portuguese Empire in the 16th century. However due to serious internal conflicts and the transfer of priorities in colonial trade, this colonial island was gradually relegated. At the onset of the 19th century, a new administrative reform failed to restore their former affluence because of the consequences of important politico-economic changes concerning transatlantic trade, mainly, the British intervention against this trading.
Relegated; Empire; Sao Tome and Principe