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The Kingdom of Ryûkyû encompassed and ruled over most of the [[Ryukyu Islands|Ryûkyû Islands]], which stretch between [[Kyushu|Kyûshû]] and Taiwan, from [[1429]] to [[1879]].
The Kingdom of Ryûkyû encompassed and ruled over most of the [[Ryukyu Islands|Ryûkyû Islands]], which stretch between [[Kyushu|Kyûshû]] and Taiwan, from [[1429]] to [[1879]].
Ruled by the [[Sho Dynasty|Shô Dynasty]] of kings from [[Shuri Castle]], on the island of [[Okinawa]], the kingdom was formed by the unification in 1419-1429 of the island, which had been previously divided into [[Sanzan period|three chiefdoms]]. It was an independent state, though a [[tribute|tributary]] to Ming China, until the [[1609]] [[invasion of Ryukyu|invasion of Ryûkyû]] by forces of Japan's [[Satsuma han]]. From then until its dissolution in [[1879]], the kingdom served as a semi-independent vassal state under Satsuma, and continued its tributary relationship with China.
Ruled by the [[Sho Dynasty|Shô Dynasty]] of kings from [[Shuri Castle]], on the island of [[Okinawa]], the kingdom was formed by the unification in 1419-1429 of the island, which had been previously divided into [[Sanzan period|three kingdoms]]. It was an independent state, though a [[tribute|tributary]] to Ming China, until the [[1609]] [[invasion of Ryukyu|invasion of Ryûkyû]] by forces of Japan's [[Satsuma han]]. From then until its dissolution in [[1879]], the kingdom served as a semi-independent vassal state under Satsuma, and continued its tributary relationship with China.
The kingdom's territory expanded over the course of the 15th-16th centuries, as the islands of the archipelago were absorbed into the kingdom one by one; after 1624, [[Amami Oshima|Amami Ôshima]] and a number of its neighboring islands were annexed by Satsuma han. The Amami Islands today remain part of [[Kagoshima Prefecture]] while the rest of the Ryûkyûs constitute [[Okinawa Prefecture]].
The kingdom's territory expanded over the course of the 15th-16th centuries, as the islands of the archipelago were absorbed into the kingdom one by one; after 1624, [[Amami Oshima|Amami Ôshima]] and a number of its neighboring islands were annexed by Satsuma han. The Amami Islands today remain part of [[Kagoshima Prefecture]] while the rest of the Ryûkyûs constitute [[Okinawa Prefecture]].