The islands has been visited and influenced by sailors from the Arabic sea and from the Indian Ocean. The pirates from Mopla, from the Malabar shore (nowadays Kerala state in India) pillages the islands. In the XVI century, the Portuguese took over the islands for fifteen years (1558 -1573) before they were expelled by the national hero and Sultan, Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al Azam.
The country was governed by an independent Islamic Sultan between 1153 and 1968. From 1887 to July 25th 1965 was a British colony. In 1953 the Maldives try to come a Republic, but the sultan was restored. The Maldive people were Buddhist before they became Islamic. This conversion is described in a controversial mythological story about a demon named Rannamaari.
Alter the independence from the United Kingdom in 1965, the sultan kept on for 3 more years. In November 11th 1968, he was abolish and replaced by a republic.
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