This is a list of the highest-ranked rulers based on the island of Taiwan. Dutch and Spanish Formosa (1624–1662) Dutch Formosa (1624–1662) The Dutch Empire, during the period of the Dutch United Provinces and under the auspices of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), attempted to conquer Macau in 1622. Later they colonized the Pescadores Islands, where they built a fort in Makung. In 1624, the Chinese attacked, and the Dutch were driven to Taiwan (then called Formosa, meaning "beautiful island"). That year they established Fort Zeelandia on Taiwan's southwest coast. In 1637, the Dutch conquered Favorolang (also Favorlang; present day Huwei, Yunlin). The names listed here are the Dutch governors: Spanish Formosa (1626–1642) In response to the Dutch settlements, the Spanish settled at Keelung on the northeast coast of the island in 1626 and built Fort San Salvador. Later they built another outpost, Fort San Domingo, at Tamsui in the northwest. In 1629 these forts had a combined total of about 200 Spaniards and 400 Filipinos. By 1635, the Tamsui settlement was abandoned; however, the Keelung settlement remained in Spanish hands until 1642, when a Dutch force of 11 ships and 1,000 men attacked the fort of 446 people. The Spanish surrendered. Kingdom of Tungning (1662–1683) The Southern Ming (Ming dynasty loyalists) came to Taiwan under Koxinga, expelling the Dutch and capturing Fort Zeelandia. They established the Kingdom of Tungning. * Regency of Feng Xifan from 1682 to 1683. Taiwan Under the Rule of the Qing Dynasty (1683–1895) Taiwan-Amoy Circuit (1683–1721) The Qing dynasty invaded Taiwan; the Ming rulers surrendered and were expelled. Taiwan-Xiamen Circuit Commissioner (福建分巡台灣廈門道, 1687—1727) Taiwan Circuit (1721–1885) Qing rule was reestablished after a month-long revolt. The Taiwan Circuit was established in 1727 with its seat in Taiwan-fu, unlike its predecessor, the Taiwan-Amoy Circuit, which was based in Xiamen. The Taiwan Circuit Commissioner had its powers checked by the Taiwan Circuit Investigating censors. Taiwan Circuit Commissioner (福建分巡台灣道) Taiwan Circuit Investigating Censor (巡視台灣監察御史) Taiwan Military Circuit Commissioner (福建分巡臺灣兵備道, 1767-1791) Provincial Censor-ranked Taiwan Military Circuit Commissioner (按察使銜分巡台灣兵備道, 1791-1895) Governor of Fukien-Taiwan Province (1885–1895) Republic of Formosa (1895) The Republic of Formosa was a short-lived republic that existed on the island of Taiwan in 1895 between the formal cession of Taiwan by the Qing dynasty of China to the Empire of Japan by the Treaty of Shimonoseki and its being taken over by Japanese troops. The Republic was proclaimed