George Tupou II facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Tupou II |
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Photograph of George Tupou II
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| King of Tonga | |
| Reign | 18 February 1893 – 5 April 1918 |
| Coronation | 17 July 1893, Nukuʻalofa |
| Predecessor | Siaosi Tupou I |
| Successor | Sālote Tupou III |
| Prime Ministers | Siosateki Veikune Sione Mateialona Tevita Tuʻivakano |
| Born | 18 June 1874 Neiafu, Tonga |
| Died | 5 April 1918 (aged 43) Tonga |
| Burial | Malaʻekula |
| Spouse | Lavinia Veiongo ʻAnaseini Takipō |
| Issue | Ana Fakalelu Kihe Fana, Uaia, Sālote Mafile‘o Pilolevu ʻElisiva Fusipala Taukiʻonelua ʻElisiva Fusipala Taukiʻonetuku |
| House | Tupou |
| Father | Tuʻi Pelehake Fatafehi Toutaitokotaha |
| Mother | ʻElisiva Fusipala Taukiʻonetuku |
| Religion | Free Church of Tonga |
George Tupou II (in Tongan: Siaosi Tupou II; born June 18, 1874 – died April 5, 1918) was the King of Tonga. He ruled from February 18, 1893, until his death. He was officially crowned in Nukuʻalofa on March 17, 1893. He was also the 20th Tuʻi Kanokupolu, which is a very important traditional title in Tonga.
Life of King George Tupou II
Siaosi (George) Tupou II was related to the first united King of Tonga, George Tupou I. His father was Prince Tuʻi Pelehake Fatafehi Toutaitokotaha. His father also served as the Prime Minister of Tonga in 1905. George Tupou II's mother was Fusipala Taukiʻonetuku.
King Tupou II's time as ruler faced some challenges. The Tongan Parliament in 1900 looked into his government's finances. They found some issues with how money was being managed.
George Tupou II was known for his love of writing songs and poems. He also strongly supported building cement water tanks across Tonga. These tanks helped provide clean water for people and improved public health.
He became king at just 18 years old. At that time, he was not yet married. In 1896, the country's chiefs encouraged him to marry and have a child to continue the royal family. After some discussion, he married Lavinia Veiongo (1879–1902) on June 1, 1899. This marriage was important because it connected the royal family to important islands like Vavaʻu and Niuafoʻou. However, this marriage almost caused a civil war in Tonga. Because of these tensions and some issues with his rule, Tonga became a British protectorate in 1900. This meant Britain would protect Tonga and have some influence over its affairs.
Queen Lavinia sadly passed away on April 25, 1902, from tuberculosis. She left behind one daughter, Sālote (born March 13, 1900). Sālote was not very popular at first.
King Siaosi married for the second time on November 11, 1909. His new wife was 16-year-old ʻAnaseini Takipō Afuha'amango. The chiefs were very happy about this marriage. It was decided that Sālote should go to school in Auckland, New Zealand. She stayed there for five years.
Queen Anaseini Takipō was a very high-ranking woman in Tonga. Her family connections made her a perfect choice for the King.
Queen Takipō had two daughters. Her first daughter, ʻOnelua, died when she was only six months old. Her second daughter, ʻElisiva Fusipala Taukiʻonetuku (born July 26, 1912), passed away at age 20. As Queen Takipō did not have a son, the hope for Sālote to become queen grew stronger. It became very important to find a suitable husband for Sālote. She eventually married Tungī Mailefihi.
King George Tupou II also had other children. Some of their descendants are now important people in Fiji and high-ranking chiefs in Tonga.
King George Tupou II passed away in April 1918. His wife, Queen Takipō, also died later that year from the Spanish flu epidemic. King Siaosi's daughter, Sālote, became the next ruler, known as Queen Sālote Tupou III.
Royal Honours
King George Tupou II was the head of the royal orders he created for Tonga:
Tonga:
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Order of Pouono (started in 1893)
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of King George Tupou I (started between 1876–1890)
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga (started in 1913)
Family Tree
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See also
In Spanish: Jorge Tupou II de Tonga para niños
