Kabua the Great facts for kids

Kabua, c. 1880

Kabua the Great, also known as Kabua Laplap, was an important leader in the Marshall Islands. He lived from about 1820 to July 4, 1910. He was an iroij, which means a high chief or paramount chief. The German Empire recognized him as the king of the Marshall Islands.

From 1863 until he died in 1910, Kabua said he was the main chief of the Ralik Chain. However, his cousin Loiak also claimed this title. Kabua worked with Western missionaries and traders who bought copra (dried coconut meat). This helped him become richer and gain more political power.

Kabua was one of several Marshallese chiefs who signed agreements with the German Empire. In 1878, he gave Germans special trading rights in the Marshall Islands. Then, in 1885, he signed another treaty. This agreement made the islands a German protectorate, meaning Germany had control over them. The German treaties called Kabua the King of the Marshall Islands. But some people, like German anthropologist Augustin Krämer, noted that Kabua was "king only by the grace of the Germans." This meant his power as king came from the Germans, not just from his own people.

Kabua's Life Story

Kabua grew up on Ailinglaplap Atoll. When he was young, he was known as a brave warrior. He might have been involved in an attack on a ship called the Sea Nymph in 1852. This happened at Jaluit Atoll. Only one person from the ship's crew survived.

Kabua was the younger nephew of Kaibuke, a high chief from Ebon Atoll. Chief Kaibuke died in 1863 during a typhoid fever outbreak. Traditionally, Kabua's older cousin, Loiak, would have become the main chief. But Kabua married Kaibuke's widow. This made him the step-uncle and guardian of his older cousin. Both Kabua and Loiak tried to get support from foreigners. They became friends with missionaries and worked with German copra traders. This helped them keep their influence.

A Peaceful Power Struggle

The disagreement between Kabua and Loiak remained peaceful for twelve years. But in September 1876, the conflict almost turned violent. Both chiefs were staying on Ebon. A copra trader named James Lyle Young saw a group of Loiak's followers. They had muskets and seemed ready to attack Kabua's followers. Kabua chose to leave and went to his land on Jaluit instead of fighting.

In the months that followed, rumors spread that Kabua would return and start a war. Loiak held frequent military drills on Ebon. He also gathered many weapons in late 1876. However, Kabua never launched an invasion.

Working with the Germans

On November 26, 1878, a German warship called SMS Ariadne arrived at Jaluit. Its goal was to start treaty talks with the chiefs of the Ralik Chain. Kabua's followers performed a traditional Marshallese dance during a feast. This was to welcome the Germans.

On the second day of talks, Captain Bartholomäus von Werner ordered his men to show off their military power. They performed a bayonet charge and fired their artillery blanks. The captain later said this was to "show the islanders... the power of the Europeans." German reports say the islanders were very impressed. Kabua refused to eat with the German captain for the rest of the talks.

On November 29, Werner signed a treaty with Kabua and other Ralik Chain chiefs. This treaty gave the German Empire "most favored nation" status in the Ralik Chain. This meant Germany received the best trading terms. The chiefs also had to protect the rights of German citizens. Germany gained a place to refuel ships at Jaluit. They also got free use of the atoll's harbor for German ships. The German leaders also recognized Kabua as the "King of the Ralik Islands." However, the treaty said that German ship captains would settle arguments between Marshallese and Germans.

Continuing Disputes

In May 1880, Loiak's followers went to Jaluit to challenge Kabua. This might have been because the Germans recognized Kabua as king. The two groups met with firearms but did not fight. No one was hurt. Loiak's followers returned to Ebon a few days later. Kabua went to his home at Ailinglaplap, but he later came back to Jaluit.

In 1885, the German Empire decided to take control of the Marshall Islands as a protectorate. On October 13, 1885, the German ship SMS Nautilus arrived at Jaluit. Its mission was to get signatures on a protection treaty. On October 15, Kabua, Loiak, and three other chiefs signed the treaty. It was written in both German and Marshallese. The Marshallese text did not show any difference in rank among the five chiefs. But the German text recognized Kabua as the King of the Marshall Islands. This was despite the ongoing disagreement between Kabua and Loiak.

Loiak died in 1904. His brother-in-law, Litokwa, then claimed Loiak's lands. Kabua said he should get Loiak's lands because he was the paramount chief. A German court looked into this dispute in 1907. The trial lasted three weeks. German authorities worried that violence might break out between the chiefs' supporters. They brought police from German New Guinea to keep order.

In June 1907, the court decided in Kabua's favor. But they changed their decision in October. They found that there were questions about how some information was gathered from witnesses. Kabua threatened to go to war with Litokwa over this change. But he backed down when the German authorities threatened to send him away to New Guinea. They also sent military patrols on Jaluit every night. In January 1910, the authorities made a new decision. It was a compromise between Kabua and Litokwa. Kabua kept most of the land. But Litokwa kept the lands he had worked on during Loiak's lifetime. Loiak's children also received parts of the land.

Kabua died on July 4, 1910, when he was about 90 years old. He was buried at Ailinglaplap.

Kabua's Family

Kabua had two sons named Laelan and Jeimata. Through his son Jeimata, Kabua is an ancestor of three presidents of the Marshall Islands. He was the adopted great-grandfather of Amata Kabua, who was the first president. He was the great-grandfather of Imata Kabua, the second president. And he was the adopted great-great-grandfather of David Kabua, the ninth president.