List of monarchs of Tonga facts for kids

Quick facts for kids King of Tonga
Coat of arms of Tonga
Incumbent
Tupou VI since 18 March 2012
Details
Style	His Majesty
Heir apparent	Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala
First monarch	George Tupou I
Formation	4 December 1845; 179 years ago (1845-12-04)
Residence	Royal Palace, Nukuʻalofa

This article is about the kings and queens who have ruled the Kingdom of Tonga since 1845. That's when Tonga got its first written rulebook, called a Constitution. This Constitution set up the role of the monarch, or ruler. The very first king under this new system was George Tupou I.

What is a Monarchy?

A monarchy is a type of government where a country is led by a king or queen. In Tonga, the monarch is the head of state. This means they are the official representative of the country. The monarch's role has changed over time in Tonga.

How the King's Powers Changed

In 2008, just before his official crowning, King George Tupou V made a big announcement. He decided to give up most of his daily ruling powers. Instead, he chose to follow the advice of the Prime Minister of Tonga. This made Tonga's government more like a constitutional monarchy. In this system, the monarch has less direct power.

Money for the Monarchy

The royal family in Tonga receives money from the country's budget each year. This money helps support their official duties and royal household. The amount set aside for the monarchy is about T$4,894,900. This is roughly equal to US$2,116,799.

Tonga's Earlier Rulers

Before 1845, Tonga had different lines of rulers. These rulers were powerful leaders who guided the islands for many centuries.

• Tuʻi Tonga: These were the earliest rulers of Tonga. They led the country from around 950 AD until 1865. The last Tu'i Tonga was King Sanualio Fatafehi Laufilitonga.
• Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua: This group of rulers was in charge from about 1470 to 1800.
• Tuʻi Kanokupolu: These rulers began around 1500 and continue to the present day. King George Tupou I, Tonga's first constitutional monarch, was the 19th Tuʻi Kanokupolu.

Kings and Queens of Tonga Since 1845

Here is a list of the monarchs who have ruled Tonga since the Constitution was put in place in 1845.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
George Tupou I	(1797-12-04)4 December 1797 – 18 February 1893(1893-02-18) (aged 95)	4 December 1845	18 February 1893	Son of Tupoutoʻa, 17th Tuʻi Kanokupolu	Tupou
George Tupou II	(1874-06-18)18 June 1874 – 5 April 1918(1918-04-05) (aged 43)	18 February 1893	5 April 1918	Great-grandson of George Tupou I	Tupou
Sālote Tupou III	(1900-03-13)13 March 1900 – 16 December 1965(1965-12-16) (aged 65)	5 April 1918	16 December 1965	Daughter of George Tupou II	Tupou
Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV	(1918-07-04)4 July 1918 – 10 September 2006(2006-09-10) (aged 88)	16 December 1965	10 September 2006	Son of Sālote Tupou III	Tupou
George Tupou V	(1948-05-04)4 May 1948 – 18 March 2012(2012-03-18) (aged 63)	11 September 2006	18 March 2012	Son of Tāufaʻahau Tupou IV	Tupou
Tupou VI	(1959-07-12) 12 July 1959 (age 66)	18 March 2012	Incumbent	Son of Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV Brother of George Tupou V	Tupou

Timeline of Tongan Monarchs

This timeline shows when each king or queen ruled Tonga. It helps you see how long each monarch was in power.

Royal Flags

Royal standards are special flags that represent the monarch or the royal family. Tonga has had different royal flags throughout its history.

• 

  Royal standard of Tonga (1862–1875)

• 

  Royal standard of Tonga

The Royal Family Tree

This section shows how the members of the Tupou royal family are related to each other. It helps you understand the line of succession.

Learn More About Tonga's Monarchy

• Politics of Tonga
  • Prime Minister of Tonga
• Crown of Tonga
• Crown Prince of Tonga
• List of royal consorts of Tonga
• Succession to the Tongan throne

See also

In Spanish: Rey de Tonga para niños