Tuʻi Tonga facts for kids
The Tuʻi Tonga was a very old line of kings in Tonga. This royal family started around the 900s AD with a legendary leader named ʻAhoʻeitu. For many centuries, the Tuʻi Tonga kings held great power.
However, in the 1400s, they gave up some of their political control. They passed it to another royal line called the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua. The last Tuʻi Tonga king was Sanualio Fatafehi Laufilitonga, who died in 1865.
Before he died, Laufilitonga passed his ancient title and its special spiritual power (called mana) to his nephew, Fatafehi Tu'i Pelehake. This nephew was known as the Tu'i Faleua, or Lord of the Second House. This title was traditionally meant for someone who would take over if the main royal line ended.
Later, Tu'i Pelehake gave up his title and its special rights to his father-in-law, King George Tupou I. King George Tupou I was a very important leader. He combined the power of the Tuʻi Tonga title with other important titles like Tu'i Kanokupolu, Tu'i Vava'u, and Tu'i Ha'apai. This helped him create the modern Tongan monarchy we know today.
Even though the Tuʻi Tonga title is no longer used, the ancient family line still exists. It is now represented by a noble title called Kalaniuvalu. King George Tupou I gave this title to his nephew, Prince Fatafehi Kalaniuvalu. Prince Fatafehi Kalaniuvalu was the only son of the last Tuʻi Tonga, Laufilitonga, and King George Tupou I's sister, Princess Luseane Halaevalu Moheofo.
Captain James Cook, a famous explorer, visited Tonga. He wrote about the power and importance of the Tuʻi Tonga kings during his trips. He called Tonga the "Friendly Isles."
Historians believe there were about 39 kings who held the Tuʻi Tonga title. Some lists even mention 48 names.
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Early Tuʻi Tonga Kings (900s - 1100s)
The first Tuʻi Tonga kings were important leaders. They helped shape early Tongan society.
The First King: ʻAhoʻeitu
- ʻAhoʻeitu is believed to be the first Tuʻi Tonga king. He lived around 900 AD.
- He first lived in a place called Popua. Later, he moved to other areas in the Hahake district, like Toloa near Fuaʻamotu.
Kings After ʻAhoʻeitu
- Lolofakangalo
- Fangaʻoneʻone
- Līhau
- Kofutu
- Kaloa
- Maʻuhau – This king lived in Lavengatonga.
- ʻApuanea
- ʻAfulunga
Momo and the Tongan Empire
- Momo married Nua, the daughter of Loʻau, a leader from Haʻamea.
- During his rule, the Tongan maritime empire began to grow. This empire controlled many islands across the Pacific Ocean.
- His royal court was in Heketā, near Niutōua.
Tuʻitātui and His Achievements
- Tuʻitātui ruled around 1100 AD. He made the royal court bigger.
- He built the famous stone archway called the Haʻamonga.
- He also brought back the Fale Fā, which means "house of four." These were royal advisors and protectors.
- His clever stepbrother, Fasiʻapule, became a governor.
Later Tuʻi Tonga Kings and Changes
Over time, the power of the Tuʻi Tonga kings changed. They faced challenges and new dynasties emerged.
Shifting Power and Decline
- Talatama moved the royal residence to Lapaha. He died without having children.
- Tuʻitonganui ko e Tamatou – This name refers to a wooden block. It was said to be a symbolic child of Talatama. It also was the supposed father of Talaihaʻapepe. This was done to keep the royal family line pure.
- Talaihaʻapepe – He was the real brother of Talatama. He was considered the grandson through the wooden block.
- Talakaifaiki – Around 1250, the Tongan maritime empire started to decline. He lost control of Samoa. This was because he was cruel to the Mālietoa family there.
Challenges and Assassinations
- Talafāpite
- Tuʻitonga Maʻakatoe
- Tuʻitonga Puipui
- Havea I – He was killed by a Fijian.
- Tatafuʻeikimeimuʻa
- Lomiʻaetupuʻa
- Havea II – He was killed with an arrow by Tuluvota, another Fijian.
- Takalaua – He was killed by Tamasia and Malofafa. These men were from ʻUvea and Futuna. He was taking a bath when they attacked him. He was a harsh ruler, and his death led to many political problems.
Kauʻulufonua I and a New Dynasty
- Kauʻulufonua I ruled around 1470. He hunted down his father's killers across many islands. He went from Tongatapu to ʻEua, Haʻapai, Vavaʻu, the Niua islands, Niue, Fiji, and Samoa. He finally caught them on their home island of ʻUvea or Futuna.
- Back in Muʻa, he punished them severely. He earned the nickname fekai, which means "fierce."
- He allowed his younger brother, Moʻungāmotuʻa, to start a new royal family. This was the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua dynasty. It was named after their father.
- This new dynasty took over the daily tasks of ruling the people. The Tuʻi Tonga kings became more like sacred, god-like figures. They were "kings of kings."
The Sacred Kings (1500s - 1800s)
After the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua took over daily rule, the Tuʻi Tonga kings became religious leaders. They held high status but less political power.
Tuʻi Tonga Kings in Samoa
- Vakafuhu – He was kept away from Tonga by the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua. He lived in Samoa.
- Puipuifatu – He also lived in Samoa. He tried to invade Vavaʻu to get his family's power back, but he failed.
- Kauʻulufonua II – He lived in Samoa too.
Return to Tonga and New Roles
- Tapuʻosi – He was allowed to return to Muʻa. By this time, the Tuʻi Tonga line was seen as less of a threat.
- From this point on, the Tuʻi Tonga kings became high priests. They were in charge of all religious duties. This gave them a very high status, but no worldly power. No Tuʻi Tonga king was ever murdered again.
Notable Sacred Kings
- ʻUluakimata I – Also known as Teleʻa, he built the largest langi (royal burial mounds) on Tongatapu.
- Fatafehi – Around 1600, he married the daughter of the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua Moʻunga ʻo Tonga. This became a tradition for many generations. It created a strong link between the two royal families.
- His sister married a Fijian. This changed Tonga's international focus from Samoa to Fiji.
- Fatafehi was tattooed in Samoa by master artists. He was nicknamed Fakauakimanuka, meaning "Twice to Manuʻa," because of these ceremonies.
- Kauʻulufonua III – He met the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1643.
- ʻUluakimata II
- Tuʻipulotu (I) ʻilangi Tuʻofefafa – From this time, the main wife of the Tuʻi Tonga (called moheofo) was the daughter of the Tuʻi Kanokupolu. Before, she was from the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua family. This showed that the Tuʻi Kanokupolu dynasty was now the most important.
- Fakanaʻanaʻa
- Tuʻipolutu (II) ʻilangi Tuʻoteau
The Last Tuʻi Tonga Kings
- Paulaho – His successor, Fuanunuiava, was chosen in a big ceremony in 1777. Captain Cook witnessed this event. Paulaho was later defeated and removed from power in a civil war.
- Maʻulupekotofa – He was Paulaho's older brother. He should have been Tuʻi Tonga first. He tried to make the religious rules less strict for the Tuʻi Tonga. He also tried to get back some political power.
- Fuanunuiava – He took power from his uncle around 1795. He continued his uncle's policies. He joined Fīnau ʻUlukālala in the civil war of 1799. He died in 1810.
- Laufilitonga – He was born around 1798. He was too young to become Tuʻi Tonga when his father died. By then, the title had lost almost all its importance. He tried to gain political power but lost the final battle at Velata on Lifuka in 1826. He fought against Tāufaʻāhau.
- In 1827, Laufilitonga was made Tuʻi Tonga in a symbolic way. He had no real political or spiritual power. He died in 1865, and the title was then officially ended.
See also
