Tuarii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tuarii |
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| Queen of Raiatea and Tahaa | |
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Photograph by Lucien Gauthier
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| Reign | 1887/1888 – 1896 |
| Predecessor | Tamatoa VI |
| Died | 1911 |
| House | House of Tamatoa |
| Father | Tahitoe |
| Religion | Protestantism |
Tuarii (died 1911) was the last queen of Raiatea and Tahaa. These islands are part of what is now French Polynesia. She ruled from around 1887 or 1888 until 1897. Her reign ended when France took over the islands.
Tuarii was born into the royal family of Raiatea. Her father was King Tahitoe. After her cousin, King Tamatoa VI, agreed to French rule, Tuarii led a fight against the French. This fight is known as the Raiatean rebellion (1887–1897). She tried to get help from the British by asking Queen Victoria to protect the islands. However, the British did not get involved. The rebellion ended in 1897 when Tuarii and her followers gave up. She received money from the French government until she died in 1911.
Tuarii's Family Background
Tuarii was a younger daughter of King Tahitoe. He ruled Raiatea and Tahaa from 1871 to 1881. Her family had a long history of ruling Raiatea. They were related to King Tamatoa II.
In 1880, King Tahitoe agreed to let France protect his kingdom. Because of this, his people removed him from power. His other daughter, Queen Tehauroa, then tried to get help from the British. She wanted to keep Raiatea independent, as agreed in a treaty from 1847. After Tehauroa died in 1884, there was a big argument over who should be the next ruler. To avoid France getting involved, a cousin named Tamatoa VI became king.
Fighting for the Kingdom
In 1888, France officially took over Raiatea and Tahaa. This happened after Britain and France ended their old agreement about the islands. Around 1887 or 1888, a rebel chief named Teraupo'o made Tuarii queen. She ruled in opposition to King Tamatoa VI, who had sided with the French.
Tuarii's government and the resistance movement were based in the village of Avera. This village is on the eastern coast of Raiatea. The people of Raiatea asked the British for help. They even offered their country to Queen Victoria. In 1895, Queen Tuarii traveled to the Cook Islands, which were under British protection. She hoped to get help there, but British officials refused to meet with her.
The French sent Governor Gustave Gallet to stop the rebellion. In 1896, two French warships arrived with 200 soldiers. They also brought Tahitian volunteers to help. On December 27, 1896, Governor Gallet tried to talk to the rebels. He told them they had to surrender by January 1, 1897. Queen Tuarii and 1,700 rebels at Avera sadly gave up.
However, Teraupo'o and other rebels from Tahaa refused to surrender. They continued fighting for two more months. The rebellion finally ended when Teraupo'o was captured on February 16, 1897. About 50 people died during this six-week fight, mostly Raiateans.
Later Life and Passing
After the rebellion, Tuarii was offered money each year from the French government. This was like a retirement payment. However, the French would not give money to her family members. The French governor warned her that if she caused any trouble, her payments would stop.
Tuarii lived until 1911, when she passed away.
