40-604: Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau ( pronounced [ˈseru epeˈniːsa ðakomˈbau] ; occasionally spelled Cacobau or phonetically Thakombau ) (c.1815 – 1 February 1883) was a Fijian chief, monarch, and warlord ( Vunivalu ) who united part of Fiji's warring tribes under his leadership, establishing a united Fijian kingdom . He was born on Natauloa, Nairai Island in Lomaiviti but spent his youth on Vanuaso, Gau, Lomaiviti, later returning to Bau to re-establish his Father's Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa reign. Ratu Epenisa Seru Visawaqa
80-549: A family that has traditionally ruled a certain area. The chiefs are of differing rank, with some chiefs traditionally subordinate to other chiefs. The Vusaratu clan is regarded as the highest chiefly clan, with regards to the people of Bau until the rise of the Tui Kaba clan leader, who exiled all Vusaratu members. They are the heirs of Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau , the Vunivalu of Bau or Tui Levuka (Paramount Chief of Bau, on
120-575: A minor role in the Levuka/Ovalau economy. Levuka has been incorporated as a Town since 1877, and is governed by a Town Council of 8 members, elected for 3-year terms. The municipal elections of 22 October 2005 resulted in a defeat for the SDL of outgoing Mayor Taniela Bulivou , with the Balance Party taking 6 of the 8 seats. The new council elected George Gibson to succeed Bulivou;
160-571: A name rather than a title.) It has been affixed to the names of Tana and Cakobau by later Fijians, retroactively. The Cakobau Memorial Church on Bau Island is now referred to as the Ratu Cakobau Church. Ratu may also be used as a personal first name or second name. The title may be acquired as part of a chiefly name, by a namesake. In such cases, it does not imply chiefly status. Adi is the female equivalent, sometimes heard as Yadi in Lau. Ra
200-519: A population of 1,131 (plus 3,266 living in the peri-urban area as defined by the Bureau of Statistics), about half of Ovalau's 8,360 inhabitants. It is the economic hub and the largest of 24 settlements on the island. Having been nominated decades prior, Levuka was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2013, in recognition of the port town's exceptional testimony to the late colonial port towns in
240-738: A renovated store built in 1878 by Morris Hedstrom , a trading company established in Levuka's early days and still in business in Fiji. Morris Hedstrom gave the building to the National Trust of Fiji in 1980. Adjacent to the Levuka Community Centre stands Queens Wharf , with a maximum depth of eight meters. Upgraded in the 1990s, it is used mostly by local craft, though foreign vessels sometimes dock, Levuka being one of three official ports of entry to Fiji ( Suva and Lautoka being
280-461: A royal palace is called " keraton ", constructed from the circumfix ke- -an and Ratu , to describe the residence of the ratu. Ratu: A chiefly title for men used alone as a form of address, or in front of the chief's name, only in certain places The source of the Fijian title is Verata, and it has spread throughout Fiji during the past century, now applied to many local, minor chiefs as well as
320-586: Is a prefix in many titles ( ramasi, ramalo, rasau, ravunisa, ratu ), and tu means simply "chief". The formal use of "ratu" as a title in a name (as in "Sir" in British tradition) was not introduced until after the cession of 1874 . Until then, a chief would be known only by his birth name and his area-specific traditional title. Regional variations include ro in Rewa and parts of Naitasiri and Tailevu , roko in parts of Naitasiri , Rewa and Lau (particularly
360-661: Is also known as "Tamana na vavalagi" (Father of the Europeans). At the southern end of the town lies the village of Nasova , where the King Seru Epenisa Cakobau signed the Deed of Cession , ceding the islands to Great Britain on 10 October 1874. The Levuka Community Centre , which houses a branch of the Fiji Museum , a public library, crafts centre, kindergarten, squash court and meeting hall, occupies
400-554: Is famous for many of Fiji's "firsts". It was the site of Fiji's first bank, post office, school, private members club, hospital, town hall, and municipal government. Fiji's first newspaper, the Fiji Times , which is still in operation today, was founded in Levuka in 1869. Levuka's Royal Hotel is the oldest hotel in the South Pacific still operating. Historians have not ascertained its exact age, but records show that it
440-684: The Roko Tui Bau (sacred chieftain) had had many power struggles during the course of nearly a century. These struggles led to the death of Seru's paternal uncle, the Vunivalu of Bau, Naulivou Ramatenikutu and the installation of Tanoa as Vunivalu . However, after he killed the Roko Tui Bau , Ratu Raiwalui, near Vanua Balavu , amongst other murders and reprisals, Tanoa was exiled in 1832. He married two sisters, Litia (Lydia) Samanunu and Salote (Charlotte) Qalirea Kaunilotuna (daughters of
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#1732765876066480-431: The Roko Tui Bau ). Mary Wallis provided a description of him after meeting with him on 7 December 1844: "He is tall, rather good looking, appears fully aware of his consequence, and is not destitute of dignity. He wore an enormous quantity of hair on his head and several yards of native cloth around his body..." Seru was given the name Cikinovu ("Centipede"), "because he moved silently and struck painfully". Later, he
520-623: The Great Council of Chiefs often stepped in to provide leadership when the modern political institutions have broken down. Levuka Levuka ( Fijian pronunciation: [leβuka] ) is a town on the eastern coast of the Fijian island of Ovalau , in Lomaiviti Province , in the Eastern Division of Fiji. Prior to 1877, it was the capital of Fiji. At the census in 2007, the last to date, Levuka town had
560-732: The Moala group), ra in parts of Vanua Levu , particularly the province of Bua . In all those places, it is used as a title preceding the person's name, much like "prince", "duke", "earl", "baron" or "lord". The semantics, however, are a little different in Fijian although the name and title are usually reversed, for example: In English, one would say His Royal Highness (Styling) Prince (address/title) Andrew (name), Duke of York (noble title). In Fijian, one would say, Gone Turaga Na (Styling) Roko Tui Bau (noble title), Ratu (address/title) Joni Madraiwiwi (name). The Fijian nobility consists of about seventy chiefs, each of whom descends from
600-847: The National Federation Party and a former Member of Parliament . Ratu Ratu ( [ˈrɑːtu] ) is an Austronesian title used by male Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, adi (pronounced [ˈandi] ), is used by females of chiefly rank. In the Malay language , the title ratu is also the traditional honorific title to refer to the ruling king or queen in Javanese culture (though it has since been used in modern contexts to refer to both queen regnant and queen consort of any nation, e.g. "Ratu Elizabeth II " and "Ratu Camilla "). Thus in Java ,
640-636: The Pacific came to an end in the 1950s, threatening the town with economic extinction. In 1964, however, the Pacific Fishing Company (PAFCO) was founded by a Japanese firm, specialising in freezing and shipping canned tuna , mostly to markets in Europe and Canada. A cannery , a joint PAFCO-government venture, was opened in 1976, and is the largest private employer on the island of Ovalau. Owing largely to Levuka's isolation, tourism plays only
680-724: The vice-president , and 14 of the 32 senators , members of Parliament's "upper house", which has a veto over most legislation. The 18 other senators are appointed by the Prime Minister (9), the Leader of the Opposition (8), and the Council of Rotuma (1); these appointees may, or may not, be of chiefly rank also. (The Senate was modelled on Britain's House of Lords , which consists of both hereditary and life peers .) The presidency, vice-presidency, and fourteen senators are
720-590: The General Assembly. Two years later, however, the confederacy split into the Kingdom of Bau and the Confederation of Lau (comprising Bua , Cakaudrove , Lau ), with Cakobau assuming kingship of the former. Supported by foreign settlers, he finally succeeded in creating a united Fijian kingdom in 1871, and established Levuka as his capital. He decided to set up a constitutional monarchy , and
760-464: The House, which is elected by universal suffrage, were of chiefly rank, but in recent elections, the discrepancy between chiefs and commoners is slowly narrowing, as commoners are becoming better educated and have begun to work their way into the power structure. The chiefs, however, retain enormous respect among the Fijian people. In times of crisis, such as the coups of 1987 and the third coup of 2000 ,
800-626: The Legislative Council of Fiji. The United States government had recognised Cakobau's claim to kingship over a united Fijian nation, long before his claims were accepted by his fellow chiefs. In the long term, however, this was not to count in his favour. The American government held him responsible for an arson attack against the Nukulau Island home of John Brown William , the American Consul, in 1849 (before Cakobau
840-510: The Mayoral term is for one year, but may be extended any number of times. The council has recently been suspended by the interim government of Fiji and a local administrator (Napolionio Masirewa) has been named. At the northern end of Levuka is the traditional Fijian village of Levuka. The village chief, who bears the title of Tui Levuka , is a direct descendant of the chief who welcomed the first European settlers. In memory of his ancestor, he
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#1732765876066880-526: The Pacific. The modern town of Levuka was founded around 1820 by European settlers and traders as the first modern town in the Fiji Islands, and became an important port and trading post. A disparate band of settlers made up Levuka's population – traders, missionaries, shipwrights , speculators, and vagabonds, as well as respectable businessmen. The US Exploring Expedition visited in 1840. During
920-704: The capital Suva was electrified. Much of Levuka's unique heritage is in its wooden architecture which is highly vulnerable to fire. The Masonic Lodge, Levuka's only Romanesque-revival building was set on fire during the period of lawlessness and unrest following Fiji's 2000 coup. There is much controversy about the Masonic fraternity in Fiji, the dominant traditional Christian faiths consider Masons to be devil-worshippers. The Lodge contained priceless historical artefacts and records of Levuka's history dating back to 1875. The arsonists have yet to be identified and prosecuted. In 2008, Levuka's PAFCO Cold Storage Plant which
960-410: The colonial rule (1874–1970), the British kept Fiji's traditional chiefly structure and worked through it. They established what was to become the Great Council of Chiefs , originally an advisory body, but it grew into a powerful constitutional institution. Constitutionally, it functions as an electoral college to choose Fiji's president (a largely honorary position modelled on the British monarchy),
1000-689: The eastern side of Viti Levu , Fiji's most populous island), He proclaimed himself " Tui Viti/King of Fiji " in 1871. (He was only recognised by the British and a few provinces of Viti Levu) He along with 12 high Chiefs subsequently ceded the islands to the United Kingdom in 1874. Other prominent chiefly clans include the Vuanirewa (the traditional rulers of the Lau Islands ) and the Ai So'ula (the traditional rulers of Vanua Levu ). During
1040-416: The fires but no prosecutions have been made. In April 2010, Levuka's Chief Fire Authority Officer was quoted in the national paper as saying that Levuka is: ‘...a fire hazard waiting to happen...’, he points out in the article that there are no fire hydrants in the town and that virtually no buildings have fire extinguishers or fire alarm systems. Levuka's status as a stopover port for ocean vessels crossing
1080-702: The first legislative assembly met in November of that year. Both the legislature and the Cabinet were dominated by foreigners. He gave his war club to Queen Victoria on 10 October 1874 when the Deed of Cession by which the sovereignty of Fiji passed to the British Crown was signed. In October 1932, King Cakobau’s war club was presented, on behalf of King George V , for ceremonial use as the Ceremonial mace of
1120-471: The first modern nation state of Fiji, the Kingdom of Fiji , was founded in 1871, Seru Epenisa Cakobau was crowned King at Levuka. After Fiji was annexed as a British colony in 1874, Levuka remained the capital until 1877, when the administration was moved to Suva , although the move was not made official until 1882. The move was prompted by concerns that the 600-meter high hills, many with cliffs, surrounding Levuka gave it no room for expansion. Levuka
1160-473: The major ones. The concept of his type of title is from Tonga. Strictly speaking, the title belongs only in Verata. In their time, Cakobau or Tanoa, his father, never themselves used the title of Ratu. It does not appear with Cakobau's name or any other chief's name in the Deed of Cession of 1874. (Exceptionally, in the 1850s, Ratu Mara Kapaiwai was one of the few who did use the word Ratu, though that may have been
1200-435: The mid 19th-century, the town was quickly becoming a commercial hub for the sea cucumber trade. Marist priests, led by Father Jean-Baptiste Bréhéret [ fr ] , established a mission in Levuka in 1858, and Wesleyan missions were built around the same time. The Sacred Heart Church , Marist Convent School, and two Methodist churches still survive today. By 1870, the town had a population of more than 2000. When
1240-414: The only constitutional offices whose appointment is controlled by persons of chiefly rank. Chiefs in post-independence Fiji have always competed for parliamentary seats on an equal footing with commoners. In the years following independence, this favored the chiefly class, as the common people looked to them as their leaders and generally voted for them. For several elections, many ethnic Fijian members of
Seru Epenisa Cakobau - Misplaced Pages Continue
1280-481: The rebellion with the aid of the King of Tonga . Having converted to Christianity, on the battlefield he pardoned all the captives; in accordance with pagan Fijian customs, the defeated men would have been ceremonially humiliated, killed and eaten. On 8 May 1865, a Confederacy of Independent Kingdoms of Viti was established (comprising Bau , Bua , Cakaudrove , Lakeba , Macuata , Naduri ), with Cakobau as Chairman of
1320-617: The remainder of Fiji, he asserted that he was the King of Fiji. However, Cakobau's claim was not accepted by other chiefs, who regarded him, at best, as the first among equals . Cakobau consequently engaged in constant warfare for almost nineteen years to unify the islands under his authority. The last, brief rebellion of chiefs against Cakobau's rule culminated in the Battle of Kaba (a village in Bau Tikina, next to Bau Island). Cakobau crushed
1360-422: The speaker of Fiji's House of Representatives, is a grandson of Cakobau's granddaughter, Adi Litia Cakobau. Ratu Epeli is also a cousin of parliamentarian and former leader of opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa , who descends from Adi Teimumu Vuikaba, the younger sister of Adi Litia Cakobau. A number of other political figures are also descendants of Cakobau, including Roko Tupou Draunidalo , former President of
1400-892: The title of Vunivalu of Bau, and formally ceded the highest and most precedent Chiefly title of Tui Viti or Paramount Chief of Fiji to the person of Her Majesty Queen Victoria . This title continued to be held by her descendants, until the de-establishment of the Great Council of Chiefs on 14 March 2012, making Elizabeth II the last Paramount Chief. He lived quietly until his death on 1 February 1883. Several of Fiji's leading figures were direct descendants of Cakobau. His great-grandson, Ratu Sir George Cakobau who descended from Cakobau's third son, served as Fiji's first native-born Governor-General from 1973 to 1983, while Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara , modern Fiji's first Prime Minister and second President descended from Cakobau's second daughter, Adi Asenaca Kakua Vuikaba. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau , who became President of Fiji in 2009 and currently
1440-532: Was called Cakobau ("destroyer of Bau"), because he had destroyed what was Bau; but Seru also built a new Bau, under the supremacy of the Vunivalu. After he converted to Christianity, he also took the additional name of Epenisa (Ebenezer). On 8 December 1852, Cakobau succeeded as Vunivalu of Bau. Cakobau, a former cannibal, was converted to Christianity by the missionary James Calvert and renounced cannibalism in 1854. Claiming that Bau had suzerainty over
1480-570: Was even the Vunivalu, let alone King), and demanded $ 44,000 compensation. Unable to pay the debt caused by the Rewan Chiefs, and fearing an American invasion and annexation, Cakobau decided to cede the islands to the United Kingdom. He and his diplomatic party sailed to Sydney to celebrate the annexation, where they contracted measles . Their return triggered an epidemic. Cakobau retained his position as Fiji's second most senior chief
1520-559: Was given the name "Cakobau" meaning destroyer of Bau, in reference to his grandfathers' (Nailatikau) effort to first claim the tile from the people of Butoni and Lovoni, returned with most of his warriors from Vanuaso, Gau, Lomaiviti to coup the leadership in Bau then and later takeover his father's title; known after his father as the 6th "Vunivalu" or Warlord of Bau. He was born to Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa on Nairai Island, Lomaiviti , and one of his nine wives, Adi Savusavu. The Vunivalu and
1560-465: Was in existence by the early 1860s. Levuka Public School , opened in 1879, was the first public school in Fiji and many of Fiji's leaders in the years leading up to and following independence in 1970 were educated there. The oldest Masonic lodge in the South Pacific, Lodge Polynesia 562 SC , is also to be found in Levuka. It was established in 1875. Levuka was also the site of Fiji's first public electricity system, which began in 1927, three days before
1600-514: Was located next the town's main road was destroyed by a fire caused during welding maintenance works. In more recent years, the old Mavida Guest house and the old General Store on Levuka's main street have also burnt down. The General Store Building housed the Westpac Bank, Air Fiji and a Supermarket and, being over 100 years old, was part of the then proposed (now established) UNESCO National Heritage Site. Rumors of arson abound in relation to
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