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46-677: It was centred in Tonga on the island of Tongatapu , with its capital at Muʻa . Modern researchers and cultural experts attest to widespread Tongan influence, evidence of transoceanic trade and exchange of material and non-material cultural artefacts. Captain James Cook observed and recorded his accounts of the Tuʻi Tonga kings during his visits to the Friendly Isles of Tonga. As Samoa 's Tui Manuʻa maritime empire began to decline,

92-527: A daughter of the Tui Manuʻa. They produced a son Peseta, who was to become the next Ama, and a daughter, Tohuʻia Limapo. Herewith contains the connection to the Tongan royal lineage through Tohuʻia Limapo. Limapo travelled to Tonga with her father Ama Lele, at the express request of the 6th Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua of Tonga, to marry Ama Lele's daughter Limapo. Limapo travelled with a large wedding party, which consisted of

138-550: A new empire rose from the South. In about 950 AD, the first Tuʻi Tonga ʻAhoʻeitu started to expand his rule outside of Tonga . According to leading Tongan scholar Dr. 'Okusitino Mahina, the Tongan and Samoan oral traditions indicate that the first Tuʻi Tonga was the son of their god Tangaloa . As the ancestral homeland of the Tuʻi Tonga dynasty and the abode of deities such as Tagaloa ʻEitumatupuʻa, Tonga Fusifonua, and Tavatavaimanuka,

184-454: A strong foundation for his new title of Tuʻi Kanokupolu (translated as the "Heart of Upolu"), a direct homage to his mother's heritage. The Tuʻi Kanokupolu dynasty oversaw the importation and institution of many Samoan policies and titles and according to Tongan scholars, this "Samoanized" form of government and custom continues today in the modern Kingdom of Tonga. Things continued in this manner afterward. The first Europeans arrived in 1616, when

230-687: A tuua" was published in the Samoan Observer Newspaper of April 20, 2016 edition. In early Polynesian history Tongan king Tu'i Tonga Talakaifaiki of the Tu'i Tonga dynasty ruled, around 1250 to 1300, over several western Polynesian polities including Lau group of islands (eastern Fiji ), Niue , 'Uvea , Futuna , ' Upolu , and Savai'i ). Tu'i Tonga Talakaifaiki established a long-term residence at Safotu , Savai'i, Samoa and installed his brother, Lautivunia, as governor of Western Samoa islands. Samoan lore suggests that Talakaifaiki's reign

276-468: Is "treasured cloth" ("ie" = cloth, "tōga" = female goods, in opposition to "oloa" = male goods). Many fine mats came into the possession of the Tongan royal families through chiefly marriages with Samoan noblewomen, such as Tohuʻia, the mother of the first Tuʻi Kanokupolu, Ngata, who came from Safata, ʻUpolu, Samoa. These mats, including the Maneafaingaa and Tasiaeafe, are considered the crown jewels of

322-407: Is a state dynasty and one of the four paramount chiefly titles of Samoa . It is the titular head of one of the two great royal families of Samoa: Sā Malietoa. Literally translated as "great warrior", the title's origin comes from the final words of the Tongan warriors as they were fleeing on the beach to their boats, "Malie To`a, Malo e tau..." ("Great warrior, thank you for the war). The title

368-558: Is built of coral limestone. The island is covered with thick fertile soil consisting of volcanic ash from neighbouring volcanoes. At the steep coast of the south, heights reach an average of 35 metres (115 feet), and maximum 70 metres (230 feet), gradually decreasing towards the north. North of the island are many small isolated islands and coral reefs which extend up to 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) from Tongatapu's shores. The almost completely closed Fanga'uta and Fangakakau Lagoons are important breeding grounds for birds and fish as they live within

414-466: Is currently held by HH Malietoa Faamausili Molī and co-heir HH Malietoa Bob Ainuu Afamasaga based on Samoa's Lands and Titles Court Decision of 16 August 2018. The Courts decision was based on the Deathbed statement of the current holder of the title which was at the time was late His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II that his son Moli and Bob Ainuu Afamasaga are co-heirs. The Deathbed statement or "Mavaega

460-597: Is impressive given the oral nature of Samoan genealogy transmission. The descendants of the Malietoa lineage, both titular and biological, are referred to collectively as the Sā Malietoa. The Sā Malietoa of today is expansive and transcends geographical boundaries, religious persuasions, socio-economic class and even ethnicity (considering various chiefly families in Fiji and other Pacific societies are genealogically linked to

506-460: Is no longer used except by historians. Commander James Cook , sailing the British vessel Resolution visited the island on October 2, 1773 by some accounts and by other accounts October 1774, returning again in 1777 , with Omai , whereupon they left some cattle for breeding . These were still flourishing in 1789 when Bounty , under Fletcher Christian visited. The earliest mention of

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552-452: Is taken from the opening phrase of that speech: " Mālie toa, mālie tau ," meaning "great warriors, well fought." It is said that the brothers Tuna and Fata both took a fancy to the honor spoken by the deposed Tu'i Tonga and a quarrel between the two ensued. Legend tells that one brother was struck dead by the other and chaos was averted by their eldest brother, Savea, who resuscitated and placated both contenders. The political vacuum left by

598-718: The Heemskerck and the Zeehaen commissioned by the Dutch East India Company of Batavia (Jakarta). The expedition's goals were to chart the unknown southern and eastern seas and to find a possible passage through the South Pacific and Indian Ocean providing a faster route to Chile . The expedition set sail from Batavia on 14 August 1642. Tasman named the island "t’ Eijlandt Amsterdam" (Amsterdam Island), because of its abundance of supplies. This name

644-812: The Takaʻipōmana was actually a Samoan kalia; according to Queen Sālote and the Palace Records this was the Samoan double-hulled canoe that brought Tohuʻia Limapō from Samoa to wed the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua. The large navy allowed for Tonga to become wealthy with large amounts of trade and tribute flowing into the royal treasury. The voyaging under during the Tuʻi Tonga Empire extended as far as the Tuvaluan archipelago. The oral history of Nanumea describes

690-472: The Wallis and Futuna islands in the 15th and 16th centuries, the islands defended themselves with varying levels of resistance, but also accepted varying degrees of assimilation. Futuna retained more of its pre- Tongan cultural features , while Wallis ( Uvea ) underwent greater fundamental changes in its society, language, and culture. The Tuʻi Tonga decline began due to numerous wars and internal pressure. In

736-500: The mangroves growing around the lagoon 's shores. The lagoons were declared a Natural Reserve in 1974 by the government. Tongatapu has a rather cooler climate than the rest of Tonga as it is the southernmost group of islands in the country. Because of this, fruit production is lower in Tongatapu than it is in the warmer islands in the north. Tongatapu is known as having one of the highest concentration of archaeological remains in

782-644: The 13th or 14th centuries, the Samoans had expelled the Tongans from their lands after Tuʻi Tonga Talakaifaiki was defeated in battle by the brothers Tuna, Fata, and Savea, progenitors of the Malietoa family. In response, the falefā was created as political advisors to the Empire. The falefā officials were initially successful in maintaining some hegemony over other subjected islands but increased dissatisfaction led to

828-582: The Ama family and the Safata warriors under the charge of Ama Lele. The product of this marriage was Ngata. In 1610, the 6th Tuʻi Haʻa Takalaua, Moʻungatonga, created the position of Tuʻi Kanokupolu for the half-Samoan Ngata which divided regional rule between them, though as time went on the Tu’i Kanokupolu's power became more and more dominant over Tonga. This title granted Ngata considerable power and provided

874-478: The Dutch explorers Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire spotted Tongans in a canoe off the coast of Niuatoputapu , followed by Abel Tasman who passed by the islands on 20 January 1643. These visits were brief, however, and did not significantly change the islands. The dividing line between the two moieties was the old coastal road named Hala Fonua moa (dry land road). Modern chiefs who derive their authority from

920-465: The Elder). The appellation "Na-fa'alogo-iai-Samoa (He Who Samoa Listened To)" was added on during the time of Malietoa Vainu'upo who, as Tupu Tafa'ifa after the death of Tamafaiga, formally accepted Christianity into Samoa in the late 1800s. The following is a compiled list of the Malietoa holders. A handful of other versions are also recorded; however, the overall consistency of chronology and nomenclature

966-654: The London Missionary Society and the pacifist policy of Vai'inupo and the Christians in 1842. He is better known by his other chiefly title, Taimalelagi. The Sa Natuitasina considers the Maota Pouvi (Taimalelagi's former residential grounds) to be their familial "headquarters" and their council house is also located in Sapapali'i, Savai'i. Although only the apical ancestor of this branch has held

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1012-525: The Loyalty Islands, and while some academics prefer the term "maritime chiefdom", others argue that, while very different from examples elsewhere, "empire" is probably the most convenient term." Tongatapu Tongatapu is the main island of Tonga and the site of its capital, Nukuʻalofa . It is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name, and is the country's most populous island, with 74,611 residents (2016), 70.5% of

1058-471: The Malietoa family). The subject of descendants of the Malietoa title is a thorny one riddled with claims and counter-claims present from the first Malietoa to the present day. In terms of relative history, the "oldest" branch of the modern Sa Malietoa is the Sa Natuitasina (also spelled Gatuitasina). Malietoa Natuitasina was the half-brother of Vai'inupo who allied with his own nephew Talavou against

1104-572: The Malietoa title until his death in 1910. Fa'alataitaua's son, Fitisemanu, was also installed as Malietoa, styled as Malietoa Fitisemanu II, but later conceded the title following a legal battle in 1939. The communal council house of the Sa Talavou in Sapapali'i is called Maota Pouesi, the restored former residence of Malietoa Talavou. While not legally recognized by the 1939 Malietoa edict (LC 853), there are technically many other family lineages that can claim genealogical connections as "branches" of

1150-538: The Malietoa title, the 1939 ruling grants the Sa Natuitasina deliberating rights on the succession of the Malietoa title. Perhaps the most well-known of the three modern branches, the Sā Moli has been highlighted as one of Samoa's four royal families for over a century. The families of the Sa Moli trace their genealogies to Malietoa Moli. The Sa Moli maintains a family council house in Sapapali'i called Poutoa, which, since it

1196-515: The Manuʻa islands of Samoa were considered sacred by the early Tongan kings. By the time of the 10th Tuʻi Tonga Momo, and his successor, Tuʻitātui, the Tuʻi Tonga Empire had grown to include much of the former domains of the Tui Fiti and Tui Manuʻa, with the Manuʻa group being the only exception, remaining under Tui Manuʻa rule. To better govern the large territory, the Tuʻi Tonga had their throne moved by

1242-651: The Pacific Ocean . Oxford University Press . Stuebel and Brother Herman (1995). Tala o le Vavau: The Myths, Legends and Customs of Old Samoa . University of Hawai'i Press . Tu'u'u, Misilugi (2001). Rulers of Samoa Islands and their Legends and Decrees . Tuga'ula Publications . Tu'u'u, Misilugi (2002). Supremacy and Legacy of the Malietoa (Samoa Listened To) . Tuga'ula Publications . Hart, Wright & Patterson (1971). History of Samoa . Pesega LDS Press . Mageo, Jeanette (2002). "Myth, Cultural Identity and Ethnopolitics: Samoa and

1288-755: The Pacific. The earliest traces of Lapita pottery found in Tonga was from around 900–850 BC, 300 years after the first settlements in Tonga were established. Archaeologist David Burley discovered the pottery around the Fanga'uta Lagoon, 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) away from the Lapita pottery found at Santa Cruz in the Solomon Islands . Tonga was always the seat of the Tuʻi Tonga Empire , but in an area of distances up to 1,000 kilometres (620 miles), it

1334-788: The Sa Malietoa. Some of these descendants have come to light through media coverage of the ongoing titular dispute prompted by the death of Malietoa Tanumafili II, including families who claim descent from other Malietoas (besides Natuitasina, Moli and Talavou) and/or their descendants. Kirch, Patrick (1989). The Evolution of the Polynesian Chiefdoms . Cambridge University Press . ISBN   978-0-521-27316-9 . Kramer, Augustin (1995). The Samoa Islands, Volumes I & II . University of Hawai'i Press . ISBN   978-0-8248-1634-6 . Bevans, Charles (1968). Treaties and Other International Agreements of

1380-497: The Tongan "Empire" ". Journal of Anthropological Research . 58 (4): 493–520. doi : 10.1086/jar.58.4.3630677 . S2CID   147677206 . Schoeffel, Penelope (1987). "Rank, Gender and Politics in Ancient Samoa: The Genealogy of Salamāsina O le Tafaifā". Journal of Pacific History . 22 (4): 174–193. doi : 10.1080/00223348708572566 . Stuebel, C. (1899). "War of Tonga and Samoa and Origin of

1426-521: The Tu'i Tonga's birthday festivities were underway) to the coast of Mulifanua, the king and his bodyguards were cornered against the sea. There was fierce fighting all the way to the sea whereon the Tu'i Tonga reached his superior navy vessels and called out to those on the land. Upon his departure, the aged monarch delivered a short speech which praised the brave fighting qualities of the Samoan warriors and conceded victory to his once-subjects. The Malietoa title

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1472-923: The Tuʻi Tonga are still named the Kau Hala ʻUta (inland road people), while those from the Tuʻi Kanokupolu are known as the Kau Hala Lalo (low road people). Concerning the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua supporters: when this division arose, in the 15th century, they were of course the Kauhalalalo. But when the Tuʻi Kanokupolu had overtaken them they shifted their allegiance to the Kauhalaʻuta. Modern archeology, anthropology, and linguistic studies confirm widespread Tongan cultural influence ranging widely through East ʻUvea, Rotuma, Futuna, Samoa, and Niue, parts of Micronesia (Kiribati and Pohnpei), Vanuatu, and New Caledonia and

1518-479: The Tuʻi Tonga kings themselves became ethnic Samoans who married Samoan women and resided in Samoa. Kauʻulufonua's mother was a Samoan from Manu'a, Tuʻi Tonga Kauʻulufonua II and Tuʻi Tonga Puipuifatu had Samoan mothers and as they married Samoan women the succeeding Tuʻi Tonga – Vakafuhu, Tapu'osi, and 'Uluakimata – were allegedly more "Samoan" than "Tongan". In Samoa, the high chief of Safata, Ama Lele married Soliʻai,

1564-518: The Tuʻi Tonga, Kauʻulufonua established a new dynasty called the Ha'a Takalaua in honour of his father and gave his brother, Moʻungamotuʻa, the title of Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua . This new dynasty was to deal with the everyday decisions of the empire, while the position of Tuʻi Tonga was to be the nation's spiritual leader, though he still controlled the final say in the life or death of his people. The Tuʻi Tonga Empire at this period becomes Samoan in orientation as

1610-962: The United States of America . Dept. of State . Gilson, Richard (1970). Samoa 1830-1900: The Politics of a Multi-Cultural Community . Oxford University Press . Goldman, Irving (1985). Ancient Polynesian Society . University of Chicago Press . Meleisea, Malama (1987). Lagaga: A Short History of Western Samoa . University of the South Pacific . Moyle, R., ed. (1984). The Samoan Journals of John Williams 1830-1832 . Australian National University Press . Henry, Brother F. (1979). History of Samoa . Commercial Printers Ltd. Fitisemanu and Wright (1970). Sacred Hens and Other Legends of Samoa . Field, Michael (1984). Mau: Samoa's Struggle Against New Zealand Oppression . A.H & A.W. Reed . Stair, John B. (1897). Old Samoa or Flotsam and Jetsam from

1656-423: The assassination of several rulers in succession. The most notable were, Havea I (19th TT), Havea II (22nd TT), and Takalaua (23rd TT), who were all known for their tyrannical rule. In AD 1535, Takalaua was assassinated by two foreigners while swimming in the lagoon of Muʻa . His successor, Kauʻulufonua I pursued the killers all the way to ʻUvea , where he killed them. Because of so many assassination attempts on

1702-603: The current Tupou line (which is derived matrilineally from Samoa). The success of the Empire was largely based upon the Imperial Navy. The most common vessels were long-distance double-canoes fitted with triangular sails. The largest canoes of the Tongan kalia type could carry up to 100 men. The most notable of these were the Tongafuesia , ʻĀkiheuho , the Lomipeau , and the Takaʻipōmana . It should be mentioned that

1748-402: The empire. This tribute was known as the ʻInasi and was conducted annually at Mu'a following the harvest season when all countries that were subject to the Tuʻi Tonga must bring a gift for the gods, who was recognized as the Tuʻi Tonga. Captain James Cook witnessed an Inasi ceremony in 1777. The finest mats of Samoa (ʻie tōga) are incorrectly translated as "Tongan mats;" the correct meaning

1794-401: The founding ancestor as being from Tonga. The oral history of Niutao recalls that in the 15th century Tongan warriors were defeated in a battle on the reef of Niutao. Tongan warriors also invaded Niutao later in the 15th century and again were repelled. A third and fourth invasion of Tongan occurred in the late 16th century, again with the Tongans being defeated. During the Tongan invasions of

1840-414: The lagoon at Lapaha , Tongatapu . The influence of the Tuʻi Tonga was renowned throughout the Pacific, and many of the neighbouring islands participated in the widespread trade of resources and new ideas. Under the 10th Tuʻi Tonga, Momo and his son Tuʻi-tā-tui (11th Tuʻi Tonga) the empire was at its height of expansion, tributes for the Tuʻi Tonga were said to be exacted from all tributary chiefdoms of

1886-950: The name Tongatapu (spelled "Tongataboo" in the text) was by James Cook in 1777, as he wrote his memoirs for the Three Voyages Around the World, Volume 1 . British and American whalers were regular visitors to the island for provisions, water and wood. The first on record was the Hope , in April–May 1807. The last known to have called was the Albatross in November–December 1899. 21°12′41″S 175°09′11″W  /  21.21139°S 175.15306°W  / -21.21139; -175.15306 Malietoa Mālietoa ( Samoan pronunciation: [maːɾiɛˈto.a] Mālietoa )

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1932-459: The national population, on 260 square kilometres (100 square miles). Tongatapu is Tonga's centre of government and the seat of its monarchy. Tongatapu has experienced more rapid economic development than the other islands of Tonga, and has thus attracted many internal migrants from them. The island is 257.03 square kilometres (99.24 square miles) (or 260.48 square kilometres (100.57 square miles) including neighbouring islands) and rather flat, as it

1978-408: The ousting of Talakaifaiki was immediately filled by Savea, meaning all the areas Tui Tonga Talakaifaiki once ruled was then under the rulership of Savea the first Malietoa. King Savea was bestowed the title Malietoa which his brothers had fought over and was hence honored in Samoan oratory as King Malietoa Savea-ali'i (Lord Savea), Savea Tu-vae-lua (Savea Who Stands on Both Feet), and Savea-matua (Savea

2024-518: Was established by Malietoa Vaiinupo, is also held as the ancestral maota of the Sa Natuitasina and Sa Talavou. The Sa Talavou branch includes all descendants of Malietoa Talavou Pe'a, a son of Malietoa Vai'inupo who was born around 1810. Prominent members of the Sa Talavou include Talavou's son, Malietoa Fa'alataitaua, who held the Ta'imua office and was named successor to Mata'afa Iosefo's office as Ali'i Sili while under German colonial rule. Fa'alataitaua held

2070-457: Was often only a symbolic rule. From the first capital at Toloa, around 1000 years ago, to the second capital at Heketā, at the site of the Haʻamonga ʻa Maui Trilithon , none boasts more traditional attractions than the third capital at Muʻa (from 1220–1851) with more than 20 royal grave mounds . Tongatapu was first sighted by Europeans on 20 January 1643 by Abel Tasman commanding two ships,

2116-449: Was one of tyranny and oppression that was highly resented by his Samoan subjects. The seeds of rebellion were planted, according to legend, to the "sons" of Atiogie, namely Savea, Tuna, Fata and Ulumasui (who was actually a grandson of Atiogie). The three brothers and their nephew led a wide-scale campaign of civil disobedience which ultimately escalated into the military overthrow of Talakaifaiki. Driven westward from Aleipata, 'Upolu (where

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