SUCCESSION TO THE VARIOUS KINGSHIPS OF TONGA (Period 1810-1826)..(source:Loau .L.Kulitea.) As previously noticed, the Tui Tonga, Maulupekotofa, (37th king 1784-1806) died in 1806 and was succeeded by his nephew, Fatafehi Fuanunuiava, whos the son of the Tui Tonga Pau, and Tupoumoheofo. Owing to the unsettled state of Tongatapu, he resided in Vavau. In 1810 a series of remarkable storms caused the people, and particularly the elderly female dreamers of dreams, to declare that the Tui Tonga would die. After a certain time, during which these opinions were strongly expressed, the Tui Tonga did die, not even the strangling of several children availing to prevent his death (old tradition by sacrificing the innocent). This occured just before Mariner (Toki Ukamea) sailed away. Finau Ulukalala III then carried out his fathers idea of abolishing the annual tribute to the Tui Tonga which had become a useless custom, in the opinion of Ulukalala II and III, and a great burden on an impoverished country. No appointment of a Tui Tonga was made after 1810 til 1827. The power of the Tui Kanokupolu was temporarily in abeyance since the assassination of Tukuaho, but the Tui Tongas office was suffering from 3 centuries of decline and by this time its influence had almost vanished. Even after the last 39th Tui Tonga, Laufilitonga (1827-1865) was appointed in 1827, he didnt receive any compulsory tribute.In 1811 Moegagogo, or Finau Ulukalala III, died. His peaceful reign had been most regrettably short...hes evidently little more than 25yrs old. His brother, Tuapasi or Hamaua, whos also a lover of peace, became Finau Ulukalala IV, and ruled from 1811 to 1833. Finau Fisi, the unlce of Finau Ulukalala III and IV, was killed by a warrior of Vavau named Halaapiapi not long after 1811.After Finau Ulukalala IV had allowed the re-opening of communication with Haapai, friendly relations continued for a time, but in 1813 Vavau was again invaded. This time the aggressors were Taka of Pea, and Tupoutoa, the new 17th Tui Kanokupolu, whod married Takais daughter Pule. Then Tupoutoa went to Tongatapu to make arrangements with Takai for the war, hes received with a remarkable presentation of food (lofitu) stretching from Nukualofa to the extreme end of Maufaga...and on Takais reaching Haapai afterwards, prior to the departure of the united armies for Vavau, he found even greater feast in a specially built house, the ridgepole of which consisted of a continuous line formed the backs of pigs, reaching from Huluipaogo to Koulo...such was the change from the misery of famine to reckless extravagance. The army of Tupoutoa and Takai succeeded in capturing the fort at Feletoa, but this was was neither as long nor as disastrous as the wars of Finau Ulukalala II, and in the absence of a European chronicler we know no details of importance. Takai died, evidently about 1816, and was succeeded as chieftain of Pea by his brother Fae.With regard to the Tui Kanokupolu Line, the succession in the yrs 1782-1800 contains some uncertainty. The history relating to Tupoumalohi and his immediate successors is also not free from doubt. I seems that he resigned in 1800 very shortly after being appointed, and that he didnt resume the exercise of office at any time after his return from Fisi in 1805, but rather he humbled himself before Finau Ulukalala II and retired to Haapai. In 1812 came the definite appointment of Tupoutoa as Tui Kanokupolu...hes the younger son of Tukuaho and nephew of Tupoumalohi, and frequently figured in the history of the period. It seems impossible to discover whether Tupoumalohi died just before Tupoutoa received the title. The Tongan account states that Ulakai, the elder brother of Tupoutoa, shouldve succeeded, and that he actually put forward his claim at Uiha and was prepared to act upon it...but, owing to some of the proper chiefs not having been consulted, hes not regarded as validly chosen and wasnt installed at Pagai, the official place of appointment. Its also stated that Takai advised the electing chiefs to make Tupoutoa Tui Kanokupolu and end the interregnum, so that hed be satisfied and not invade Tongatapu so often. Theres no doubt that Tupoutoa often led the Haapai warriors in attacks on Tongatapu both before and after 1812...the chief battles of this period were at Teekiu, and at Pea after Takai had died, but the details are unimportant. Though Tupoutoa might allege after 1812 that he waged war to enforce his authority in Tongatapu, the effect was a continuation of the misery suffered in Finau Ulukalalas time. In 1820 he died and was buried at Uiha in the royal tomb Malae Tapu or Malae Lahi, close to the grave of Tupouniu whom hed murdered.Tupoutoa had a son, the illustrious Taufaahau, or Giniginiofolaga...about 25yrs old at the time of his fathers death. No effort was made to appoint him or anyone else as Tui Kanokupolu. The only objection to Taufaahau was that hed be far too energetic a ruler to please the rebellious chiefs of Tongatapu and theyre mainly responsible for Tongas divided condition throughout this period. Its true that the Civil War in 1799 was instigated by the great chief of the north, Ulukalala, and that he continued to be the leading figure of the stormy period, but he wouldnt have succeeded at the outset hadnt he been joined by many Tongatapu chiefs...and its in Tongatapu that inter-tribal wars and opposition to the authority of any Tui Kanokupolu persisted after Haapai and Vavau had been reduced to comparative peace and order. In considering the causes of Tongas unsettlement from 1799 to the close of fighting in 1852 the constant factor is the group rebellious chiefs in Tongatapu.The position of Tui Kanokupolu, therefore, was left vacant from 1820-1826, and spasmodic fighting went on unchecked in Tongatapu. Malo e afe mai..tau toki hokoatu.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 00:34:25 +0000
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