George Tupou II of Tonga
Encyclopedia
Siaosi Tupou II, King of Tonga (George Tupou II in English
) (18 June 1874 — 5 April 1918) was the King
of Tonga
from February 18, 1893 until his death. He was officially crowned
at Nukualofa
, on 17 March 1893. He was also the 20th Tui Kanokupolu
. In Tonga itself he was better known under the Tongan
version of his name Jiaoji Tubou (Siaosi Tupou in modern spelling) or even Tāufaāhau Tupou II.
Siaosi Tupou II was the son of Prince Tui Pelehake (Fatafehi Toutaitokotaha)
also Prime Minister
of Tonga in 1905), whose mother Sālote Pilolevu was a daughter of Tāufaāhau Tupou I
, and he was the son of Fusipala Taukionetuku, a daughter of Tēvita Unga who was a son of Tāufaāhau Tupou I again: George Tupou I that is, the founder of the united Tongan kingdom
.
Tupou II's reign was troubled by government corruption and inefficiency. The Tongan Parliament in 1900 was suspicious of the King's governing and had his accounts audited several times, finding discrepancies worth thousands of pounds. The expatriate community in Tonga called for its annexation to New Zealand. Still he was a gentle person, a doting father to his oldest daughter Sālote and an artist who wrote songs and poems. In this he had much in common with his earlier Hawaiian colleague Kalakaua
. He is also known for his push to construct cement water tanks (vaisima) everywhere in Tonga, providing clean water to the people, which was a major boost to public health.
He ascended the throne at 18 years old on the death of his great-grandfather George Tupou I by than he was still a bachelor. In 1896 the chiefs of the country urged him to marry and produce an heir. On December 8, 1898, he married Edith Marie Pomare-vahine of Tahiti, daughter of Prince Punuariʻi Teriʻitapunui of Tahiti
, Chief of Mahina. Then they divorce couple months later and Edith Marie Pomare-vahine return to Tahiti in 1899. After their divorce the chiefs suggested Ofa-ki-Vavau, the daughter of Māatu from Niuatoputapu, who was related to the Tui Haatakalaua
line. But he refused; instead he took on 1 June 1899 Lavinia Veiongo as wife. She was the daughter of Kupuavanua from Vavau
and Tōkanga from Niuafoou
, thus obliging these islands to the throne. Kupuavanua was also the grandson of the last Tui Tonga
Laufilitonga
, enabling him to claim rights to that line as well. Nevertheless the marriage almost started a civil war. For years relations between the king and the rest of the country remained strained. In addition to his inept governance, so much unlike his greatgrandfather, this led in 1905 to Tonga's becoming a British
protectorate
.
Queen Lavinia died on 25 April 1902 from tuberculosis, leaving only one child behind, Sālote. She was not popular as she was born from the 'wrong' mother, and it was not safe for her to go outside the palace garden. When Siaosi married for the second time, on 11 November 1909, with the then 16 year old Anaseini Takipō Afuha'amango, a first cousin of the rejected Ofa (who had died too by now), the chiefs were jubilant. It was customary in old Polynesia
for a defeated chief either to be killed or to be exiled. As such it was a fortunate excuse that Sālote had to go to school in Auckland
that she could be put on the December steamer to New Zealand
.
Sālote would remain in exile for 5 years, although she did come home during some Christmas holidays. After December 1914 her father ordered her to stay home. Queen Takipō had still not brought forth a son. One daughter, Onelua, had died a few months after her birth; another child, Elisiva Fusipala Taukionetuku, was still alive, but was a girl too. The hope the envying chiefs had had on an heir through Takipō was fading, and Sālote's supporters' hope rose. To find a politically acceptable husband for her became acute and was found in the end in Tungī Mailefihi
, cousin of Ofa. If there was any action by Siaosi Tupou II that left a positive and enduring legacy to Tonga, then it was this arrangement of his daughter's wedding.
Siaosi had also a few children from other women, some of these descendants
are now prominent politician
s in Fiji
, and others still highranking chiefs in Tonga itself (Vīlai Tupou, father of Vaea). But his own government was an absolute mess and some ministers were seriously contemplating to ask the British to annex the country. Perhaps this would have happened if the king had not become ill, and at the end died. He was soon followed by his wife Takipō (1 March 1893 — 26 November 1918) from the infamous Spanish flu
epidemic raging in Tonga. Siaosi's daughter succeeded him and would drag Tonga out of the mire it was in.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) (18 June 1874 — 5 April 1918) was the King
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
from February 18, 1893 until his death. He was officially crowned
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
at Nukualofa
Nukuʻalofa
Nukualofa is the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga. It is located on the north coast of the island of Tongatapu, in the southern most island group of Tonga.-Mythological origins:...
, on 17 March 1893. He was also the 20th Tui Kanokupolu
Tu'i Kanokupolu
The Ha'a Tu'i Kanokupolu is the most junior of the Ha'a Tu'i in Tonga. They are generally refer to as the Kau Halalalo The Ha'a Tu'i Tonga, the most senior and Sacred Ha'a Tu'i in Tonga are generally refer to as the Kauhala'uta, The inland side of the roads...
. In Tonga itself he was better known under the Tongan
Tongan language
Tongan is an Austronesian language spoken in Tonga. It has around 200,000 speakers and is a national language of Tonga. It is a VSO language.-Related languages:...
version of his name Jiaoji Tubou (Siaosi Tupou in modern spelling) or even Tāufaāhau Tupou II.
Siaosi Tupou II was the son of Prince Tui Pelehake (Fatafehi Toutaitokotaha)
Tu'ipelehake
The Tuipelehake is the 2nd highest ranking traditional chiefly title in Tonga, in the absence of the Tui Faleua title, Tuipelehake is second only to the King in rank...
also Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Tonga in 1905), whose mother Sālote Pilolevu was a daughter of Tāufaāhau Tupou I
George Tupou I of Tonga
George Tupou I, King of Tonga , originally known as Tāufaāhau I with some extra names: Tupou Maeakafaua Ngininginiofolanga , but took the name Siaosi when baptised in 1831...
, and he was the son of Fusipala Taukionetuku, a daughter of Tēvita Unga who was a son of Tāufaāhau Tupou I again: George Tupou I that is, the founder of the united Tongan kingdom
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
.
Tupou II's reign was troubled by government corruption and inefficiency. The Tongan Parliament in 1900 was suspicious of the King's governing and had his accounts audited several times, finding discrepancies worth thousands of pounds. The expatriate community in Tonga called for its annexation to New Zealand. Still he was a gentle person, a doting father to his oldest daughter Sālote and an artist who wrote songs and poems. In this he had much in common with his earlier Hawaiian colleague Kalakaua
Kalakaua
Kalākaua, born David Laamea Kamanakapuu Mahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua and sometimes called The Merrie Monarch , was the last reigning king of the Kingdom of Hawaii...
. He is also known for his push to construct cement water tanks (vaisima) everywhere in Tonga, providing clean water to the people, which was a major boost to public health.
He ascended the throne at 18 years old on the death of his great-grandfather George Tupou I by than he was still a bachelor. In 1896 the chiefs of the country urged him to marry and produce an heir. On December 8, 1898, he married Edith Marie Pomare-vahine of Tahiti, daughter of Prince Punuariʻi Teriʻitapunui of Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
, Chief of Mahina. Then they divorce couple months later and Edith Marie Pomare-vahine return to Tahiti in 1899. After their divorce the chiefs suggested Ofa-ki-Vavau, the daughter of Māatu from Niuatoputapu, who was related to the Tui Haatakalaua
Tu'i Ha'atakalaua
The Tui Haatakalaua was a dynasty of Tongan kings, which originated in the 15th century by taking over the power from the Tui Tonga line. Lost the power in 16th century to the Tui Kanokupolu dynasty, and disappeared into nothingness by the end of the 18th century.#Moungāmotua – around 1470; might...
line. But he refused; instead he took on 1 June 1899 Lavinia Veiongo as wife. She was the daughter of Kupuavanua from Vavau
Vava'u
Vavau is an island chain of one large island and 40 smaller ones in Tonga. According to tradition Maui fished both Tongatapu and Vavau but put a little more effort into the former. Vavau rises 204 meters above sea level...
and Tōkanga from Niuafoou
Niuafo'ou
Niuafoou is the most northerly island in the kingdom of Tonga. It is a volcanic rim island of 15 km² and with a population of 650 in 2006.-Geography:...
, thus obliging these islands to the throne. Kupuavanua was also the grandson of the last Tui Tonga
Tu'i Tonga
The Tui Tonga is a line of Tongan kings, which originated in the 10th century with the mythical Ahoeitu; withdrew from political power in the 15th century by yielding to the Tui Haatakalaua; and died out with Laufilitonga in 1865...
Laufilitonga
Laufilitonga
Fatafehi Laufilitonga was the 39th and last Tui Tonga, a dynasty of kings in Tonga during the Tui Tonga Empire.-Biography:Only little is known about Laufilitonga's life....
, enabling him to claim rights to that line as well. Nevertheless the marriage almost started a civil war. For years relations between the king and the rest of the country remained strained. In addition to his inept governance, so much unlike his greatgrandfather, this led in 1905 to Tonga's becoming a British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
.
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
for a defeated chief either to be killed or to be exiled. As such it was a fortunate excuse that Sālote had to go to school in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
that she could be put on the December steamer to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Sālote would remain in exile for 5 years, although she did come home during some Christmas holidays. After December 1914 her father ordered her to stay home. Queen Takipō had still not brought forth a son. One daughter, Onelua, had died a few months after her birth; another child, Elisiva Fusipala Taukionetuku, was still alive, but was a girl too. The hope the envying chiefs had had on an heir through Takipō was fading, and Sālote's supporters' hope rose. To find a politically acceptable husband for her became acute and was found in the end in Tungī Mailefihi
Viliami Tungi Mailefihi
Viliami Tungī Mailefihi was a Tongan chief and consort of Queen Sālote Tupou III.He was the son of Tukuaho who was the son of Tungī Halatuituia. The line of Tungī chiefs from Tatakamotonga was descending from the then defunct Tui Haatakalaua which in that time was more or less seen as an...
, cousin of Ofa. If there was any action by Siaosi Tupou II that left a positive and enduring legacy to Tonga, then it was this arrangement of his daughter's wedding.
Siaosi had also a few children from other women, some of these descendants
Kinship
Kinship is a relationship between any entities that share a genealogical origin, through either biological, cultural, or historical descent. And descent groups, lineages, etc. are treated in their own subsections....
are now prominent politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, and others still highranking chiefs in Tonga itself (Vīlai Tupou, father of Vaea). But his own government was an absolute mess and some ministers were seriously contemplating to ask the British to annex the country. Perhaps this would have happened if the king had not become ill, and at the end died. He was soon followed by his wife Takipō (1 March 1893 — 26 November 1918) from the infamous Spanish flu
Spanish flu
The 1918 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus . It was an unusually severe and deadly pandemic that spread across the world. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin...
epidemic raging in Tonga. Siaosi's daughter succeeded him and would drag Tonga out of the mire it was in.