Makea Pori Ariki
Encyclopedia
Makea Pori Ariki was a sovereign of the Cook Islands
. He was the ariki
(king) of the dynasty Makea Nui (Great Makea), one of the three chiefdom
s of the tribe Te Au O Tonga (The mist of the south) on the island of Rarotonga
.
He succeeded his father Makea Tinirau Ariki after his death in 1823. In the same year, the English missionary
John Williams
arrived in Rarotonga, intending to convert the population to Christianity
. After agreeing to destroy their temple
and the pagan idols
of his tribe, Makea Pori Ariki was baptized in 1825.
He died October 28, 1839 and was succeeded by his son Makea Davida Ariki.
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
. He was the ariki
Ariki
An Ariki , ‘Ariki , Aliki , Ali‘i , Ari'i or ‘Eiki is or was a member of a hereditary chiefly or noble rank in Polynesia.-Aotearoa Ariki:Political leadership or governance in Māori society has traditionally come from two...
(king) of the dynasty Makea Nui (Great Makea), one of the three chiefdom
Chiefdom
A chiefdom is a political economy that organizes regional populations through a hierarchy of the chief.In anthropological theory, one model of human social development rooted in ideas of cultural evolution describes a chiefdom as a form of social organization more complex than a tribe or a band...
s of the tribe Te Au O Tonga (The mist of the south) on the island of Rarotonga
Rarotonga
Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands, with a population of 14,153 , out of the country's total population of 19,569.The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga...
.
He succeeded his father Makea Tinirau Ariki after his death in 1823. In the same year, the English missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
John Williams
John Williams (missionary)
John Williams was an English missionary, active in the South Pacific. Born near London, England, he was trained as a foundry worker and mechanic...
arrived in Rarotonga, intending to convert the population to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. After agreeing to destroy their temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
and the pagan idols
Cult image
In the practice of religion, a cult image is a human-made object that is venerated for the deity, spirit or daemon that it embodies or represents...
of his tribe, Makea Pori Ariki was baptized in 1825.
He died October 28, 1839 and was succeeded by his son Makea Davida Ariki.