Sau (Rotuman king)
Encyclopedia
Sau, refers to the role of spiritual leader in pre-Christian Rotuman society
. The title was neither primogenitary
nor held for a lifetime, but rather was cycled through the chiefs of each of Rotuma’s districts.
The position of sau was primarily tied into Rotuma’s pre-Christian fertility cult and the worship of the supreme deity Tagroa Siria
. This is reflected in the fact that each reign was generally for the six-month ritual cycle of the Rotuman calendar. At the beginning of each sau's reign, they would be installed by the fakpure
or secular ruler, and would subsequently be deified for six months, in the polity's hope that the appeasement of the sau, as a proxy for the God on earth, would result in prosperity and peace on the island.
There were also instances where the sau was female, then called "sauhani". The other major political roles in Rotuman society were the fakpure
and the mua
.
Rotuma
Rotuma is a Fijian dependency, consisting of Rotuma Island and nearby islets. The island group is home to a small but unique indigenous ethnic group which constitutes a recognizable minority within the population of Fiji, known as "Rotumans"...
. The title was neither primogenitary
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
nor held for a lifetime, but rather was cycled through the chiefs of each of Rotuma’s districts.
The position of sau was primarily tied into Rotuma’s pre-Christian fertility cult and the worship of the supreme deity Tagroa Siria
Tagroa Siria
Tagroa Siria was the supreme deity in pre-Christian Rotuman society. He is understood to be the Rotuman version of the pan-Pacific deity Tangaroa....
. This is reflected in the fact that each reign was generally for the six-month ritual cycle of the Rotuman calendar. At the beginning of each sau's reign, they would be installed by the fakpure
Fakpure
The fakpure is variously considered the secular ruler of Rotuma in the pre-European contact times. It was one of three chiefly roles with direct influence across the island of Rotuma, the other two being the Mua and the Sau...
or secular ruler, and would subsequently be deified for six months, in the polity's hope that the appeasement of the sau, as a proxy for the God on earth, would result in prosperity and peace on the island.
There were also instances where the sau was female, then called "sauhani". The other major political roles in Rotuman society were the fakpure
Fakpure
The fakpure is variously considered the secular ruler of Rotuma in the pre-European contact times. It was one of three chiefly roles with direct influence across the island of Rotuma, the other two being the Mua and the Sau...
and the mua
MUA
Mua may refer to:* Mua, MalawiMUA may refer to:* Mail user agent, another term for an email client* Make-up artist* Manipulation under anesthesia* Maritime Union of Australia* Marvel: Ultimate Alliance* Medical University of the Americas – Nevis...
.
List of title holders
| Order | Reigned | Sau |
| 1. | unknown | Sauhani |
| 2. | unknown | Kaurifanua |
| 3. | unknown | Riamkau |
| 4. | unknown | Kaufose |
| 5. | unknown | Taio |
| 6. | unknown | Fonomanu |
| 7. | unknown | Varomua |
| 8. | unknown | Tiu I |
| 9. | unknown | Marafu-Kauat |
| 10. | unknown | Irava |
| 11. | unknown | Tokoara |
| 12. | unknown | Asesekava |
| 13. | unknown | Mariseu |
| 14. | unknown | Sakanane |
| 15. | unknown | Tausia |
| 16. | unknown | Sautupuak |
| 17. | unknown | Paka |
| 18. | unknown | Ravak |
| 19. | unknown | Tokoniua |
| 20. | unknown | Titofag |
| 21. | unknown | Irava |
| 22. | unknown | Ravak |
| 23. | unknown | Tua-Oajo |
| 24. | 1820 | Gagafag |
| 25. | 1825 | Fatafesi |
| 26. | 1829 | Fatenefau |
| 27. | 1833 | Vuna |
| 28. | 1838 | Fatafesi |
| 29. | 1838 | Tamanava |
| 30. | 1839 | Solovalu |
| 31. | 1839 | Riamkau |
| 32. | 1839 | Tirasoko |
| 33. | 1840 | Otorovao |
| 34. | 1841 | Ragafua |
| 35. | 1843 | Vaurasi |
| 36. | 1843 | Vavaoti |
| 37. | 1845 | Ufat |
| 38. | 1845 | Patipat Vavahina |
| 39. | 1845 | Furisefaua |
| 40. | 1845 | Tirotorava |
| 41. | 1846 | Marafu |
| 42. | 1846 | Pogisemose |
| 43. | 1846 | Tarupea |
| 44. | 1846 | Sukamaso |
| 45. | 1847 | Mua MUA Mua may refer to:* Mua, MalawiMUA may refer to:* Mail user agent, another term for an email client* Make-up artist* Manipulation under anesthesia* Maritime Union of Australia* Marvel: Ultimate Alliance* Medical University of the Americas – Nevis... |
| 46. | 1847 | Kausirafe |
| 47. | 1847 | Toporotu |
| 48. | 1848 | Tokaniua |
| 49. | 1849 | Garagasau |
| 50. | 1850 | Fakarufono |
| 51. | 1850 | Matagatage |
| 52. | 1851 | Manava |
| 53. | 1851 | Sokagatau |
| 54. | 1851 | Vavaoti |
| 55. | 1851 | Tavao |
| 56. | 1852 | Vaimanoko |
| 57. | 1852 | Katoagatau |
| 58. | 1854 | Kautane |
| 59. | 1855 | Fonogarotoi |
| 60. | 1856 | Tiporotu |
| 61. | 1857 | Fonmanu |
| 62. | 1858 | Tiu II |
| 63. | 1858 | Sarsartau |
| 64. | 1859 | Taipo |
| 65. | 1859 | Kauika |
| 66. | 1860 | Faoriro |
| 67. | 1860 | Farapapau |
| 68. | 1860 | Saurorota |
| 69. | 1860 | Ufamarata |
| 70. | 1862 | Sarasortau |
| 71. | 1862 | Teau |
| 72. | 1864 | Ufagatau |
| 73. | 1865 | Kavasakamua |
| 74. | 1865 | Saurativa |
| 75. | 1865 | Fotoafuru |
| 76. | 1865 | Fonomanu |
| 77. | 1866 | Jimi |
| 78. | 1866 | Varea |
| 79. | 1866 | Ravak |
| 80. | 1866 | Maraa (Rotuma) |
| 81. | 1867 | Fonomanu |
| 82. | 1867 | Vasea |
| 83. | 1867 | Tavo Tavo Tavo is a Sau , who reigned in 1867 on Rotuma for a period of six months. He was the 83rd title holder.- External links :* *... |
| 84. | 1867 | Sokagaitu |
| 85. | 1868 | Ragafua |
| 86. | 1868 | Irava |
| 87. | 1868 | Hanifiro-Asoatemuri |
| 88. | 1868 | Tuipenau |
| 89. | 1869 | Tigarea |
| 90. | 1869 | Vasea |
| 91. | 1869 | Maraia |
| 92. | 1869 - 1870 | Suakamasa |