Tui Malietoa Laupepe of Samoa and German Allies

Susuga Malietoa Laupepa was entitled a King of Samoa who was supported by the German Empire in March 1881. However, internal Samoan Tumua polities of Ātua and A‘ana (Districts in Samoa) began to change their opinions about Laupepa in the new position, even though they had previously supported him against Malietoa Talavou Tonumaipe'a. The reasons for taking back support were from reports that foreign political connections were influencing Laupepe's rule.

The Tumu'a body began to set up a separate center of influence in Leulumoega Tuai, a village situated on the northwest coast of Upolu island in Western Samoa. The village is part of the A'ana Alofi II Electoral Constituency (Faipule District) which formed part of the larger A'ana political district. Leulumoega was also the traditional center of the A'ana district.

Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Titimaea became a High King candidate of Samoa, and War between Tamasese and Laupepa was declared. To prevent a large scale Civil War in the western districts of Western Samoa, the Tumua Conference was held on July 12, 1881, The Tumua Treaty was mediated by both the Tumua body, Germans, and by the US Navy officer Captain J.H. Gillis.

The Treaty upheld Laupepa’s claim to the title, and Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Titimaea was to be a rank under (vice-king), and Matā‘afa Iosefo again as another candidate. In 1881, Laupepa, held the three high titles of Malietoa, Natoaitele, and Tamasoalii. Originally, Tamasese held the title of Tui Atua and Mataafa that of Tui Atua, two holders of the same title, one being Solosolo-based and the other being Aleipata-based. The title was settled through a private war between the candidates and Mataafa losing, kept his title, while Tamasese was promoted to "Tui Atua".

[Some History articles in TMBW are still being worked on - last updated 2017]

Posted in: A.P.I. A. Studies