In the mid 1800s Western Samoa and Tonga had still strong connections but had competing foreign alliances, Western Samoa being mostly connected in trade to the German Empire (Samoan-German Treatied in 1879), Tonga having some relations with Imperial Britain, and Eastern Samoa having a growing relationship with the Union-side of the United States. In the Apia area of Western Samoa where a port-n-trade became well known, Samoan Christians and influential ranks were as well for a time allied to Great Britain linked through The London Missionary Society.
Tonga in those first decades when foreign relations were being established was though not to be a popular port-in-trade at that time due to a number of reasons and trade with local business being harder to establish. Writings about Tonga in the 1800's are more scarce and The Samoan Navigators Isles, Tahiti, and Maori of Aotearoa New Zealand were the better documented by foreign encounters. A book by William Mariner 'The Tonga Islands' still remains a resource that personally accounts the times, a foreigner who lived in the Kingdom Tonga for 4-5 years.
On November 5th 1839 US. American Treaty and Agreements were struck with Commander Wilkes (known as The US. American Exploring Expedition) with an Eastern Samoan (American Samoa) Council, seven High chiefs in total and with other American and British officials were as witness at the actual signing. The Wilkes US. American Exploring Expedition was original a nautical survey by the US. of the South Pacific. Upon the signing of the Treaty, John C. Williams became American Consul. The Samoan-US. Treaty was drafted with 16 articles standing on protection for vessels anchoring, US. military and shore-leave, military wreckage, along with Magistrate or police powers in the Pago Pago Harbor. Western Samoa's Apia regional leaders had already signed a Treaty of Friendship with the British on the H.M.S. Conway in 1838-1839. The Treaty happened after Western Samoa began having the first Samoan Christian Kingly ranks who then converted their Districts and made Christianity the main religion.
In 1855, the Germans sought meaningful relations and made contact with Western Samoa. The relations they made spread quickly as did Samoan German business and trade. By 1860, just five years later large areas surrounding Districts of Apia (Samoan-British alliance) were allied with the business savvy Germans. Although the Anglo-British Christian missionaries shared Biblical ideas, the Germans were more interested in commerce and had hoped to help found prosperous stations. By the late 1860's in just 15 years around 80% of Western Samoans were connected some how in Samoan-German trade. With new wealth came increasing pressure to expand operations and campaigns of the Samoan King ranks escalated into several Samoan Wars, fighting for the four Pa'pa King Titles to acquire the 'The Tafa'ifa Crown', a position of High-King (A position over the other District Kings - highest living title in the region besides the Tu'i Manu'a of Eastern Samoa).
Meanwhile overseas in the 1860s while Western Samoan-German business was thriving, the Northern US. Americans fought their first 'Civil War' and was won by the Northern Union who defeated the Southern Confederates and their British arms suppliers.
Since the founding of the 13 states and after the burning of the White House in 1814, the Brits were seen as untrustworthy in the United States. Selling fire-arms to the Confederate Government was another scar on the British Imperial image. The Imperial Euro-Spanish too, had in the past attempted to impose themselves coming through Mexico but were defeated. The President Lincoln and administration after incorporating the Southern States wished to reform the American Union into a new United States of America. After Lincoln's assassination and after a vice-President (Andrew Johnson impeached) was removed from office for undermining goals of the United States Union, the President General Ulysses S. Grant was elected to office to secure the future of the United States. Mr. General Grant was also a close colleague and correspondent to the former President and his career survived and progressed with much help from Mr. Lincoln's favor.
The United States expanded it's relations in the Asia-Polynesia Pacific as far as Hawaii (neutral to both The United States and Britain) and Eastern Samoa (a central hub of Polynesian influence). Eastern Samoa being considered lands of a sanctified status where ancient titles resided was sought after by The United States and President General Grant sent his personal agents to ratify a further strategic partnership.
Presidential agent Colonel A.B. Steinberger was escorted by the famous USS Tuscarora ship, a US. Union American vessel known to be a thorn in the sides of Confederate Navy and their Atlantic shipping routes to Britain. Eastern Samoa was armed by the US Navy and political gifts were later sent to Western Samoa to gain more formal relations. Eastern Samoan Councils stayed in contact with The President of the United States and Samoan council sent correspondence of honorable regards in his choosing of Mr. Steinberger, who they deemed a great Representative of the United States Government. Records of the letters remain in the Library of Congress. In Western Samoa Colonel Steinberger became so involved in the politics there in Western Samoa that he was selected to become 'Premier' (Prime Minister) under a Samoan King, the first American Colonel and citizen to become a seated Prime Minister. Both the Germans and the British angrily protested fearing that a United States Premier would overtake their interests in the region and the Imperial British made the first move without the consent of the Western Samoan Councils. The weapons sent by the USA were confiscated by the British Navy Commander Stevens who then kidnapped Colonel A.B. Steinberger and held him hostage for political negotiations. The kidnapping and hostage negotiations happened on board the HMS Barracouta after British Blue-jackets (Navy) were killed by Samoan Council guards and surrounded at dock. A title holder of the Malietoa Western Samoan Kingly rank was eventually banished by the Samoan Government for helping the Imperial British Navy Commander Stevens who was under orders by his overseas London superiors. For that time being, the USA would keep relations with Western Samoa only through their friends of Eastern Samoa.
The 1870's in Europe belonged to Germany and the First European Emperor was Crowned, Wilhem I, after the invasion of Imperial France in the Franco-Prussian War. The United States reaffirmed formal agreements with Eastern Samoa in 1872 through to 1873 and Tonga's relations with Britain grew in 1875. The Tongan Crown then raised an English Red Cross as their national flag, introduced to the public and the flag flown around 1875-1876.
By 1887, the Hawaiian Monarch was fully linked to Imperial Britain with one of the Crown members being married to an Emma Rooke, a Hawaiian-British woman. The United States who was surrounded by Imperialism and who at the time was expanding Democracy, overthrew the Hawaiian allied British Monarch in 1893. The Hawaiian flag still remains the same today from those times, a flag that uses the British Union-jack and stripes of the states, a flag raised when it's stances were neutral. The Polynesian nation of Nauru and the region of the Marshal Isles allied to Germany in 1888. In 1899, Britain had lost the 'Battle at Apia' and most of it's overseas influence and signed the 'Tripartite Convention Treaty' which booted them out of Western Samoa, but allowed them to keep standing with the Kingdom of Tonga. Eastern Polynesia never changed it's stances and grew closer to Catholic France. Only Apia of Western Samoa kept under the table ties to British offices through correspondence in northern New Zealand.
In the year 1900, Western Samoa were fully allied to the German realms after Samoan delegates met with the Great Kaiser and the region of Western Samoa became officially a Trust Region and protectorate by the European Emperor in the 1879 Samoan-German Treaty. To attempt at regaining political grounds at home in Europe and in the Pacific, the British Crown signed "The Entente Cordiale Treaty 1904" with French Loyalist parties and for the next 5 years, escalation for relations became more intense overseas with War on the rise. British offices in northern New Zealand became a proxy for any armed dispatch where the New British, NZ Colonials, and Allied Maori had political strength, militia, and Magistrate forces under their command. The World War started in the Pacific (Western Samoa) in 1914 when the New Zealand British were ordered by London to attack a German Imperial radio station in Western Samoa violating the 1899 Tripartite Convention Treaty, and english propaganda was spread that the Germans were colonizers and not tradesmen and that it was now 'German-Samoa' eventually to become a German-European colony. That same year in 1914, the German Imperial Navy sent Vice-Admiral Graf Maximillian Von Spee into Polynesia and docked at Western Samoa Apia Harbor searching for the New Zealand force that took the German Radio Station, thus beginning World War 1 in the Pacific after the NZ-British attack. German Vice-Admiral Graf then left on orders after gathering intel and left towards the Falkland islands in search of British Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock who was in eastern Pacific regions (Between the Eastern most region of the Polynesian Triangle area and South American Chilean waters), and there happened the Battle of Coronel. The British lost 1,600 naval soldiers at the Battle of Coronel (919 from the HMS Good Hope and 735 from the HMS Monmouth) and the German Navy while in the Pacific also sharked underwater mines across Northern Zealand areas.
When World War 1 began in 1917 for other parts of the world, the United States remained neutral. President Woodrow Wilson went back on campaign promises and attempted to join conflicts who had won his election on Anti-War campaign promises but was forced into the War by German Atlantic Naval U-boat threats, and statements made by Germany that entering the Atlantic regions be at thine own peril.
In 1921, the US. Senate declined in joining the British Imperial and French Imperial "League of Nations" which was corrupted by it's founders and instead the USA signed a US.-German Treaty of a stance of neutrality. The new President of the United States of the Republican Party, a Mr. Warren G. Harding, kept the USA focused on internal security issues with FBI head J. Edgar Hoover. On May 10th 1924 Mr. Hoover became the FBI Director. In the 1930s, Communist Nazi Germany was formed after the Weimar Republic separated into factions and the German Crown Kaiser Emperor Wilhelm II was over taken by the highest Admirals and Generals of the German Navy. The newly formed Nazi Party were determined to move westward and through southern Europe to retaliate against past efforts that undermined the German people.
In Western Samoa a Mau Samoan Socialist Party took lead and pushed out all foreign Imperialism, beginning campaigns around Central Polynesian nations and within northern New Zealand. The Mau Samoan Socialists linked with other Pacific nations and their parties including Australian Socialist Parties. During that time, the NZ Reform Party propagated that the New Zealand and Mau Samoan Socialists and Maori Unionists were Communists in disguise and Magistrate forces were sent to arrest organizers. A New Zealand politician H.E. Holland then visited Western Samoa in 1920 as a leader of the NZ Labour Socialist Party and met with Samoan councils and Mau Samoan councils, an interest which continued into 1932. Both the Mau Samoan leaders and NZ Socialist Labour Party leaders like Taisi Olaf Nelson and H.E. Holland, campaigned and organized movements internationally.
In 1935, northern New Zealand Government was taken over by the NZ Socialist Labour Party with the help of Maori Trade Unions, NZ Colonial Unionists, Samoan Mau Socialists, Australian Socialists, and Maori Indigenous political parties. The new Prime Minister of New Zealand in 1935 became Socialist Labour Party leader Michael Joseph Savage, a right-hand man of H.E. Holland. The political leaders that were arrested were released, all charges dropped. Western Samoan Mau Socialists retained ties with the Labour Party of New Zealand even after the end of the Worlds Wars.
Imperial Britain was invaded by Nazi Germany in 1940, air-bombed for over 2 months an estimated 75 days and 76 nights (longest Invasion in World History) and left in a depression state. The USA did not help Britain and only joined the second World War after Imperial Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Polynesia Hawaii. The Allied Maori of New Zealand sent the 28th Maori Battalion to rescue Britain's defenses who couldn't even reach the English Channel just 50 miles away from London. Attempts by the British to trick and coerce the USA into joining the Wars were at first, seats on council, such as a Permanent seat on the League of Nations council (declined by the USA and Senate), later attempts included private plea-bargain deals with the United States Government, a plea-bargain with the Nazi Party (which was denied), leaking information to the American Press, fake or not, and British Intelligence were sharing any discussion intercepted to bargain with US. Departments.
The USA who had rescued France after joining the World Wars eventually supported Russian operations and ultimately Nazi Communist Germany surrendered. Democracy and Social Democracy spread through Europe after the World Wars. Western Germany became led by Market Socialist Ludwig Wilhelm Erhard after WW2.
The British Labor Democratic Party took over their own London Parliament in 1945 and Britain was left with mild relations in the Asia Pacific with the Crown becoming a customary political figure-head and representative of Head of State. The Reform Party of New Zealand that was connected to Imperial Britain who lad lost to the Pacific-Polynesian parties and NZ Labour Party in 1935, was to be disbanded and was forced to recast itself under a new party platform called The National Party.
The new Western influence in the Pacific was the United States of America with it's Polynesian Pacific island ally of Eastern Samoa. The Eastern Samoa islands (American Samoa) was titled the "Spear-head of the Pacific" in the 1960's which is still shown proudly in the American Samoan national flag. The Eastern Samoan national flag still today hoists the spear-head and an American Bald-eagle (the power of states) holding the Samoan Fu'e (power of the Councils) and a Samoan War-club (support of arms).
Socialism and Union movements in Western Samoa continued through to 1960 and the Socialist Party created an "Independence Day", long after conflicts were over to create a Holiday-barrier where the nation remembers "Samoa mo Samoa", meaning Samoans for Samoans. The Western Samoan Declaration of Independence was also a response to both Eastern Samoa (American Samoa) who wished Western Samoa to rejoin their union, and to Aotearoa New Zealand who's political parties were often attempting collaboration. In Asia and Eurasia-Russia in the 1960's, other political and economical influences too were building momentum. Western Samoa's Declaration made clear they wished to remain a sovereign governing body.
The many foreign alliances to different Polynesian nations for almost 130 years have created a complicated area of research where each nation and their academics play with Patriotism and political banter. The Franco-Prussian War, World War 1, and World War 2, add to the historical entanglement with Newspapers taking on various angles and opinions of their corporate founders. Some United States History versions too, have morality targets, mostly pertaining to the Jewish Holocaust and leave out their original political stances of neutrality towards Germany who were antagonized by their Euro-Imperial neighbors. In New Zealand there are Crown loyalties and Maori History itself is extreme with some older disputes originating within Polynesian societies from before the 1850's. Published works which have been digitized in the NZETC online (an open record of British written works) are views which come mostly from NZ British loyalists and Reform Party (National Party) supporters.
Samoan Entitlement during and before the 1800's
Throughout both Eastern and Western Samoa's History, entitlement claims have been traditionally a "legal practice", encouraged to participate in community, claim Mana, and earn a noble rank for the family. This political practice is still intact today but is currently reformed to take-in votes as opposed to traditional warfare to settle Samoan title disputes.
Historian "The Governing system was very different from today. The seeking of rank which at the time included War or a challenge of some kind was legal and expected. Many of the studies or witnessed accounts of Samoa and Tongan politics have to do with Council meetings or with the Malie'toa (a rank equal to Tui in Western Samoa) or with the Tui Manu'a. The political confusion often happens over the King ranks with outsiders assuming colonization or conquest and also assuming that the King title or even High-Chief is the limit or highest rank able to be obtained. To acquire the Tafa'ifa rank in the past one must have at least four of the high titles and considerable support by a unifying body of many Councils which explains campaigns and what some in history call the -Samoan Civil War-. The Civil War title though is incorrect in more ways than one and was not fought by parties with separate political agendas, but by districts and regions (including that of the Tui Tonga) of the same mind, obtaining prestige or MANA and should be called the Samoan Entitlement Wars if one was to write on those times"
click to enlarge (shaking of the picture was added
to the website for flair and is harmless)
The above picture was created to help with the understanding of a complicated Central Polynesian system that was in-place at the time of first encounters (a rough summary of the system) and it was observed by many European bystanders and foreign military. When it came to the Tui rank campaigns around the mid to late 1800's, Samoan and Polynesian politics expanded quickly to having European allies with each contending King rank obtaining foreign arms and foreign military support either from Germany, Britain, or from the USA.
Samoa & The Beginning of Tonga
Although expansion and colonization have often been the source of many ugly Wars throughout World History, conflicts in the Western Samoa and the Tonga region have proven to emerge from the regions 'shared governing system'. In eastern Polynesian languages the word Tonga relatively means "South" or "Southern Region". Tonga started out as a neutral area like any uninhabited island where Fijians too had access, but the islands became settled by Western Samoans. Western Samoans also have old settlements inside Eastern parts of Fiji.
The first Samoans who settled in the northern Tongan islands had brought with them an "Entitlement System" and were eventually responsible for creating the founding governing body. In the creation legends of Tonga, "Aho'eitu" is the God and Founder. The Great Aho'eitu was the son of an Eastern Samoan God entitled "Tangoloa" a living man with the highest rank. This is why when Tongans mention a history of a Tui Tonga Dynasty, it is often followed by the reminder of it's rank under the Tui Manu'a of Eastern Samoa and that their relations with Western Samoa are of a different standing. The sending of the Aho'eitu to the south was intentional according to the history, to found a reign for his sons who were fearsome and unrelenting in battle.
Pacific Historian "It was once believed around the early 1800s that the Polynesian migration across the vast Pacific was solely based on nomadic tides or occasionally weather forced, however with greater study of Pacific cultures it has shown without a doubt that that was not the case. Even in Hawaii history it is recorded new waves of Mana seeking colonizers settled coming in from the southeast (Eastern Polynesia). In Tonga, entitlement is limited to a main council or a few prominent houses. This is also more proof that the source of entitlement and of the Tui Tonga to be from Tui Samoa, being that the Samoan entitlement system is far more complex and includes the entire region and not just a select few families. The name Sa' Moa for the region is a title itself remaining the sacred lands. For a Polynesian to insult Samoa is to insult himself. Samoa still practices its entitlement culture in modern times, granting and anointing its public, but without these days using War to settle competing claims and is decided by private council"
Samoan-Tongan Culture and Heritage links
One of the oldest cultural connections between Samoa and the southern provinces of Tonga is the Tatatau (Tattoo), received by the male members of family who hold rank among the community. The Samoan Pea Tatau (Tatoo in Samoa) is known throughout the world for it's artistry and it's use to show leadership. The upper-class Tongan males too, used to receive this honored tradition, showing their roles among the Tongan public. Rank was literally stamped upon the skin giving the owner privilege, further responsibility, and prestige. Around the 1840-1850s is when the Tongan Tatatau was starting to be discontinued because of internal conflicts. The Tongan Tattoo was not the only thing retired over politics.
The traditional Tongan Tatatau - The tattoo was discontinued for
political reasons which marked the rank of Tongan elders
Historian "That may look like the Samoan Pe'a, but it's not, that is the Tongan Tatatau which identified Tongan Matai rank under or in conjuction with the Western Samoan Matai and some with family relations. The Tongan Tatatau was highly respected and they represented the many southern island districts. The Tongan Tatatau holders governed over the commons and they were elected to lead any neighboring islands (the many atolls that are still part of Tonga). The tattoo though has been discontinued due to regime and government changes. The islands of Tu'tuila and Manu'a still today retain an old ancient-value attached to their reputations for the founding of a great many traditions. The Tongan Matai Tatatau (tattoo) design differs from the Samoan Pe'a Tatau - it is shorter, it stops before the knee and the top is double pronged"
The Traditional Tonga dances like the Tau'olunga still connects the culture to Samoa. Apart of Oral History involves the many songs and ceremony which are carried throughout the year. Some cultural changes occurred with the elimination of the Tongan Tatau. Tongans are one the few Polynesian islands who do not wear Headdress. On almost every Polynesian island, trophies are worn around the neck, status declared in their tattoos and Headdress worn as a trophy or a sign of an entitled accomplishment.
Dialects of Polynesia: Language is History
Western Samoan colonies first settled the northern parts of the Tongan region the closest islands being the island group of Ha'a pai, still have many Samoan culture practiced within the communities. The Tonga islands when they were once part of the Samoan network, a Samoan formal language was still kept.
The Tongan language is still used as proof of their origins from Samoa being a sub-language of traceable general terms or less formal phrases, as in the first greeting. In Tonga to say "Hello", they say Malo e' Lelei, in Samoa, the common way to say hello is the same, the formal way is reserved. The Samoan formal language and the Tongan language is a case where simply the homeland of the language has a further complexity and background, while the neighboring states follow the lesser rules of convention. This is why in Samoan language the "S" is used as an "H" sound in Tonga language. The name Hawaii is translated as Savaii (a mountainous island of Western Samoa) in the formal Samoan language, the "H" returns to an "S" and in the correct pronouncing Hawaii is actually Havaii, with a "V" sound, the "W' is also the informal. Tongans refer to Samoa as Hamoa, and the paper cloth in Samoa is called Siapo, in Tonga it is Hiapo. The Tongan islands of Ha'apai which is the central part of the Tongan Kingdom, also becomes Sa'avai . Other letter sounds are exchanged and many words like "Moa" and "Manu" have had their semantic qualities changed through the centuries. Within the noble Samoan elders there is an even older speech, words used and understood that can only be known by being apart of the councils. The Royal Tongans have their own language etiquette and speak a brotherly dialect to Samoan, the noble families of Tonga too speak a better form of speech than the unentitled.
The Ancient Tu'i Samoa and the Tu'i Tonga
In 2005 inquiries into Tonga History began when the use of tourism information began taking the place of academic Tongan history. There were complaints that the Tongan Monarch were supporting a revised version of history, saying that the Tongan Monarch began in 950 AD instead of 1845. It was the Tu'i Tonga which began around 1000 years ago, which was Samoa-Tongan, the current Monarch in-place today is not the same Tui Tonga and can not be linked to dynasties before the 1800's.
In the 12th century the islands of Samoa (Sa' Moa) had already expanded east into what's known today as Eastern Polynesia. The Samoan colonies settled and continued their traditions of entitlement and maritime exploration, eventually with colony branches reaching Rapa Nui. The island of Rapa Nui is considered one of the Wonders of the World, having some of the largest statues ever sculpted in ancient times. The statues are called Sa' Moai (meaning Sacred Moa'i), and are monuments to the founders. Samoans have also been known in islands from Niuē, Nauru, to Tikopia. In 950 AD the Tu'i Tonga 'Aho'eitu was founded under the Tu'i Samoa Manu'a (Eastern Samoa). According to leading Tongan scholars, including Okusitino Mahina, the first Tu'i Tonga was the son of their Eastern Samoan father, God Tangaloa of Tui Samoa Manu'a.
As the ancestral homeland of the Tu'i Tonga dynasty and the abode of deities such as Tagaloa 'Eitumatupu'a, Tonga Fusifonua, and Tavatavaimanuka, the Manu'a islands of Samoa were considered sacred by the early Tongan King ranks. By the 10th generation of Kingly ranks in Tonga, the Tu’i Samoa & Tu'i Tonga had traveled to Wallis and Futuna, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Rotuma, Nauru, settled parts of Fiji, Marquesas, settled parts of the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Cook Islands, and the Great Polynesian Triangle of 16 million squares miles had been defined, with regions reached outside triangle's borders. [various versions of such old history]
As the Tu’i Tonga grew they had their own independent government center (a new traditional place where the high counsels meet) moved by the lagoon at Lapaha, Tongatapu, on the "southern" largest islands of Tonga,
Under the 10th Tuʻi Tonga, Momo and his son Tuʻitātui (11th Tuʻi Tonga) they became independent and participated in Samoan entitlement process who would meet in Western Samoan council. Tonga grew in it's national identity in the 11th century who's entitlement was in high standing. This formal recognition of the Tui Tonga called upon traditions of tribute known as the "Inasi" and was conducted annually at Mu'a following the harvest season when the people brought a gift for the Tu'i Holy (King ranks). Captain Cook witness an Inasi ceremony in 1777, but only in Tonga and never attended the other ceremony in Samoa, in which he noticed a lot of foreigners in Tonga. Grand gifts were sent by Samoa in celebration, the finest mats of Samoa and crafted tributes followed with feasts and ceremony. With the recognition of the Tu'i Tonga, the Tu'i Tonga & the Tu'i Kanokupolu married with Samoan nobility. A famous woman of Tonga was Tohu'ia, the mother of Tu'i Kanokupolu Ngata who came from Safata, 'Upolu of Samoa.
In the 13th century almost 200 years later, Tonga began several internal wars. Complaints of mistreatment and poor management became starters for political campaigns and the Tui Tonga ranks became unpopular for a time. A commoner campaign in Sāmoa defeated Tu'i Tonga Talakaifaiki finest escort forces on his way to a meeting in Western Samoa. A new title was created for the Samoa man who leaded the attack on the infamous Tu'i Tonga, the rank of Malietoa (Malietoa is a military rank separate from the rule of Tui's but equal in King status). After a time Tonga returned to it's normal state after the Malietoa rank formed and defeated an elite Tui Tonga escort. In the 16th century, Tonga again became restless and with the dissatisfaction of some leaders, the assassination of several rulers in succession occurred, most notable were Havea I (19th TT), Havea II (22nd TT), and Takalaua (23rd TT), who were all known for their self indulgent rule. Takalaua was assassinated by two foreigners while swimming in the lagoon of Mu'a. His successor, Kauʻulufonua I pursued the killers all the way to ʻUvea, where he killed them. Tonga began to reform by order of the Tu'i Tonga, and Kauʻulufonua established a new dynasty called Tu'i Ha'atakalaua in honor of his father and he gave his brother Mo’ungamotu’a, the title of Tu’i Ha’a Takalaua. This new dynasty was a Governor line to the chiefs, to help deal with the everyday issues. During this time a wave of Western Samoan nobility began to fuse further with the Tu'i Tonga ranks and the entire formal government becomes Samoan-Tongan again after almost 500 years local governance. The Tu'i Tonga rejoined their former Samoan lineage. Kau'ulufonua's mother was a Samoan from Manu'a, Tu'i Tonga Kau'ulufonua II and Tu'i Tonga Puipuifatu married Samoan nobility. In 1610, 17th century, the 6th Tu’i Ha’a Takalaua, Mo'ungatonga, created the position of Tu’i Kanokupolu for his Samoan son, Ngata, which gave a place of High-Governor or a King under the Ha'a Tui (High-King of Tonga). The Tu’i Kanokupolu’s influence was more felt by the public with it's seat in regional matters and it's popularity grew with the state resolving it's problems.
The first Europeans to be able to sail in Polynesian waters arrived in 1616, Dutch explorers Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire had spotted people in a canoe off the coast of Niuatoputapu island (A Samoan island in Tonga). Tonga was in a relative state of peace at that time and they became known as the "Friendly islands". The late 1700s and the early 1800s brought back entitlement war, but this time with a range of foreign influences, not just from Samoa but from the British, Germans, and the Americans.
In 1845, Tāufaʻāhau succeeded in gaining the approval of the highest ranks to help reform Tonga into a Europeaon Monarch style of Government, independent again and allied to Britain. Tāufaʻāhau adopted a British Christian name of "George Tupou" and was given the title of Tuʻi Kanokupolu, the second highest rank, not the Ha'a Tu'i Tonga, which is the first highest rank.
The official dated beginning of the modern Tongan Monarch began in 1845, after years of war between Tongans vs Tongans witnessed by William Charles Mariner and author of the book "Tonga Islands 1810". His accounts of the Tongan wars of the 19th century is a strong reference to Tonga and their relations to Samoa (The Navigator Isles).
Tonga became a protected state under a Treaty of Friendship with Britain on the 18th of May 1900. The Tongan man Fatafehi Laufilitonga (24 August 1797 – 9 December 1865) was the 39th and "Last Ha'a Tuʻi Tonga" to hold the title and the Tui Tonga title went into suspension, on hold, like in Samoa where a title sits until it is recalled.
Historian "It was The Tui Tonga that started hundreds and hundreds of years ago, which was the Samoan-Tongan reign. The Monarch today is not the Ha'a Tui Tonga. That is why he was called George Tupou THE FIRST, because he was... the first...under the new Monarch and first to be named George"
The English King George V and The Tongan Monarch
As a result of the WWs the historical Germanic links of the Royal British names "Saxe-Coburg and Gotha" could no longer be used and the British Royals cut-off their ranks under the German Monarch. The British Crown (the head-piece crown worn and passed down) however still keeps it's jeweled symbols of French Royals and the German Cross, to show their blood-line links to other European Monarchs. King George V during the World Wars, enraged over the German expansion, officially changed the Family history by relinquishing all titles that shown the Royal British to be under the German Crown descent. The modern Tongan monarch has essentially done the same over time, separating cultural links with Sacred Samoan lineages and does not preserve well the Tui Tonga history related to the Tui Samoa. Tonga became a protected state under a Treaty of Friendship with Imperial Britain on the 18th of May 1900 the same year Western Samoa became an allied protectorate with the Royal Crown of Germany. From 1900-1920, the Tongan Monarch copied almost all forms of British Government. The Tongan Crown (the head-piece crown worn and passed down) has 2 symbols as well, recognized by the French, but no German Cross, the second symbol is a Christian Cross for England. In order to ensure that the British Royal Family continued to be viewed as a preserved family name of prestige they chose "The House of Windsor", and officially renounced all German Titles on the 17th of July, 1917. The new British Royal name being, the Noble name of Windsor:
Proclamation by King George
"Now, therefore, We, out of Our Royal Will and Authority, do hereby declare and announce that as from the date of this Our Royal Proclamation Our House and Family shall be styled and known as the House and Family of Windsor, and that all the descendants in the male line of Our said Grandmother Queen Victoria who are subjects of these Realms, other than female descendants who may marry or may have married, shall bear the said Name of Windsor: And do hereby declare and announce that We for Ourselves and for and behalf of Our descendants and all other the descendants of Our said Grandmother Queen Victoria who are subjects of these Realms, relinquish and enjoin the discontinuance of the use of the Degrees, Styles, Dignities, Titles and Honours of Dukes and Duchesses of Saxony and Princes and Princesses of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and all other German Degrees, Styles, Dignities, Titles, Honours and Appellations to Us or to then heretofore belonging or appertaining."
During the 1800s before the World Wars while alliances were still in the works with Britain, the Monarch under Tāufaʻāhau I (The First) decided upon the name "George Tupou", after King George of England and the Tongan Monarch adopted the English Red-Cross around 1875 as their emblem for their TonganNational flag. The Royal Tongan flag remains the same today.
Conflicting research of Polynesian History 1800-1950
The Book the "Tonga islands" 1810 was written by a British man William Mariner who was shipwrecked on Tonga and witnessed internal Wars. The Englishman was taken hostage by a unit and renown Tongan leader took him under his protection. The Englishman stayed on the islands for years witnessing Musket & traditional Polynesian warfare. His work is used as a small history of Tonga in the early 1800s. It records the state of the region before it was united as an official Tongan nation under the modern Monarchy.
Teo Tuvale (26 August 1855 – December 1919) was supposedly a political representative who served terms as Chief Justice and Secretary to the Apia Districts in Samoa, a recognized Matai, and an official in Samoan foreign relations during the start of the World Wars. It's agreed the translator Tuvale had a religious education background as did his father. Teo Tuvale was connected to a pastor at the London Missionary Society and the Dunlap family and a year before he died, Teo was given authorship to a book called "An account of Samoan History up to 1918". The book has had it's criticism as an unreliable resource not only because Teo Tuvale is at that time working on a military project (WW translator), with loyalties for the British Imperials, but also because the book's authorship was supervised by British Commander Colonel Logan.
"It seems a case of taking testimony and using that testimony for what ever point or purpose the production is for. British Commander Logan did just that and never attempted at understanding Polynesian History or couldn't, being that he could be legally prosecuted under Crown law for any acts against his superiors. In the USA, the Universities like Harvard, Yale, SMU, Berkeley, Rice, and many other Academic Institutions contribute to research and historians take from collective efforts, building upon or debating historical points. Another observation of New Zealand academics on Polynesia is that some of their founding were for militant purposes, such as The Journal of the Polynesian Society. The newspapers of New Zealand have a long history supporting campaigns of the rich or nobility, either Maori or British and have never practiced an American culture of Journalism. A well known NZ paper, The New Zealand Herald was established during the Maori Wars, and was a Loyalist paper (starting in 1863) supporting the British Imperials against the Maori King"
In 2016 several homemade videos of a Tu'i Fijian Empire was released on youtube, claiming that Tonga ruled Samoa as well as a Tu'i Fijian Government. To this day there is no historical record of a Tu'i Dynasty in Fiji. There have been many times where a Fijian may use the name Tui or Manu, just as the name Khan is popular in northern India and the middle-east, but there has never been a Fijian recognized Tu'i. Fijians are both ethnically Melanesian and Polynesian but favor to Polynesian traditions.
To explain the rank of Malie'toa there are very few examples in the world that can allow foreigners to understand the meaning of the title. The Samoan title was created after an unsanctioned battle (not formed under a chief or above) which then over time the title became more revered, suited for a militant protector who might achieve an impressive feat in War "A People's Champion". Over the course of time the Malie'toa title further developed from an independent champion rank, equal to a Kingly status. The title resides only in Western Samoa since the original battle did not involve Eastern Samoa. The Malie'toa title has been said to have a 'popper to prince' essence, where young brothers formed a group and challenged a Tui Tongan King, fighting for what they believed to be a heroic obligation even though the politics were above their current standing. The Samoan District Kings at the time, both in Western Samoan and the Tu'i of Eastern Samoa, saw the Tu'i Tonga as their own, however that outlook was not shared by all.
During an on-going campaign a Tui Tonga King was to arrive in Western Samoa to meet with other Samoan District Kings. The Tui Tongan King Talaaifeii Tuitoga was well known, a proud and loud man, a man who had succeeded in inter-island campaigns in Safotu in Savaii (Western Samoa), through battle, earned fair, and who had followed the traditions of the councils. His blood-line links to Samoa lineage gave him his right to claim. In Safotu, his deeds gave him political and inner-Samoa district influence and even though there was discontent with his attitude, there is still no historical record of political interference by Eastern Samoan Councils.
On the day of the Tongan King's tour through to Samoan Council, he had at his guard, a force who were weathered in fighting, elite in their skill and who each had reputations of their own. The guards at his side had been the ones involved in title-campaign.
"In Samoan title warfare a formal meeting is held and battle arrangements are customarily pre-made, even methods during the battle or War, there are good and dishonorable ways of conduct. If found by council that a contender was dishonorable, a large-scale war, one waged by the Kings and possibly the Tui Manu'a would come about to keep in check the contender and any future contenders. No reprimands are stated about the Tui Tonga Talaaifeii upon his methods of battle, other than that he was a big-mouth and boasted his wins"
History says the Tu'i Tongan King at one point said 'Make-way' (meaning make a path for me to walk, move aside), and had given previous orders to local youth, a duty to remove imposing stones, setting up a formal pathway. The young brothers Tanu and Fatu who were given the instructions, afterward recruited Ulumasui and followed the Tui Tongan escorts and King, around Samoa, along the way weaponizing materials they picked up, one being a pole from a dock.
The unranked group of young Samoans who knew on the meeting date to take place and location, began the next morning day a Samoan Siva Tau (War-dance) in challenge directly in face of the Tongan King and the King's guard, leaving no mistake that a fight was to take place on that ground, and to be ready. The words of the Siva Tau shouted, even gave fair and good warning for the Tongan-Guard to hold to arms and grip their weapons.
“Matamatame, Matamatame, lue le ulu, sae le vae, ia tele le ta ia Tonga e" (meaning nod the head, lift a leg, strike a heavy blow against the Tongans).
The Tui Tonga was beaten with Tongan-Guard retreating all the way to the beach and shorelines of Upolu. A side battle is recorded that Tanu and Fatu and his group fought a guard on a mountain, who was beheaded, in order to fully drive the Tongans to shore.
On the Tongan vessels the Tongan King gave a defeating but respectful shout to his opponents 'Great Warriors, when next we meet we shall be friends!!'.
"This response by the Tongan King seems strange to many readers, saying to Samoa you are the great fighters, it's because of the heritage background of the Tui Tonga, the Tui Tonga being part of a Samoan entitlement system, and his brotherly response was something said after a campaign of mutual understanding, that next we meet, we shall be again friends"
Other Tongan commoner versions of this history extremely exaggerate the fight, saying a stick from the King was taken, and that the stick was magically formed into other sticks, which were used to fight the King. Folktale and mixed politics with Bible story plots have at times attempted to dilute the History.
After the Samoan youth-group defeated the Tongan King and escort, The Samoan District Kings and Councils became involved after the Tongan-Affray, and the deeds of the small group of youth were recognized, the decision being to create the Malie'toa Title. A formalizing of the new Malie'toa Title began and private battle amongst Samoan contenders themselves took place, who would claim the first. A young man named Savea, won and became the first Malie'toa.
"The history has been interpreted by the commoner Tongan mind as a story of equal strength, and a Tongan tale of pride. However, the story is really about a small party of Samoans able to equal top tier Tongan warriors, without even the help of surrounding Samoan King ranks, and without the involvement of the Tu'i Manu'a of Eastern Samoa"
Review of The False History of Tonga & The Malie'toa
In the 1990's when a wider public began using online services, Polynesian History was not well known and mostly relayed was either tourist information or theory. A short summary of Tongan History was written around 1999 and has been posted on various social platforms portraying Tonga as a master region and Samoa as it's 400 year slave. The "False Tongan History" starts out all of Samoan History from the Malie'toa Title in Western Samoa, 650 years B.P. (before present). An estimated range of about 1,500-2,000 years had already passed before the Malie'toa title was founded.
"Samoan students have seen this online radical version of history being propagated (either gang related, a commoner with malicious intent, or by an NZ group), saying Samoa started when a rebellion formed under the first Malie'toa. An old summary on Samoan history and Tonga has been found in The Journal of the Polynesian Society written by a missionary society from Britain (writer REV S. Ella). The newer online historical attack is centered against Western Samoans and completely leaves out all of Eastern Samoa and is only a few paragraphs long. Another point about the newer summary is that while being very passionate about degrading Samoans, they went too far, giving a number of 400 years as a ruler among the regions. This outrageous number is older than many nations, a span of time that certainly does not fit the profound pride of Samoan culture and is missing any corroborative evidence. The 400 year timeframe is also a copy of the African slave History"
- No written or traditional Polynesian Orator History
- No unique Tongan methods of capture or restraining devices, ropes or special ropes, braid-ties, chains, whips, iron neck-braces, collars, or head clamps.
- No historical prison yards or historical sights of slave detention
- No slave market locations or a more active town reputation in slave business
- No list of families who profited from 400 years of free labor
- No secret societies or routes through which escaped slaves moved
- No separate entrances for in-house labor to divide from the general public
- No slave role-models or significant resistance figures
- No separate slave foods or even a particular slave crop
- No separate slave fashion, hair styles, or slave music
- No history of slave gambling or forced death fighting
- No unique list of control methods for population or torture methods or branding
- No specialized ships customized for human trafficking
- No separate slave housing or buildings on plantations
- No separate Tongan formal etiquette like in Samoa
"The problem is when you fabricate history the campaign has to rewrite important events, political motives, and sometimes even outcomes of whole battles leading up to that newly written version of History. Not only in a fabricated version will there be large amounts of missing details and unexplained areas, but it can be easily debated. Even if somehow by a large corrupted political effort a nation deliberately changes and manipulates it's own history (which such things can happen within monarchs), there is no way to change the histories of the surrounding nations and other prominent academic institutions. Many Polynesian nations still regard the Samoan culture as it's founding ancestor"
In the islands of Tonga political reform is currently underway from an absolute Monarch Government to a Constitutional Monarchy, and possibly into a Social Democracy. Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva was the first Prime Minister elected by the public by vote. Mr Pohiva's Democratic Party had a resounding victory in the November 2017 election winning 14 of the 17 People's Representatives seats. The elections were sparked after the 2006 Tongan riots when the Tongan Capital city was burned down and looted at Nuku'alofa.
Tongan Imperial History in recent years
The islands of Tonga found their way into International Media in the early 2000's, the Royals being reported on after attempting schemes that sold military arms to suspicious parties in the Middle-east. The Monarch was also caught selling passports through the Asia Pacific region, and many other corrupted dealings involving land and tax. The Tongan education has been used to control the common people by telling them that the Monarch is good for the economy, and that Tonga has never been invaded or colonized. The newspaper "The Tongan Times" along with other Democratic voices have been in recent years (1990-2015), banned or arrested. Tongan Loyalists have campaigned a history of "The Tongan Empire" using freedom of speech laws in foreign regions to their advantage to keep their people ego-fed and compliant while not supporting freedom of speech in their own lands as it was in New Zealand before 1935.
In an interview with a former Tongan Prince he was quoted "They aren't intelligent enough to govern this country", referring to the common Tongan public. Diplomats under the monarch as well, have too made clear their disconcerting attitudes toward the common citizen. The Asia Pacific political sphere has changed greatly within the last 100 years and within the last 50 years, nations like Japan, Indonesia, China, and Democratic nations like the USA, are above and beyond in economic comparison. Tongan administration has stated that gradual and slow change is the best course.
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Notes:
This summary on Tonga Samoa History was only written because of a lack of educational support from administrations which has now effected Tongan people overseas, causing disruption with Samoans in areas like the USA and New Zealand. This summary was not meant to harm the Tongan people, who are very much linked with Samoa, and there are many Samoans who care deeply for their Tongan neighbors and support a United Polynesian region.
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Posted in: A.P.I. A. Studies
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