Tu'i Kanokupolu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In Tonga, the Tu'i Kanokupolu is a title held by the chief of the House of Tupou, currently the Royal House of Tonga. Kanokupolu is the name of a village in Hihifo district, which probably was Ngata's residence when he was still a governor under his father Mo'unga 'o Tonga of the Tu'i Ha'atakalaua dynasty.

1. Ngata - started off as governor of Hihifo on behalf of his father the Tu'i Ha'atakalaua Mo'unga 'o Tonga, around 1600
2. Atamata'ila - expanded kinships into central Tongatapu, and as such increased the power of his house
3. Mataeletu'apiko - the first one to be officially called Tu'i Kanokupolu; by now the line was strong enough that he could marry an eldest sister or daughter of the Tu'i Tonga.
4. Mataeleha'amea - around 1650, fought a war with the Tu'i Ha'atakalaua Vaea, which apparently established the Tu'i Kanokupolu dynasty as the more powerful one by now. The Tu'i Tonga quickly reacted, and both Tu'ipulotu I and Fakana'ana'a married a daughter of his, severing ties with the Tu'i Ha'atakalaua.
5. Vuna - brother of Mataeleha'amea; had tried, in vain, to establish his own dynasty on Vava'u, but was thwarted by his nephew Tu'itu'i'ohu who wanted to do the same
6. Ma'afu'otu'itonga - son of Mataeleha'amea; his brother Tu'itu'i'ohu started his own dynasty in Vava'u, the Ha'a Ngatatupu, and was the father of Fīnau 'Ulukālala I
7. Tupoulahi - son of Ma'afu'otu'itonga
8. Maealiuaki - brother of Tupoulahi; retired at old age and possibly became Tu'i Ha'atakalaua; died shortly after Captain James Cook's visit of 1777
9. Tu'ihalafatai - son of Tupoulahi; appeared to exercise the powers of the Tu'i Kanokupolu when met by Captain Cook in 1777 (who called him Finau), but seems never to have been officially installed. Renounced the honour and went to Fiji in 1782.
10. Tupoulahisi'i - like his father seems never to have been officially installed. Still his name appears on later succession lists as being the Tu'i Kanokupolu from 1782 to 1789.
11. Mulikiha'amea - son of Maealiuaki, was only in the office for a few years when driven out by his niece; may have become Tu'i Ha'atakalaua after that; died in batlle in 1799.
12. Tupoumoheofo - daughter of Tupoulahi and principal wife of the Tu'i Tonga Paulaho. It is not known how she, a woman, was able to seize such a title exclusively in the realm of men. Her cousin Tuku'aho was very angry when he heard about it, he came back from his residence on 'Eua and cursed in her face: pali fie ule (vagina wanting to be penis). She did not enjoy the job for long, he defeated her the same year, probably 1793.
13. Mumui - younger half-brother of Tupoulahi and Maealiuaki, father of Tuku'aho. Took over the Tu'i Kanokupolu title after Tupoumoheofo was forced out. He was already an old man and died in 1797.
14. Tuku'aho - saw his ambitions fulfilled when he got the title in 1797. But he had enemies in his own family after his fight against Tupoumoheofo, and his cruelty made him no friends elsewhere too; was murdered in April 1799. This conspiracy started the long Tongan civil war in which William Mariner (writer) was for years an observer and unwilling participant.
15. Ma'afu'olimuloa was pushed by the Ha'a Havea (a chiefly branch belonging to the dynasty of the Tu'i Kanokupolu), and was bestowed with the title on 21 April 1799 — and was murdered the same night by the Ha'a Ngata (another, senior chiefly branch), who had supported Tuku'aho.
16. Tupoumālohi - was appointed after a long interregnum in 1808, when finally the quarreling chiefs put their differences aside to forstall the ambitions of Tupouto'a. But Tupoumālohi was weak, not able to withstand the quarreling chiefs, resigned a year later, and went to Ha'apai. Remained with his title, however, until his death in 1812 on the official list.
17. Tupouto'a - son of Tuku'aho, but associated with his assassins; claimed himself to be the Tu'i Kanokupolu, however, was not officially recognised; but then also not officially denounced; the chiefs of Tongatapu were too much involved in warlords like fightings with each other to bother about an usurpator without any serious rank. One of the most powerful chiefs, Takai, accepted him in 1813. But that was only one, and when Tupouto'a died in 1820 neither the Ha'a Ngata nor the Ha'a Havea had acknowledged him yet, and no one did care.
18. Aleamotu'a - brother of Tuku'aho; was already an old man when appointed in 1827, and not interested in war and politics. Probably the only reason that the quarreling chiefs took him and terminated the interregnum was to forestall Tāufa'āhau's claim on the title. Likewise the last Tu'i Tonga was installed at the same time. Aleamotu'a became Christian. He died in 1845.
19. Tāufa'āhau - son of Tupouto'a; had wanted the title much earlier, but like his father, was considered by the high chiefs of too low rank to be a serious contender. But by 1845 he had conquered whole Tonga and he could take the Tu'i Kanokupolu title or any title if he wanted. And since he had proclaimed himself since 1831 to be King George Tupou I, it did not really matter anymore. He did take the title, only for the form. Although the title of the Tu'i Kanokupolu lives on as one of the most important titles in the current dynasty of Tupou, it is no longer an entity on itself, and the numbering of the following holders is only pro forma.
20. Siaosi Tupou II
21. Sālote Tupou III
22. Tāufa'āhau Tupou IV
23. Siaosi Tupou V

[edit] References

• I.C. Campbell; Classical Tongan kingship; 1989
• E. Bott; Tonga society at the time of Captain Cook's visit; 1982