Pomare IV
Encyclopedia
Pōmare IV, Queen of Tahiti (February 28, 1813 – September 17, 1877), more properly Aimata Pōmare IV Vahine-o-Punuateraitua (otherwise known as Aimata {meaning: eye-eater, after an old custom of the ruler to eat the eye of the defeated foe} or simply as Pōmare IV), was the queen of Tahiti
between 1827 and 1877. She was the fourth monarch of the Kingdom of Tahiti.
. She succeeded as ruler of Tahiti
after the death of her brother Pōmare III
when she was only 14 years old. She succeeded in briefly reuniting Raiatea
and Porapora
(Borabora) with the kingdom of Tahiti, later their independence were reestablished with her childrens as rulers.
She fought in vain against French intervention, writing to the King of France and exiling herself to Raiatea
in protest.
She eventually relented and ruled under the French
administration from 1843 until 1877. Pōmare IV is buried in the Royal Mausoleum
, Papaoa, Arue
. She was succeeded by Pōmare V
, who reigned 1877-1880.
. They merely occupied it without making a proclamation of "sovereignty
" and so it legally remains the rightful property of the Pōmare dynasty
, and whosoever is the living heir. However, the French did proclaim their inherent, "rightful" control over the island of Tahiti and most of the Dynasty's other lands.
Due to the French not having ever properly annexed the Tuamotu archipelago, they have no de jure
jurisdiction
over the islands and could not abolish the monarchy there, so it remains in existence to this day. France is, of course, the de facto
authority over the Tuamotu.
Similar such cases can be found throughout the world and the Pacific
. New Zealand
in particular has serious discrepancies
that imply that the indigenous people of most regions were never legally annexed, and that due to treaty violations (which the Crown
has admitted to), there may well be no licit claim to sovereignty to anything else. The common denominator is that the places involved were fairly remote, the means for colonization barely licit, and the officers involved very exhausted at the time of writing their proclamations.
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
between 1827 and 1877. She was the fourth monarch of the Kingdom of Tahiti.
Biography
She was the daughter of Pōmare IIPomare II
Pōmare II, King of Tahiti , fully Tu Tunuieaiteatua Pōmare II or in modern orthography Tū Tū-nui-ēa-i-te-atua Pōmare II , was the second king of Tahiti between 1782 and 1821. He was installed by his father Pōmare I at Tarahoi, February 13, 1791...
. She succeeded as ruler of Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
after the death of her brother Pōmare III
Pomare III
Pōmare III, King of Tahiti , more properly Teriʻitariʻa Pōmare III, was the king of Tahiti between 1821 and 1827. He was the second son of King Pōmare II and his wife Queen Teriʻtoʻoterai Teremoemoe....
when she was only 14 years old. She succeeded in briefly reuniting Raiatea
Raiatea
Raiatea , is the second largest of the Society Islands, after Tahiti, in French Polynesia. The island is widely regarded as the 'center' of the eastern islands in ancient Polynesia and it is likely that the organised migrations to Hawaii, Aotearoa and other parts of East Polynesia started at...
and Porapora
Bora Bora
The commune of Bora-Bora is made up of the island of Bora Bora proper with its surrounding islets emerging from the coral reef, 29.3 km² in total, and of the atoll of Tupai , located north of Bora Bora...
(Borabora) with the kingdom of Tahiti, later their independence were reestablished with her childrens as rulers.
She fought in vain against French intervention, writing to the King of France and exiling herself to Raiatea
Raiatea
Raiatea , is the second largest of the Society Islands, after Tahiti, in French Polynesia. The island is widely regarded as the 'center' of the eastern islands in ancient Polynesia and it is likely that the organised migrations to Hawaii, Aotearoa and other parts of East Polynesia started at...
in protest.
She eventually relented and ruled under the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
administration from 1843 until 1877. Pōmare IV is buried in the Royal Mausoleum
Royal Mausoleum
-Mausoleums around the World:*Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii*Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania* Royal Mausoleum in St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle, Czech republic: burial place of emperors Ferdinand I and Maximilian II and empress Anna of Bohemia and Hungary....
, Papaoa, Arue
Arue, French Polynesia
Arue is a commune in the suburbs of Papeete in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. Arue is located on the island of Tahiti, in the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands, themselves part of the Society Islands....
. She was succeeded by Pōmare V
Pomare V
Pōmare V, King of Tahiti was the last monarch of Tahiti, reigning from 1877 until his forced abdication in 1880. He was the son of Queen Pōmare IV. He was born as Teri'i Tari'a Te-rā-tane and became Heir Apparent and Crown Prince upon the death of his elder brother on 13 May 1855...
, who reigned 1877-1880.
Regarding the Tuamotu
The Tuamotu archipelago was never annexed by FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. They merely occupied it without making a proclamation of "sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
" and so it legally remains the rightful property of the Pōmare dynasty
Pomare Dynasty
The Kingdom of Tahiti was founded by paramount chief Pōmare I, who, with the aide of English missionaries and traders, and European weaponry, unifed the islands of Tahiti, Moʻorea, Tetiaroa, Mehetia and at its peak consists of the other Society Islands of eastern Polynesia. Their leaders were...
, and whosoever is the living heir. However, the French did proclaim their inherent, "rightful" control over the island of Tahiti and most of the Dynasty's other lands.
Due to the French not having ever properly annexed the Tuamotu archipelago, they have no de jure
De jure
De jure is an expression that means "concerning law", as contrasted with de facto, which means "concerning fact".De jure = 'Legally', De facto = 'In fact'....
jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
over the islands and could not abolish the monarchy there, so it remains in existence to this day. France is, of course, the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
authority over the Tuamotu.
Similar such cases can be found throughout the world and the Pacific
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
. New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in particular has serious discrepancies
Maori protest movement
The Māori protest movement is a broad indigenous rights movement in New Zealand. While this movement has existed since Europeans first colonised New Zealand its modern form emerged in the early 1970s and has focused on issues such as the Treaty of Waitangi, Māori land rights, the Māori language and...
that imply that the indigenous people of most regions were never legally annexed, and that due to treaty violations (which the Crown
Monarchy of the United Kingdom
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
has admitted to), there may well be no licit claim to sovereignty to anything else. The common denominator is that the places involved were fairly remote, the means for colonization barely licit, and the officers involved very exhausted at the time of writing their proclamations.
Titles
- 28 February 1813 - November 1815: Her Highness Princess ʻAimata Pōmare.
- November 1815 - 7 December 1821: Her Royal Highness Princess ʻAimata of Tahiti.
- 7 December 1821 - 11 January 1827: Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Tahiti.
- 11 January 1827 - 17 September 1877: Her MajestyMajestyMajesty is an English word derived ultimately from the Latin maiestas, meaning "greatness".- Origin :Originally, during the Roman republic, the word maiestas was the legal term for the supreme status and dignity of the state, to be respected above everything else...
The Queen of Tahiti.