Pōmare Dynasty
Encyclopedia
The Pōmare Dynasty was the reigning family of the Kingdom of Tahiti between the unification of the island by Pōmare I
in 1788 and Pōmare V
's cession of the kingdom to France in 1880. Their influence once spanned most of the Society Islands
, the Austral Islands
and the Tuamotu Archipelago.
from the Tamatoa family.
With foreign weapons, chief Tu gradually took over control of the other parts of the island of Tahiti
, and then brought the islands of Moorea
, Mehetia
, and Tetiaroa
into a single entity.
Chief Tu later adopted the name Pōmare. Pō-mare means night cougher, a nickname he took, as was common in that time, in honor of his daughter Teriinavahoroa who died from tuberculosis
in 1792.
Through subsequent inheritance, adoptions, and marriage alliances, the dynasty at its peak include all the Society Islands with a member of the family ruling in Tahiti, Raiatea
and Bora Bora
. Tahiti also controlled some of the outlying islands of the Austral Islands
and the Tuamotu Archipelago.
Tahiti and its dependencies were made a French protectorate
in 1842, and largely annexed as a colony of France in 1880. The monarchy was abolished by France shortly thereafter, although there are still pretender
s and many Tahitians
still wish for a return of the monarchy, some of whom claim that the act of abolishing the monarchy was either outright illegal, or outside of certain jurisdictions. The last reigning monarch of the dynasty was Teriimaevarua III, Queen of Bora Bora, who was deposed in 1888
claims to be the heir to the Tahitian throne, and has attempted to re-assert the status of the monarchy in court. His claims are not recognised by France. On 28 May 2009, Joinville Pomare, an adopted member of the Pomare family, declared himself King Pomare XI, during a ceremony attended by descendants of leading chiefs but spurned by members of his own family. Other members of the family recognise his uncle, Léopold Pomare, as heir to the throne.
As of 2010, he has been recognized as the heir to the throne and bears the title Prince Marau of Tahiti. He is working to have royal trust lands returned to him and his family. The French government mortgaged the land after World War II, and in doing so violated the terms of the agreement signed with Pomare V
in 1880 that reserved control of the trust lands for the royal family of Tahiti. The banks may be in the process of freezing the assets, and Mairau is suing to prevent native Tahitians
from being evicted from his trust lands, and wishes for them to retain their usage rights over the land.
Hau Pakumotu claims decent from Pomare V and sovereignty over French Polynesian sea, land, and airspace. He and his associates had received some attention in politics in the Tuamotu beforehand. He and associates assembled 100 people for a declaration of an independent Moorea
, and claim to have 50,000 signatures supporting Moorea's independence. (Although Moorea has only 16,000 people, the 50,000 signature figure is not necessarily untrue because it could imply that Hau Pakumotu received signatures from people both on Moorea and in other parts of French Polynesia.) He declared an independent Pakomotu Sovereign Republic State on Jane 25, 2010 and has called French Polynesia a "mistake". Hau Pakumotu was arrested in early June 2010 for illegally issuing ID cards for his republic.
Pomare I
Pōmare I, King of Tahiti , fully in old orthography: Tu-nui-ea-i-te-atua-i-Tarahoi Vairaatoa Taina Pōmare I , was the unifier and first king of Tahiti and founder of the Pōmare dynasty and the Kingdom of Tahiti between 1788? and 1791.Outu is the phonetic English rendering of...
in 1788 and 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...
's cession of the kingdom to France in 1880. Their influence once spanned most of the Society Islands
Society Islands
The Society Islands are a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. They are politically part of French Polynesia. The archipelago is generally believed to have been named by Captain James Cook in honor of the Royal Society, the sponsor of the first British scientific survey of the islands;...
, the Austral Islands
Austral Islands
The Austral Islands are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the South Pacific. Geographically, they consist of two separate archipelagos, namely in the northwest the Tubuai Islands consisting of the Îles Maria, Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai...
and the Tuamotu Archipelago.
History
The dynasty originated from the district chieftains or ari'i rahi of Porionuʻu (including the smaller districts of Pare and Arue) and island of RaiateaRaiatea
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...
from the Tamatoa family.
With foreign weapons, chief Tu gradually took over control of the other parts of the island 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...
, and then brought the islands of Moorea
Moorea
Moʻorea is a high island in French Polynesia, part of the Society Islands, 17 km northwest of Tahiti. Its position is . Moʻorea means "yellow lizard" in Tahitian...
, Mehetia
Mehetia
Mehetia or Meetia is a volcanic island in the Windward Islands, in the east of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. This island is a very young active stratovolcano east of Taiarapu Peninsula of Tahiti. It belongs to the Teahitia-Mehetia hotspot....
, and Tetiaroa
Tetiaroa
Tetiaroa is a private atoll in the Windward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. Once the vacation spot for Tahitian royalty, the atoll is widely known for having been purchased by Marlon Brando...
into a single entity.
Chief Tu later adopted the name Pōmare. Pō-mare means night cougher, a nickname he took, as was common in that time, in honor of his daughter Teriinavahoroa who died from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in 1792.
Through subsequent inheritance, adoptions, and marriage alliances, the dynasty at its peak include all the Society Islands with a member of the family ruling in Tahiti, 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 Bora Bora
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...
. Tahiti also controlled some of the outlying islands of the Austral Islands
Austral Islands
The Austral Islands are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the South Pacific. Geographically, they consist of two separate archipelagos, namely in the northwest the Tubuai Islands consisting of the Îles Maria, Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai...
and the Tuamotu Archipelago.
Tahiti and its dependencies were made a French protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
in 1842, and largely annexed as a colony of France in 1880. The monarchy was abolished by France shortly thereafter, although there are still pretender
Pretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
s and many Tahitians
Tahitians
The Tahitians, or Maohis, are indigenous peoples of Tahiti and thirteen other Society Islands, as well as the modern population of these lands of mixed ancestry . The Tahitians are one of the most significant indigenous Polynesian peoples of Oceania....
still wish for a return of the monarchy, some of whom claim that the act of abolishing the monarchy was either outright illegal, or outside of certain jurisdictions. The last reigning monarch of the dynasty was Teriimaevarua III, Queen of Bora Bora, who was deposed in 1888
Pōmare Monarchs
- Pōmare IPomare IPōmare I, King of Tahiti , fully in old orthography: Tu-nui-ea-i-te-atua-i-Tarahoi Vairaatoa Taina Pōmare I , was the unifier and first king of Tahiti and founder of the Pōmare dynasty and the Kingdom of Tahiti between 1788? and 1791.Outu is the phonetic English rendering of...
, Tu Vairaatoa Taina, (1791–1803) - Pōmare IIPomare IIPōmare 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...
, Tu Tunuieaiteatua, (1803–1815) - Pōmare IIIPomare IIIPōmare 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....
, Teriitaria, (1821–1827) - Pōmare IVPomare IVPōmare IV, Queen of Tahiti , more properly Aimata Pōmare IV Vahine-o-Punuateraitua , was the queen of Tahiti between 1827 and 1877...
, Aimata, (1827–1877) - Pōmare VPomare VPōmare 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...
, Teriitaria Teratane, (1877–1880)
Current status
As of February 2009, Tauatomo MairauTauatomo Mairau
Tuatomo Mairau is from the royal Tahitian family of Mairau. As of February 2009, Tauatomo Mairau claims to be the heir to the Tahitian throne, and has attempted to re-assert the status of the monarchy in court. His claims are not recognised by France....
claims to be the heir to the Tahitian throne, and has attempted to re-assert the status of the monarchy in court. His claims are not recognised by France. On 28 May 2009, Joinville Pomare, an adopted member of the Pomare family, declared himself King Pomare XI, during a ceremony attended by descendants of leading chiefs but spurned by members of his own family. Other members of the family recognise his uncle, Léopold Pomare, as heir to the throne.
As of 2010, he has been recognized as the heir to the throne and bears the title Prince Marau of Tahiti. He is working to have royal trust lands returned to him and his family. The French government mortgaged the land after World War II, and in doing so violated the terms of the agreement signed with Pomare 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...
in 1880 that reserved control of the trust lands for the royal family of Tahiti. The banks may be in the process of freezing the assets, and Mairau is suing to prevent native Tahitians
Tahitians
The Tahitians, or Maohis, are indigenous peoples of Tahiti and thirteen other Society Islands, as well as the modern population of these lands of mixed ancestry . The Tahitians are one of the most significant indigenous Polynesian peoples of Oceania....
from being evicted from his trust lands, and wishes for them to retain their usage rights over the land.
Hau Pakumotu claims decent from Pomare V and sovereignty over French Polynesian sea, land, and airspace. He and his associates had received some attention in politics in the Tuamotu beforehand. He and associates assembled 100 people for a declaration of an independent Moorea
Moorea
Moʻorea is a high island in French Polynesia, part of the Society Islands, 17 km northwest of Tahiti. Its position is . Moʻorea means "yellow lizard" in Tahitian...
, and claim to have 50,000 signatures supporting Moorea's independence. (Although Moorea has only 16,000 people, the 50,000 signature figure is not necessarily untrue because it could imply that Hau Pakumotu received signatures from people both on Moorea and in other parts of French Polynesia.) He declared an independent Pakomotu Sovereign Republic State on Jane 25, 2010 and has called French Polynesia a "mistake". Hau Pakumotu was arrested in early June 2010 for illegally issuing ID cards for his republic.