Taliai Tupou
Encyclopedia
Roko
Taliai Tupou (17??-1875) was the son of Rasolo the first Tui Nayau and Radravu of Totoya
. He is the younger brother of Roko Malani
. He was the 3rd person to be installed to the Tui Nayau title. He is considered the progenitor of the noble household, Vatuwaqa in the chiefly Vuanirewa
clan and as such, was the first member of this noble household to hold the title, Tui Nayau. His reign marked the growth of Christianity
in Lau
and the slow expansion of Tonga
n ambitions in Fiji
, led by Ma’afu. As this period marked increasing contact with Europeans
, records from this point forward in regard to the history of Lau are well documented.
Taliai Topou’s early reception of missionaries appears lukewarm. He never took them seriously, until he was later influenced by his family members. It is recorded that he only allowed the Methodist missionaries, David Cargill and William Cross, to stay in Lakeba
and establish a church after the support of his nephew and heir, Vuetasau
. The latter conversion of his favourite daughter, Tagici (after being nursed back to health from a serious illness by a missionary) and the emerging role of Vaubula, Vuetasau’s brother, as an early Fijian preacher appears to have induced him to finally and publicly accept the Christian faith in 1849. From this point forward Christianity gradually replaced the old religion and gained hold in Lau
and the rest of Fiji
David Cargill describes Taliai Tupou in his journals as a “however reluctant, tributary monarch”. As he did not have the reserves of manpower like the Tui Cakau
or Vunivalu
of Bau he could never risk confrontation with his adversaries and the alternative was to maintain friendly relations over as wide a field as possible. In this sense he can he stated as an astute diplomat, having somewhat maintained Lakeba independence through the occupancy of Enele Ma'afu
and ambitions of Bau
. His sovereignty over Lakeba and its dependencies were never likely threatened by Ma’afu, as Taliai Tupou’s through his mother was descended from the royal Tu'i Tonga
and Tu'i Kanokupolu
lines. Ma’afu’s father was a former Tui Kanokupolu and therefore would have considered Taliai Tupou his kin, but it was Ma’afu’s conquests of the north and western islands from Lakeba, that would greatly extend the domains of later Tui Nayau’s. In 1865 he concluded a Treaty of Friendship between the Kingdom of Lakeba and the Kingdom of Tonga
, and in 1871 he convened a meeting of his chiefs and nominated Ma'afu as leader of the states of Lakeba, Vanua Balavu
, and the Moala
Group, with authority to appoint a Tui Nayau after he died.
Taliai Tupou is noted to have been the longest lived and the longest to have tenured the title Tui Nayau, some 42 years. Though crippled at the time of negotiations before the Cession of Fiji to Queen Victoria in 1874, he was still being carried about. An observing Australia
n reporter at the time stated, "Methuselah was an infant to him and death had forgotten him". He died in 1875 and was succeeded by his grandnephew, Ratu
Tevita Uluilakeba II. The latter would only succeed to the title Roko Sau as he would die prematurely a year later in 1876. His death meant that Roko Taliai Tupou’s son, Roko Eroni Loganimoce
would in turn succeed to his cousin’s title Roko Sau and succeed his father becoming the fourth Tui Nayau.
Roko
Roko is a title used by Fiji of chiefly rank specifically from the Lau Islands. Its equivalent from the Kubuna Confederacy is the Bauan form of Ratu and Ro from parts of the Burebasaga Confederacy. This title was widely used amongst members of the chiefly Vuanirewa clan up to the mid 19th century...
Taliai Tupou (17??-1875) was the son of Rasolo the first Tui Nayau and Radravu of Totoya
Totoya
Totoya is a volcanic island in the Moala subgroup of Fiji's Lau archipelago. It occupies an area of 28 square kilometers, making it the smallest of the Moalas. Its maximum altitude is 366 meters. The main economic activity is coconut farming....
. He is the younger brother of Roko Malani
Malani
Roko Malani was the eldest son of Rasolo, the first Tui Nayau , and of Laufitu a high-ranking lady of Totoya and Tongan descent. He succeeded to the title Roko Sau, after engineering a successful coup d'état and slaying his uncle, Matawalu, the fourth Roko Sau, in battle...
. He was the 3rd person to be installed to the Tui Nayau title. He is considered the progenitor of the noble household, Vatuwaqa in the chiefly Vuanirewa
Vuanirewa
The Vuanirewa is the ruling tribe of the Lau Islands, a scattered group of more than a hundred islands and reefs along the eastern edge of Fiji.- Origins :...
clan and as such, was the first member of this noble household to hold the title, Tui Nayau. His reign marked the growth of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
in Lau
Lau
Lau may refer to:An indigenous people that live on the Solomon Islands.People with the German/Austrian surname:* Charlie Lau, catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball* Laurence Lau , actor...
and the slow expansion of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n ambitions in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, led by Ma’afu. As this period marked increasing contact with Europeans
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
, records from this point forward in regard to the history of Lau are well documented.
Taliai Topou’s early reception of missionaries appears lukewarm. He never took them seriously, until he was later influenced by his family members. It is recorded that he only allowed the Methodist missionaries, David Cargill and William Cross, to stay in Lakeba
Lakeba
Lakeba is an island in Fiji's Southern Lau Archipelago; the provincial capital of Lau is located here. The island is the tenth largest in Fiji, with a land area of nearly 60 square kilometers. It is fertile and well watered, and encircled by a 29-kilometer road. Its closest neighbors are Aiwa...
and establish a church after the support of his nephew and heir, Vuetasau
Vuetasau
Viliame Vuetasau was the son of Roko Malani, the seventh Roko Sau of Lau and second Tui Nayau and Ciri of Taqalevu. During the reign of his Uncle Taliai Tupou, third Tui Nayau, he was considered heir to the title...
. The latter conversion of his favourite daughter, Tagici (after being nursed back to health from a serious illness by a missionary) and the emerging role of Vaubula, Vuetasau’s brother, as an early Fijian preacher appears to have induced him to finally and publicly accept the Christian faith in 1849. From this point forward Christianity gradually replaced the old religion and gained hold in Lau
Lau Islands
The Lau Islands of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific Ocean, just east of the Koro Sea. Of this chain of about one hundred islands and islets, about thirty are inhabited...
and the rest of Fiji
David Cargill describes Taliai Tupou in his journals as a “however reluctant, tributary monarch”. As he did not have the reserves of manpower like the Tui Cakau
Tui Cakau
The Tui Cakau is the Paramount Chief of Cakaudrove Province in Fiji. In Modern Fiji this chiefly title is regarded as the most senior in the Tovata Confederacy, and the third most senior in the country.-Recent history :...
or Vunivalu
Vunivalu of Bau
Turaga na Vunivalu ni Bau is the Paramount Chief of the Kubuna Confederacy, loosely translated the title means Warlord of Bau or Root of War. The succession to the title does not follow primogeniture, but the candidate must be a high ranking member of the Tui Kaba clan.-A brief history:The...
of Bau he could never risk confrontation with his adversaries and the alternative was to maintain friendly relations over as wide a field as possible. In this sense he can he stated as an astute diplomat, having somewhat maintained Lakeba independence through the occupancy of Enele Ma'afu
Enele Ma'afu
Enele Ma'afu'otu'itonga, commonly known as Ma'afu, was a man of two kingdoms being traditionally a Tongan Prince and a self forged Fijian chief.-A Brief History:...
and ambitions of Bau
Bau Island
Bau is a small island in Fiji, off the east coast of the main island of Viti Levu.-History:With the aid of Charlie Savage, who brought firearms to Bau Island, the Bauan people quickly established themselves as an undefeatable military force...
. His sovereignty over Lakeba and its dependencies were never likely threatened by Ma’afu, as Taliai Tupou’s through his mother was descended from the royal Tu'i Tonga
Tu'i Tonga
The Tui Tonga is a line of Tongan kings, which originated in the 10th century with the mythical Ahoeitu; withdrew from political power in the 15th century by yielding to the Tui Haatakalaua; and died out with Laufilitonga in 1865...
and Tu'i Kanokupolu
Tu'i Kanokupolu
The Ha'a Tu'i Kanokupolu is the most junior of the Ha'a Tu'i in Tonga. They are generally refer to as the Kau Halalalo The Ha'a Tu'i Tonga, the most senior and Sacred Ha'a Tu'i in Tonga are generally refer to as the Kauhala'uta, The inland side of the roads...
lines. Ma’afu’s father was a former Tui Kanokupolu and therefore would have considered Taliai Tupou his kin, but it was Ma’afu’s conquests of the north and western islands from Lakeba, that would greatly extend the domains of later Tui Nayau’s. In 1865 he concluded a Treaty of Friendship between the Kingdom of Lakeba and the Kingdom of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
, and in 1871 he convened a meeting of his chiefs and nominated Ma'afu as leader of the states of Lakeba, Vanua Balavu
Vanua Balavu
Vanua Balavu is the second largest island in Fiji's Lau archipelago , and the main island of the Northern Lau Group.-Geography and infrastructure:...
, and the Moala
Moala
Moala is a volcanic island in the Moala subgroup of Fiji's Lau archipelago. Located at , it has an area of . The highest point on the island of Moala, at a maximum elevation of , is called Delaimoala which has rich vegetation and consists of dark thick forest. The population of around 3000 live in...
Group, with authority to appoint a Tui Nayau after he died.
Taliai Tupou is noted to have been the longest lived and the longest to have tenured the title Tui Nayau, some 42 years. Though crippled at the time of negotiations before the Cession of Fiji to Queen Victoria in 1874, he was still being carried about. An observing Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n reporter at the time stated, "Methuselah was an infant to him and death had forgotten him". He died in 1875 and was succeeded by his grandnephew, Ratu
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Tevita Uluilakeba II. The latter would only succeed to the title Roko Sau as he would die prematurely a year later in 1876. His death meant that Roko Taliai Tupou’s son, Roko Eroni Loganimoce
Eroni Loganimoce
Eroni Loganimoce is a former Fijian cricketer. Loganimoce was a right-arm medium pace bowler.Loganimoce made his first-class debut for Fiji in 1954 against Canterbury during Fiji's 1953/54 tour of New Zealand...
would in turn succeed to his cousin’s title Roko Sau and succeed his father becoming the fourth Tui Nayau.