Tahitoe (1808–1881) was the

king King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

Raiatea Raiatea or Ra'iatea ( Tahitian: ''Ra‘iātea'') is the second largest of the Society Islands, after Tahiti, in French Polynesia. The island is widely regarded as the "centre" of the eastern islands in ancient Polynesia and it is likely that the ...

from 1871 to 1881. Tahitoe and other leading chiefs and governors of Raiatea and

Tahaa Taha’a (sometimes spelled as "Tahaa") is an island located among the western group, the Leeward Islands, of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The islands of Taha’a and neighboring R ...

refused to accept the rule of

Tamatoa V Tamatoa V, born Tamatoa-a-tu Pōmare, (23 September 1842, Moorea – 30 September 1881, Papeete), King of Raiatea and Taha'a, was a son of Queen Pōmare IV of Tahiti. Life Adopted by Tamatoa IV King of Raiatea and Tah'aa, he succeeded him ...

in 1858. Tamarii, the chief of the council, and others attempted to petition the United States to put the islands under an American

protectorate A protectorate, in the context of international relations, is a State (polity), state that is under protection by another state for defence against aggression and other violations of law. It is a dependent territory that enjoys autonomy over m ...

. Letters were sent by the United States Consul to Raiatea Henry Owner to Secretary of State

Lewis Cass Lewis Cass (October 9, 1782June 17, 1866) was an American military officer, politician, and statesman. He represented Michigan in the United States Senate and served in the Cabinets of two U.S. Presidents, Andrew Jackson and James Buchanan. He w ...

. The diplomatic ploy was discovered by the French colonial officials in

Tahiti Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Austr ...

and the Raiatean nobles scapegoated two Americans residents: Joseph Jordan and Thomas Croft and a native named Poare. Tahitoe, who had not signed the request for a protectorate, opposed the secret plan and wrote to President

James Buchanan James Buchanan Jr. ( ; April 23, 1791June 1, 1868) was an American lawyer, diplomat and politician who served as the 15th president of the United States from 1857 to 1861. He previously served as secretary of state from 1845 to 1849 and repr ...

saying the proposal was not approved by the people. Consul Owner was recalled by the United States for fear of French reprisal for his involvement in the affair. Tamatoa was reinstated on 4 December 1859 after he agreed to cooperate with the governors.

Biography

Tahitoe was born in 1808. He was son of prince Hihipa of Raiatea and his wife, Te-opua. His father was a grandchild of the king

Tamatoa III Tamatoa III (c. 1757 – 1831) was the King of Raiatea from 1820 to 1831. U'uru, or Vetea-ra'i-'u'uru, was the son of Tamatoa II by his third wife. He was the ari'i maro 'ura, high chief, at 'Opoa on Raiatea, during Captain James Cook Jam ...

of Raiatea and Tahaa. Tahitoe married in 1810 Te'eva. He remarried in 1836 with Metua'aro. He had 8 children. * Princess Rere-ao Tahitoe. * Prince Tehaupoto * Princess Tetuaiterai * Princess Teihotua * Princess Vaira'atoa * Princess Ari'itiria * Prince Tahitorai * Princess Tetupaia Another daughter was Queen

Tuarii Tuarii or Tūari'i (died 1911) was the queen regnant of Raiatea and Tahaa in the Leeward Islands (Society Islands), Leeward Islands of the Society Islands, part of present-day French Polynesia. She was the last monarch of the kingdom of Raiatea-T ...

who ruled a resistance government against France from 1888 to 1897.

References

1808 births 1881 deaths French Polynesian royalty People from Raiatea Oceanian monarchs {{FrenchPolynesia-bio-stub