George Tupou I (4 December 1797 – 18 February 1893), originally known as Tāufaʻāhau I, was the first king of modern Tonga. Originally controlling a disputed piece of land in Haʻapai, he expanded to control Vavaʻu, Tongatapu, and other islands.
George Tupou I (4 December 1797 – 18 February 1893), originally known as Tāufaʻāhau I, was the first king of modern Tonga. Originally controlling a disputed piece of land in Haʻapai, he expanded to control Vavaʻu, Tongatapu, and other islands.
Fonuafo‘ou ("New land" in Tongan), formerly known as Falcon Island, is a submarine volcano in the western part of the Ha'apai group in Tonga. The volcano has created an island several times throughout history.
It was first spotted by the crew of the British ship HMS Falcon in 1867, while it was still a coral reef. On 11 October 1885, the volcano erupted and spouted tons of molten lava. Three days later, on 14 October 1885, the eruption created an island, which was named Falcon island by the British.
The Tuʻi Tonga is a line of Tongan kings, which originated in the tenth century with the mythical ʻAhoʻeitu, and withdrew from political power in the fifteenth century by yielding to the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua. The title ended with the death of the last Tuʻi Tonga, Sanualio Fatafehi Laufilitonga, in 1865, who bequeathed the ancient title and its mana to his nephew, Fatafehi Tu'i Pelehake, who was the Tu'i Faleua, or Lord of the Second House (traditionally supposed to succeed to the office of the Tuʻi Tonga should the original line of kings perish without a natural successor). Tu'i Pelehake surrendered the title and its privileges to his father-in-law, King George Tupou I, who united its power and prestige with that of the Tu'i Kanokupolu, Tu'i Vava'u, and Tu'i Ha'apai titles to establish the modern-day institution of the Tongan Crown. Though the title is no longer conferred, the ancient line remains unbroken and is represented by the noble title of Kalaniuvalu (conferred by King George Tupou I on his nephew, Prince Fatafehi Kalaniuvalu, the only son born to the last Tuʻi Tonga, Laufilitonga, by the King's sister, Princess Luseane Halaevalu Moheofo, who was Laufilitonga's principal wife and consort).
Captain James Cook observed and recorded his accounts of the status and authority of the Tuʻi Tonga kings during his visits to what he described as the Friendly Isles.