Pōmare II

Pōmare II
King of Tahiti
Reign	1782 – 7 December 1821
Coronation	13 February 1791
Predecessor	Pōmare I
Successor	Pōmare III
Regent	Pōmare I
Born	c. 1782
Died	December 7, 1821 Motu Uta, Papeete, Tahiti
Burial	Pōmare Royal Cemetery, Papaʻoa, ʻArue
Spouse	Tetuanui Tarovahine Teriʻitoʻoterai Tere-moe-moe Teriʻitariʻa Ariʻipaea Vahine
Issue	Pōmare IV Teinaiti Pōmare III
Full name Tū Tūnuiʻēʻaiteatua Pōmare II
House	House of Pōmare
Father	Pōmare I
Mother	Tetua-nui-reia-i-te-ra'i-atea[1]
Religion	Tahitian later Protestanism

Pōmare II (c. 1782 – December 7, 1821) (fully Tu Tunuieaiteatua Pōmare II or in modern orthography Tū Tū-nui-ʻēʻa-i-te-atua Pōmare II; historically misspelled as Tu Tunuiea'aite-a-tua), was the second king of Tahiti between 1782 and 1821. He was installed by his father Pōmare I at Tarahoi, February 13, 1791. He ruled under regency from 1782 to 1803.^[2]

Life

Initially recognised as supreme sovereign and Ariʻi-maro-ʻura by the ruler of Huahine, he was subsequently forced to take refuge in Moʻorea December 22, 1808, but returned and defeated his enemies at the Battle of Te Feipī, November 12, 1815.^[3] He was thereafter recognised as undisputed king (Te Ariʻi-nui-o-Tahiti) of Tahiti, Moʻorea and its dependencies.

Marriage and Christianity

Pōmare II was married first before March 1797 (betrothed January 1792) to Queen Tetua-nui Taro-vahine, Ariʻi of Vaiari (now Papeari), who died at ʻArue, July 21, 1806.

Pomare II believed that he lost favor with the god 'Oro, and, aided by the missionary Henry Nott, he began paying more attention to the God of the Christians.

He was baptised May 16, 1819 at the Royal Chapel, Papeʻete – Christianity and the support of English missionaries aided the centralisation of monarchic power.

Three London Missionary Society missionaries, Henry Bicknell, William Henry, and Charles Wilson preached at the baptism of King Pōmare II. Afterwards, "Henry Bicknell stood on the steps of the pulpit, took water from a basin held by William Henry, and poured it" on King Pōmare's head.^[4]

Death

Pōmare died of drink-related causes at Motu Uta, Papeete, Tahiti on December 7, 1821.^[5]

He was succeeded by his son Pōmare III, who reigned 1821–1827.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Pōmare II

16. Teuruari’i               8. Tu-moe-hania                       17. Marurai               4. Teu Tunuieaite Atua                             18. Vehi-atua-i-te-mata’i               9. Tetua-huria                       2. Pōmare I                                   20. Teri’i-ve-tearai Rofa’i               10. Tamatoa III                       21. Marama               5. Tetupaia-i-Hauiri                             11. Mai-he’a                       1. Pōmare II                                         12. Teri’i-Vaetua-i-Ahura’i                       6. Teihotu-i-Ahura’i                             26. Tu-nui-e-a’e-i-te Atua Tutaha               13. Airoro-ana’a-i-Farepu’a                       27. Te-ra’i-atua               3. Tetua-nui-reia-i-te-raʻi-atea                                   14. Punua Teraitua-i-Nu’urua                       7. Vave’a Tetua-nui-rei-a-ite Ra’iatea                             30. Pu-nua-i-te-atua               15. Fetefete-te-ui                       31. Te-varua-nei-atua

References

1. Teuira Henry, John Muggridge Orsmond (1928). Ancient Tahiti 48. Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum. p. 249.
2. Royal Ark
3. 1815 – La bataille de Fei Pi. Histoire de l'Assemblée de la Polynésie française
4. The Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle 28.
5. Genealogy