Tui Viti

Tui Viti is a title which denotes Fijian royalty and translates as King of Fiji. The title is best remembered in Fiji history as it was synonymous with the ruler of the short lived Kingdom of Fiji (1871-1874) in the person of Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau.

Origins of the title

The Tui Viti title traces its origin back to Bau and first came into prominence in the late 1840’s when it was used by Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa ( - 1852), Vunivalu of Bau and father of Ratu Seru Cakobau. It is recorded that he personally came to use the title in recognition of his political influence over other chiefly states, for instance in Rewa where he was "Vasu-Levu" (high ranking matrilineal descent), Naitasiri, Cakaudrove and Lau where he had forged strong alliances and in Macuata where he was able to effectively intervene in the feuds of the ruling family to establish Ritova as Tui Macuata and as such gaining an ally. As the title was never a traditional one and as Bauan influence did not extend to the whole of Fiji, Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa’s claim to it is often viewed by historians as self proclaimed, driven by astute ambition which would to a certain degree work to the advantage of his successor, his son Ratu Seru Cakobau.

Ratu Seru Cakobau is recorded to have used the title even way before the formation of the Kingdom in Fiji. In 1854, it is recorded that he attended a court conducted by Captain Denham of H.M.S Herald into his alleged misdeeds against the Europeans in his character as Tui Viti. The usage of the title brought both advantages and disadvantages to the holder. Advantages in that it allowed Cakobau to deal with the Europeans and control the new wealth and technology they brought with them and disadvantages in being held responsible for the actions of Fijians beyond his realm of control. It was the latter in tandem with his claims to the title and European claims for monetary compensation that would contribute to his reasons for ceding Fiji to Britain in 1874. Even though Ratu Cakobau was hardly recognised by all Fijians as King of Fiji at the time he was recognised as such due to his usage of the title by many of the leading chiefs such as Ma’afu, European settlers and foreign powers. Therefore it is fairly reasonable to state that Ratu Seru Cakobau was Fiji’s first and last native King.

Current status of the Title

Seru Cakobau amongst fellow chiefs of the time at best was considered equal but never superior. Regardless of King Seru Cakobau’s motives at the time he was legally recognised as King and signed the Deed of Cession as such and it was his efforts that brought Fiji into the 1900s under the guidance of the British Empire and its Queen, who is generally perceived to have inherited the Tui Viti title. This is supported by the fact that after cession in 1874, all historical records thereafter refer to Ratu Seru Cakobau as only Vunivalu of Bau indicating the title Tui Viti effectively merged with the British Crown upon cession. When Ratu Seru Cakobau signed the Deed of Cession he also presented his prized war club to Queen Victoria as a symbol of his submission and loyalty. The presentation of the war club, named “Na Tutuvi Kuta nei Radi ni Bau”(The sleeping cover of the Queen of Bau) refers to the traditional duty of the Vunivalu to protect the principal wife of the Rokotui Bau and can again be taken to mean Cakobau and his successors to be the protectors of the rights to the title in the person of Queen Victoria and her successors.

Neither Queen Victoria nor her successors have ever formally used the title Tui Viti however if there is a claim to it, it would rightly be Queen Elizabeth II. This is supported by the decision of the Great Council of Chiefs in 1962 to officially bestow on Queen Elizabeth the Title "Ilisapeci-Na Radi ni Viti kei Peritania”, translated as Queen of Fiji and Britain. Had she been born male it is likely that the GCC of 1962 would have bestowed the title "Tui Viti kei Peritania" or "King of Fiji and Britain" note the Tui Viti as Ranadi being the feminine equivalent. In 1998 the GCC again reaffirmed their allegiance to her by officially announcing her as Paramount Chief of Fiji but with no official Fijian translation, again the highest title possible would be Tui Viti. In 2002, the Council's chairman, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, stated that Elizabeth II was still Queen of Fiji [ [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=2883 "Fiji chiefs say Britain’s Elizabeth still Queen of Fiji"] ,Radio New Zealand International,November 19, 2002] . This creates a very interesting situation where Fiji being a republic still effectively has a traditionally recognised Queen of Fiji.

As Queen Elizabeth II has made no official claim to the title, the Tui Viti title as such remains dormant in usage but intact in her presence as it is within her rights as all British rulers since Queen Victoria have been in effect official rulers of Fiji up until 1987. The closest native Fijian claimant to the title would be Ratu Cakobau’s descendant and person installed as Vunivalu of Bau, a title that has been vacant since 1989. If at some point in future, where the Vunivalu of Bau decides to revive the title in his person, the Queen would have to officially surrender it as she is still recognised as head within the Great Council of Chiefs, which as a body is again officially recognised within Fiji's constitution. However this is unlikely as it would likely be a contentious issue with other chiefs in Fiji.

List of Tui Viti Title Holders

ee also

* Queen of Fiji
* Paramount Chief of Fiji

Footnotes

References

* Matanitu The Struggle for Power in Early Fiji, By David Routledge, Published by University of the South Pacific (1985)
*The Pacific Way A Memoir, By Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Published by the University of Hawaii Press (1990)
* [http://books.google.com.fj/books?vid=OCLC05701972&id=WMkNe1rwRdMC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=Fiji+and+the+Fijians Fiji and the Fijians] Chapter 2 Pages 33-34 by Thomas Williams, James Calvert.
* [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=2883Chiefs say Britains Elizabeth still Queen of Fiji] Accessed 11-05-07
* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980720/ai_n14161765Fiji votes to make Queen `supreme tribal chief] Accessed 25-08-07