- Saudeleur
The first organized government of
Pohnpei was the Saudeleur (literally meaning "Lord of the immediate area") Dynasty which ruled from around 500 to 1450AD . Rule was maintained by one man, the Saudeleur, who granted the use of the ruling class land to a middle class who, in turn, oversaw the commoners. The middle class and commoners were required to pay tribute to the Saudeleur. Pohnpei was divided into three wei, or states, during the reign of Saudeleur Mwohnmwei: Kohpwahlele (Madolenihmw), Kohpwahleng (Kitti) and, Pwahpwahlik (Sokehs).Later U and Nett became states, making up the present day five municipalities of
Pohnpei . Land in the traditional society was owned by the ruler. This traditional ruler leased the land to landlords who oversaw the commoners harvesting the land. The commoners were required to present the ruler with frequent tributes of fruit and fish. This tradition continues today at funerals and celebrations. The ruler (later called the nahnmwarki) was considered to be sacred, speaking only to the Nahnken. The Nahnken served as an intermediary between the nahnmwarki and his people.According to Pohnpeian legend, the Saudeleur Dynasty began with the arrival of the two brothers Olisihpa and Olosohpa, who voyaged into Pohnpei seeking a place to build an altar so that they could worship Nahnisohn Sahpw, the god of agriculture. The two brothers successfully built an altar at
Nan Madol , where they performed their rituals. When Olisihpa died, Olosohpa became the first Saudeleur, or lord of the area in which Nan Madol is located. Sixteen other Saudeleurs followed Olosohpa.The last Saudeleur was conquered by Isokelekel, who took the title of Nahnmwarki and established the seat of his power in
Nan Madol as had the Saudeleur before him. According to the legend, Isokelekel was born of the Thunder god and a human female onKosrae from where he launched his take over of Pohnpei with only 333 men. The successive Nahnmwarki continued to rule as despots, but Nan Madol had been abandoned by the time the first Europeans arrived, early in the 19th century.
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