Fatafehi 'o Lapaha

Fatafehi 'o Lapaha was born in 1735 and died at the age of over 90 years old. She married King Mumui, Tu'iKanokupolu dynastyof Tonga, at the age of 19 years old, and they have one son,Namoa(King Siosaia Tupou/ Josiah Tupou in 1830-45). Fatafehi 'o Lapaha was the last Tu'iTonga fefine( last female Ruler from Tu'iTonga Dynasty), in Tonga.Fatafehi 'o Lapaha's mother was Fisi'ipeau and she was from the Tu'iHa'aTakalua Dynasty.Fatafehi 'o Lapaha had one brother and his name was, Tu'ipulotu. Tu'ipulotu and Fatafehi had the same mother but different fathers. Tu'ipulotu had one son, and his name wasLaufilitonga. Laufilitonga was the last ruler from the Tu'iTonga Dynasty and the nephew of Fatafehi 'o Lapaha.

Fatafehi 'o Lapaha was also referred to after her marriage to King Mumui( Tu'iKanokupolu dynasty) as, Fatafehi 'o Tonga.Since she was born,Fatafehi 'o Lapaha was always regarded by Tu'iTonga dynasty tradition, as very sacred. Her feet was never allowed to touch the ground. Wherever she travelled she was always carried around by a train of retinue.

Fatafehi 'o Lapaha's father King Fuanuinuiava, Tu'iTonga Dynasty died when Fatafehi was 14 years old. The High chiefs whowere supporters of Tu'iTonga dynasty did prefer a male heir to a female one. As King Fuanuinuiava had only one child who is a female,those high chiefs came up with a strategy. The objective is, to produce a male heir for deceased, King Fuanuinuiava.

The strategy, was to tell the people that King Fuanuinuiava is very ill, therefore unable to see them. However, the reality was that, King Fuanuinuiava have been buried in secret, few months ago, without the knowledge of his people.In order to make it look that the King is alive but very ill, the chiefs brought a big log of wood and put it on the King'sbed. They(high chiefs) cover or wrapped up the log of wood with Tapacloth, as if King Fuanuinuiava was sleeping.The aim of this was to give Fisi'ipeau( wife of the late King) time to become pregnant, and it was working. Fisi'ipeau becamepregnant to one of those high chiefs and months later, a baby boy was born and was named, Tu'ipulotu.After the birth of Tu'ipulotu, the people were then informed that, the King(Fuanuinuiava), died shortly after the birth of his son, Tu'ipulotu.Those high chiefs then, took the log of wood and wrapped it up to look like a body, then bury it.A Tongan term Puluhi(pulupulu'i /wrapped up in English), emerged. Puluhi means sick or ill and a term that reserve to a ruler, only.

Fatafehi on that period was 14 years old and was very aware of the great secrecy of the strategy, includinghow the operation being carried out, to achieve the producing of a male heir for Tu'iTonga dynasty.

However, those high chiefs may not aware that, Fatafehi 'o Lapaha, has uncovered their strategy, but rumours seems to remainthat Fatafehi 'o Lapaha was the last and sole heir to Tu'iTonga Dynasty and only child( Fatafehi 'o Lapaha)of King Fuanuinuiava.

An excerpt from Rev. John Thomas memoir:

April 16th, 1827." This morning we were visited by the greatest woman in Tonga. She is calledthe Tu'iTonga fifini and is the sister of the late Tu'itonga Tangata; and the person who is now called Tu'itonga is her...nephew.The China umbrella we gave her, she said was the same kind that Captain Cook brought.."

References

* Rowe. G Stringer, A Pioneer , Memoir of the Rev. John Thomas (1885).
* London Missionary Society, Tongatabu, (1797-1801. 1804)