Kingdom of Tahiti | tahiti
Polynesiankingdomfrom1788/91to1880TheKingdomofTahitiwasamonarchyfoundedbyparamountchiefPōmareI,who,withtheaidofBritishmissionariesandtraders,andEuropeanweaponry,unifiedtheislandsofTahiti,Moʻorea,Tetiaroa,MehetiaandatitspeakincludedtheTuamotus,Tubuai,RaivavaeandotherislandsofeasternPolynesia.ItsleaderswereChristianfollowingthebaptismofPomareII.ItsprogressiveriseandrecognitionbyEuropeansallowedTahititoremainfreefromaplannedSpanishcolonizationaswellasotherEuropeanclaimstotheislands.Thekingdomwa...
Polynesian kingdom from 1788/91 to 1880
The Kingdom of Tahiti was a monarchy founded by paramount chief Pōmare I, who, with the aid of British missionaries and traders, and European weaponry, unified the islands of Tahiti, Moʻorea, Tetiaroa, Mehetia and at its peak included the Tuamotus, Tubuai, Raivavae and other islands of eastern Polynesia. Its leaders were Christian following the baptism of Pomare II. Its progressive rise and recognition by Europeans allowed Tahiti to remain free from a planned Spanish colonization as well as other European claims to the islands.
The kingdom was one of a number of independent Polynesian states in Oceania, alongside Raiatea, Huahine, Bora Bora, Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Rarotonga and Niue in the 19th century. The kingdom is known for bringing a period of peace and cultural and economic prosperity to the islands over the reign of the five Tahitian monarchs. Tahiti and its dependencies transformed into French protectorates in 1842 and l...