Pōmare II

On 13 February 1791, James Morisson attended the ceremony in which the young king Pōmare II was invested with the Maro 'Ura, or Royal Sash. The event took place in the district of Pare, on the newly constructed marae. On that day, thirty human sacrifices were offered, some of whom had been killed nearly a month earlier.^[2][3] He ruled under regency from 1791 until his father's death on 3 September 1803.^[4]

According to the writings of English missionary in 1799, Pōmare II's title was "Otoo.noo.ey te Ātoo'ā" (O Tu nui ai te Atua). He was revered as a divine figure. His celestial residence was known as "Yow Rye" ('A'o Ra'i, meaning "clouds of heaven"), and his double canoe was called "Ān'ooānooā" (Anuanua, or "rainbow"). His manner of riding on the shoulders of an attendant was known as Māh'owtā (Mahuta, meaning "flying". His torch, "Oowe'erā" (O Uira, or "lightning"), and the drum "Pāte'ere" (Patiri, or "thunder"), which was frequently played for his amusement, further emphasized his embodiment of elemental forces.^[5] According to their writings in 1806, Pōmare II had different names in various districts. In Pare, he was called "Tunu-e-ae-tɛ-tua" (Tu nui ai te atua); in Faaʻa, "Tʻ-Ɛree vaɛ.ɛ.tua" (Te ariʻi vae atua); in Atehuru, "Tɛ-vahe-atua" (Te vahi atua); in Taiarapu, "Tʻ-Ɛree-navahoroa" (Te ariʻi na vaho roa); and in Eimeo (Moʻorea), "Punua-tɛ-rae-ɛ-tua" (Punua te raʻi atua). These names, given to the king, signified his authority as one invested with the power that traditionally belonged to the various chiefs presiding over different districts and were used on special occasions.^[6]

Initially recognised as supreme sovereign and Ariʻi-maro-ʻura by the ruler of Huahine, he was subsequently forced from Tahiti and took refuge in Moʻorea on 22 December 1808, but returned and defeated his enemies at the Battle of Te Feipī, on 11 November 1815.^{[7][8][note 1]} He was thereafter recognised as undisputed king (Te Ariʻi-nui-o-Tahiti) of Tahiti, Moʻorea and its dependencies.

On 15 November 1815, he proclaimed himself King of Tahiti and Moʻorea in the name of the Christian God.^[11][12]

Pōmare II extended his realm to land outside of the Society Islands. He inherited his father's dominion over the Tuamotus and settled many conflicts between the disparate local chieftains in 1817 and 1821. However, his family's rule only extended to the eastern and central portions of the Tuamotus archipelago. In 1819, the king took nominal possession of Raivavae and Tubuai in the Austral Islands, although control was relegated to the local chiefs.^[13][14]

Pomare II believed that he lost favour 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 on 16 May 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.^[15]

Today a majority of 54% of the French Polynesian population belongs to various Protestant churches, especially the Maohi Protestant Church which is the largest and accounts for more than 50% of the population.^[16] It traces its origins to Pomare II, the king of Tahiti, who converted from traditional beliefs to the Reformed tradition brought to the islands by the London Missionary Society.

Pōmare II was married first before March 1797 (betrothed January 1792) to his double first cousin Tetua-nui Taro-vahine, Ariʻi of Vaiari (now Papeari), who died at ʻArue, on 21 July 1806. Around 1809, he married two sisters: Teriʻitoʻoterai Teremoemoe and Teriʻitariʻa who were daughters of Tamatoa III, Ariʻi Rahi of Raiatea.^[17]

With his second wife Teriʻitoʻoterai Teremoemoe, he had three children:^[17][1]

• ʻAimata (28 February 1813 – 17 September 1877), who ruled as Pōmare IV
• Teinaiti (21 November 1817^[18] – 20 March 1818), who died young
• Teriʻitariʻa (25 June 1820 – 8 January 1827), who ruled as Pōmare III

Pōmare died of alcohol-related causes at Motu Uta, Papeete, Tahiti on 7 December 1821.^[19][20]

He was succeeded by his son Pōmare III, who reigned 1821–1827.^[21]

• Pōmare Dynasty
• Kingdom of Tahiti
• List of monarchs of Tahiti
• List of deaths through alcohol

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pōmare II.

• First missionaries in Polynesia