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Falakika Seilala

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Falakika Seilala (died 20 February 1869), was a Queen of Uvea, ruling from 1858 until 1869. She introduced the title Lavelua for all the kings and queens of Uvea. She succeeded her brother Soane-Patita Vaimua Lavelua, and was succeeded by her paternal niece Amelia Tokagahahau Aliki.

Biography

A member of the Takumasiva dynasty, she acceded to the throne on 5 December 1858, a few weeks after the death of her brother Soane-Patita Vaimua Lavelua, who chose her to succeed him. The Catholic mission played an important role in her nomination, with Jean-Claude Roux saying they "pushed to the throne".

In 1859, she encountered difficulties with a French merchant, who had to leave Wallis.

Her coming to power revived conflicts between Catholics and Protestants, converted by Wesleyan missionaries (Methodists) from Tonga. Thus, in 1866, she refused to grant the islanders religious freedom, as requested by the captain of a Royal Navy ship who had come to support the Protestants, and also refused the request of a Wesleyan pastor the following year.

Her niece Amelia Tokagahahau Aliki succeeded her on February 19, 1869 and she died the next day.

Comparison with other sovereigns of Oceania

Falakika Seilala was the first Wallisian sovereign to introduce the name Lavelua as a royal title. She is one of four women to have held royal office in Uvea, along with Toifale, Amelia Tokagahahau Aliki and Aloisia Brial. She also fits among other queens of Polynesia, such as Salote Tupou III in Tonga (1918-1965), Liliʻuokalani in Hawaii (1891-1893) or Pōmare IV in Tahiti (1827-1877).

References

  1. ^ Chave-Dartoen, Sophie (2018-09-24), "Chapitre 2", Royauté, chefferie et monde socio-cosmique à Wallis ('Uvea) : Dynamiques sociales et pérennité des institutions, Monographies (in French), Marseille: pacific-credo Publications, pp. 105–144, ISBN 978-2-9563981-7-2, retrieved 2022-01-06
  2. ^ Angleviel, Frédéric (1994). Les missions à Wallis et Futuna au XIXe siècle. Presses Univ de Bordeaux. pp. 31–32. ISBN 9782905081254.
  3. ^ Jean-Claude Roux (1995). Wallis et Futuna : Espaces et temps recomposés. Chroniques d'une micro-insularité (PDF). Talence: Presses universitaires de Bordeaux. ISBN 2-905081-29-5. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  4. Tjibaou, Marie-Claude; Felomaki, Savelio; Beauvilain, Thierry; Pantz, Pierre-Alain (2009). Tavaka lanu ʻimoana : mémoires de voyages : , 25 juillet-1er novembre 2009. Nouméa: Agence de développement de la culture kanak.
  5. Elise Huffer (2006). "Desk Review of the Factors Which Enable and Constrain the Advancement of Women's Political Representation in Forum Island Countries". A Woman's Place is in the House - the House of Parliament: Research to Advance Women’s Political Representation in Forum Island Countries (PDF). Fiji: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. p. 17. Retrieved 24 June 2022.

Further reading

  • Jean-Dominique Pinelli-Gérard Gourmel, Au Pays de Trois Royaumes, ed. Pacifique, Paris 1991.
  • Alexandre Poncet, Histoire de l'île Wallis, Société des Océanistes, Paris 1972.
  • Rossella Righetti, Oceano Pacifico, Edizioni & Comunicazione, Milano 2005.
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