Falakika Seilala

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.[1]

Biography

A member of the Takumasiva dynasty, she acceded to the throne on 5 December 1858,[1] a few weeks after the death of her brother Soane-Patita Vaimua Lavelua,[2] who chose her to succeed him.[1] The Catholic mission played an important role in her nomination, with Jean-Claude Roux saying they "pushed [her] to the throne".[3]: 126 

In 1859, she encountered difficulties with a French merchant, who had to leave Wallis.[3]: 69 

Her coming to power revived conflicts between Catholics and Protestants, converted by Wesleyan missionaries (Methodists) from Tonga.[1] 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,[3]: 285  and also refused the request of a Wesleyan pastor the following year.[2]

Her niece Amelia Tokagahahau Aliki succeeded her on February 19, 1869[4] 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.[1] She is one of four women to have held royal office in Uvea, along with Toifale, Amelia Tokagahahau Aliki and Aloisia Brial.[1] 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).[5]

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 : [exposition, Centre culturel Tjibaou, Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie], 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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