Overview
The position of ''sau'' was primarily tied into Rotuma's pre-Christian fertility cult and the worship of the supreme deity Tagroa Siria. This is reflected in the fact that each reign was generally for the six-month ritual cycle of the Rotuman calendar. At the beginning of each ''saus reign, they would be installed by the '' fakpure'' or secular ruler, and would subsequently be deified for six months, in the polity's hope that the appeasement of the sau, as a proxy for the God on earth, would result in prosperity and peace on the island. There were also instances where the ''sau'' was female, then called ''"sauhani"''. The other major political roles in Rotuman society were the '' fakpure'' and the '' mua''.List of title holders
{, table width="70%" border="1" align="center" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 style="margin:5px; border:3px solid;" , td width="10%" style="border-bottom:3px solid; background:#efefef;", Order, , td width="20%" style="border-bottom:3px solid; background:#efefef;", Reigned, , td width="70%" style="border-bottom:3px solid; background:#efefef;", Sau , - , 1., , unknown, , Sauhani , - , 2., , unknown, , Kaurifanua , - , 3., , unknown, , Riamkau , - , 4., , unknown, , Kaufose , - , 5., , unknown, , Taio , - , 6., , unknown, , Fonomanu , - , 7., , unknown, , Varomua , - , 8., , unknown, , Tiu I , - , 9., , unknown, , Marafu-Kauat , - , 10., , unknown, , Irava , - , 11., , unknown, , Tokoara , - , 12., , unknown, , Asesekava , - , 13., , unknown, , Mariseu , - , 14., , unknown, , Sakanane , - , 15., , unknown, , Tausia , - , 16., , unknown, , Sautupuak , - , 17., , unknown, , Paka , - , 18., , unknown, , Ravak , - , 19., , unknown, , Tokoniua , - , 20., , unknown, , Titofag , - , 21., , unknown, , Irava , - , 22., , unknown, , Ravak , - , 23., , unknown, , Tua-Oajo , - , 24., , 1820, , Gagafag , - , 25., , 1825, , Fatafesi , - , 26., , 1829, , Fatenefau , - , 27., , 1833, , Vuna , - , 28., , 1838, , Fatafesi , - , 29., , 1838, , Tamanava , - , 30., , 1839, , Solovalu , - , 31., , 1839, , Riamkau , - , 32., , 1839, , Tirasoko , - , 33., , 1840, , Otorovao , - , 34., , 1841, , Ragafua , - , 35., , 1843, , Vaurasi , - , 36., , 1843, , Vavaoti , - , 37., , 1845, , Ufat , - , 38., , 1845, , Patipat Vavahina , - , 39., , 1845, , Furisefaua , - , 40., , 1845, , Tirotorava , - , 41., , 1846, , Marafu , - , 42., , 1846, , Pogisemose , - , 43., , 1846, , Tarupea , - , 44., , 1846, , Sukamaso , - , 45., , 1847, , Mua , - , 46., , 1847, , Kausirafe , - , 47., , 1847, , Toporotu , - , 48., , 1848, , Tokaniua , - , 49., , 1849, , Garagasau , - , 50., , 1850, , Fakarufono , - , 51., , 1850, , Matagatage , - , 52., , 1851, ,Sources