''
Ratu
''Ratu'' () is an Austronesian title used by male Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, ''adi'' (pronounced ), is used by females of chiefly rank. In the Malay language, the title ''ratu'' is also the traditional honorific title to r ...
'' Seru Epenisa Cakobau (; occasionally spelled ''Cacobau'') (c.1815 – 1 February 1883)
was a
Fijian chief, monarch, and
warlord
Warlords are individuals who exercise military, Economy, economic, and Politics, political control over a region, often one State collapse, without a strong central or national government, typically through informal control over Militia, local ...
(''
Vunivalu'') who united part of Fiji's warring tribes, establishing a
Fijian kingdom. He served as its only king from 1871 to 1874.
Background
He was born on Natauloa,
Nairai to ''Ratu''
Tanoa Visawaqa and one of his nine wives, ''
Adi'' Savusavu.
The ''Vunivalu'' and the ''
Roko Tui Bau'' (sacred chieftain) had had many power struggles during the course of nearly a century. These struggles led to the death of Seru's paternal uncle, the ''Vunivalu'' of Bau,
Naulivou Ramatenikutu and the installation of Tanoa as ''Vunivalu''. However, after he killed the ''Roko Tui Bau'', ''Ratu'' Raiwalui, near
Vanua Balavu, amongst other murders and reprisals, Tanoa was exiled in 1832.
He married two sisters, Litia (Lydia) Samanunu and Salote (Charlotte) Qalirea Kaunilotuna (daughters of the ''
Roko Tui Bau'').
Mary Wallis provided a description of him after meeting with him on 7 December 1844: "He is tall, rather good looking, appears fully aware of his consequence, and is not destitute of dignity. He wore an enormous quantity of hair on his head and several yards of native cloth around his body..."
Seru was given the name ''Cikinovu'' ("Centipede"),
"because he moved silently and struck painfully". Later, he was called ''Cakobau'' ("destroyer of Bau"), because he had destroyed what was Bau; but Seru also built a new Bau, under the supremacy of the Vunivalu.
After he converted to Christianity, he also took the additional name of Epenisa (Ebenezer).
Rise to power
On 8 December 1852, Cakobau succeeded as ''Vunivalu'' of Bau.
Cakobau, a former cannibal, was converted to Christianity by the missionary
James Calvert and renounced
cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act of consuming another individual of the same species as food. Cannibalism is a common ecological interaction in the animal kingdom and has been recorded in more than 1,500 species. Human cannibalism is also well document ...
in 1854.
Claiming that Bau had
suzerainty
A suzerain (, from Old French "above" + "supreme, chief") is a person, state (polity)">state or polity who has supremacy and dominant influence over the foreign policy">polity.html" ;"title="state (polity)">state or polity">state (polity)">st ...
over the remainder of Fiji, he asserted that he was the King of Fiji. However, Cakobau's claim was not accepted by other chiefs, who regarded him, at best, as the
first among equals. Cakobau consequently engaged in constant warfare for almost nineteen years to unify the islands under his authority.
The last, brief rebellion of chiefs against Cakobau's rule culminated in the
Battle of Kaba (a village in Bau Tikina, next to Bau Island). Cakobau crushed the rebellion with the aid of the
King of Tonga. Having converted to Christianity, on the battlefield he pardoned all the captives; in accordance with pagan Fijian customs, the defeated men would have been ceremonially humiliated, killed and eaten.
On 8 May 1865, a
Confederacy of Independent Kingdoms of Viti was established (comprising
Bau,
Bua,
Cakaudrove,
Lakeba
Lakeba (pronounced ) is an island in Fiji’s Southern Lau Islands, Lau Archipelago; the provincial capital of Lau is located here. The island is the List of islands of Fiji, tenth largest in Fiji, with a land area of nearly 60 square kilometers. ...
,
Macuata,
Naduri), with Cakobau as Chairman of the General Assembly. Two years later, however, the confederacy split into the
Kingdom of Bau and the
Confederation of Lau (comprising
Bua,
Cakaudrove,
Lau), with Cakobau assuming kingship of the former.
Supported by foreign settlers, he finally succeeded in creating a united Fijian kingdom in 1871, and established
Levuka
Levuka () is a Local government in Fiji, town on the eastern coast of the Fijian island of Ovalau (Fiji), Ovalau, in Lomaiviti Province, in the Eastern Division, Fiji, Eastern Division of Fiji. Prior to 1877, it was the capital of Fiji. At the ...
as his capital. He decided to set up a
constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy, also known as limited monarchy, parliamentary monarchy or democratic monarchy, is a form of monarchy in which the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not alone in making decisions. ...
, and the first legislative assembly met in November of that year. Both the legislature and the
Cabinet were dominated by foreigners. He gave his war club to
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...
on 10 October 1874 when the Deed of Cession by which the sovereignty of Fiji passed to the British Crown was signed. In October 1932, King Cakobau’s war club was presented, on behalf of
King George V
George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.
George was born during the reign of his pa ...
, for ceremonial use as the
Ceremonial mace
A ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal or wood, carried before a Head of state, sovereign or other high officials in civic ceremonies by a mace-bearer, intended to represent the official's authority. The mace, as used today, der ...
of the Legislative Council of Fiji.
Cession of power
The United States government had recognised Cakobau's claim to kingship over a united Fijian nation, long before his claims were accepted by his fellow chiefs. In the long term, however, this was not to count in his favour. The American government held him responsible for an arson attack against the
Nukulau Island home of
John Brown William, the American Consul, in 1849 (before Cakobau was even the Vunivalu, let alone King), and demanded $44,000 compensation. Unable to pay the debt caused by the Rewan Chiefs, and fearing an American invasion and annexation, Cakobau decided to cede the islands to the United Kingdom.
He and his diplomatic party sailed to
Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
to celebrate the annexation, where they contracted
measles
Measles (probably from Middle Dutch or Middle High German ''masel(e)'', meaning "blemish, blood blister") is a highly contagious, Vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine-preventable infectious disease caused by Measles morbillivirus, measles v ...
. Their return triggered an epidemic.
Cakobau retained his position as Fiji's second most senior chief the title of ''Vunivalu'' of Bau, and formally ceded the highest and most precedent Chiefly title of
Tui Viti or
Paramount Chief of Fiji to the person of Her Majesty
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...
. This title continued to be held by her descendants, until the de-establishment of the
Great Council of Chiefs
The Great Council of Chiefs () is a Fijian constitutional body. It previously existed from 1876 to March 2012 and was restored in May 2023.
It is different from the House of Chiefs, a larger body that includes all hereditary chiefs, although m ...
on 14 March 2012, making
Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...
the last Paramount Chief. He lived quietly until his death on 1 February 1883.
[
]
Legacy
Several of Fiji's leading figures were direct descendants of Cakobau. His great-grandson, ''Ratu'' Sir George Cakobau who descended from Cakobau's third son, served as Fiji's first native-born Governor-General
Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...
from 1973 to 1983, while ''Ratu'' Sir Kamisese Mara, modern Fiji's first Prime Minister
A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
and second President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film and television
*'' Præsident ...
descended from Cakobau's second daughter, ''Adi'' Asenaca Kakua Vuikaba. ''Ratu'' Epeli Nailatikau, who became President of Fiji in 2009 and currently the speaker of Fiji's House of Representatives, is a grandson of Cakobau's granddaughter, ''Adi'' Litia Cakobau. ''Ratu'' Epeli is also a cousin of parliamentarian and former leader of opposition ''Ro'' Teimumu Kepa
'' Ro'' Teimumu Vuikaba Kepa (born 18 December 1945) is a Fijian chief, former Member of the Parliament of Fiji, and former leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party. She was the first Fijian woman to serve as Leader of the Opposition. S ...
, who descends from ''Adi'' Teimumu Vuikaba, the younger sister of ''Adi'' Litia Cakobau. A number of other political figures are also descendants of Cakobau, including ''Roko'' Tupou Draunidalo, former President of the National Federation Party
The National Federation Party ( Fiji Hindi: नेशनल फेडरेशन पार्टी; Fijian: ''Mataisoqosoqo ni National Federation'') is a Fijian political party founded by A. D. Patel in November 1968, as a merger of the Fe ...
and a former Member of Parliament.
Gallery
Royal Standard of Fiji (1871-1874).svg, Royal Standard of Cakobau as King of Fiji, 1871-1874.
Portrait of Seru Epenisa Cakobau, Fiji, ca. 1875, by Francis Herbert Dufty.jpg, Portrait of Seru Epenisa Cakobau, Fiji, ca. 1875, by Francis Herbert Dufty
Statue of the first king of Fiji (Viti).jpg, Memorial statue to ''Ratu'' Epenisa Seru Cakobau in Suva
Suva. Obelisk erected to the memory of Cacabau Cakobau. May 1903., PH-NEG-15083 001.jpg, Obelisk erected to the memory of Cakobau in Suva, pictured in 1903
Titles
See also
* Fiji during the time of Cakobau
* First Fiji Expedition
* Second Fiji Expedition
References
*
*
*
*
*
* Reference to the sanctity of the Roko Tui Bau and also the battle near Vanua Balavu. Also the continued friction between the Roko Tui Bau and The Vunivalu.
* Includes details on cannibalism in Fiji.
* Includes details on cannibalism in Fiji.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cakobau, Seru Epenisa
Kings of Fiji
Tui Kaba
1810s births
1883 deaths
Fijian chiefs
Cannibals
Politicians from Bau (island)
Colony of Fiji people
1830s in Fiji
1840s in Fiji
1850s in Fiji
1860s in Fiji
1870s in Fiji
19th-century Fijian people
Converts to Christianity from animism