Teriitaria II
Who was Teriitaria II?
Queen of Tahiti
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Teriitaria II (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Teriitaria II (c. 1790–1858) was a Polynesian queen heavily involved in the politics and military efforts of the Society Islands in the early 19th century. Born in Raiatea as the eldest daughter of King Tamatoa III and Tura'iari'i Ehevahine, she was of royal descent from both Raiatea and Huahine. In 1809, her father arranged her marriage to Pōmare II of Tahiti, along with her sister Teremoemoe, making Teriitaria the Queen consort of Tahiti. She became Queen of Huahine and Maiao in 1815, although she didn't actively oversee these regions in the early part of her reign.
Teriitaria showed her skills in military and politics throughout her life. She fought with her husband in the Battle of Te Feipī in 1815, helping Pōmare II secure control over Tahiti. After his death in 1821, she served as regent for the young Pōmare III and later for Pōmare IV, sharing this duty with her sister Teremoemoe. Even after being removed from the regency in 1828, she remained influential in Tahitian politics.
In the 1830s and 1840s, Teriitaria proved herself a strong military leader and a defender of Polynesian independence. In 1832, she led forces to quash the Taiarapu rebellion, showing her ability to keep order and loyalty in the kingdom. During the Franco-Tahitian War from 1844 to 1847, she went into exile in Raiatea with Queen Pōmare IV and actively resisted French colonial expansion.
Her most notable military success was at the Battle of Maeva in 1846, where she fought off a French invasion force, ensuring the Leeward Islands remained independent of French control. However, her later years were filled with political challenges. Local opposition to her rule in Huahine led to her being deposed by the local governors, nobility, and people on December 26, 1851, and replaced by Ari'imate Teurura'i. Her attempts to oppose the new government resulted in her banishment from Huahine on March 18, 1854. Teriitaria spent her last years in exile, passing away in Papeete, Tahiti in 1858, after a life devoted to defending Polynesian sovereignty and royal power.
Before Fame
Teriitaria was born into the top level of Polynesian royalty during a time when the Society Islands were experiencing big political changes. As the daughter of King Tamatoa III of Raiatea, she grew up knowing that political alliances between islands were key to keeping power and stability. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Polynesian societies had increasing contact with Europeans, which brought the spread of Christianity and new political systems.
Her rise to prominence was secured through strategic marriages, a common practice in Polynesian royal politics. In 1809, her father arranged her marriage to Pōmare II to strengthen ties between the royal families of Raiatea, Huahine, and Tahiti. This marriage placed her at the heart of Society Islands politics during an important time of growth and change under Pōmare II's expanding influence.
Key Achievements
- Served as Queen consort of Tahiti and Queen of Huahine and Maiao
- Fought in the Battle of Te Feipī (1815) that consolidated Pōmare II's rule over Tahiti
- Served as regent for two successive Tahitian monarchs from 1821 to 1828
- Successfully repelled French invasion at the Battle of Maeva (1846), securing Leeward Islands independence
- Led Tahitian forces in suppressing the Taiarapu rebellion (1832)
Did You Know?
- 01.She was baptized with the Christian name Taaroamaiturai, reflecting the conversion to Christianity that swept through Polynesian royal families in the early 1800s
- 02.Despite being married to Pōmare II, she bore him no children, while her sister Teremoemoe gave birth to the future monarchs Pōmare III and Pōmare IV
- 03.She shared the title of regent with her sister after Pōmare II's death, an unusual arrangement that lasted seven years
- 04.Her successful defense at the Battle of Maeva in 1846 was one of the few decisive Polynesian victories against European colonial forces in the region
- 05.She lived under three different names during her lifetime: her birth name Teriitaria II, her royal titles Pōmare Vahine and Ari'ipaea Vahine, and her baptismal name Taaroamaiturai