Siaosi Tupou II, (George Tupou II in English) was the King of Tonga from February 18, 1893 until his death. His official crowning on March 17, 1893 at Nukucrownʻalofa. On his home island of Tonga he was better recognized by the Tongan verities of his name, Jiaoji Tubou (Siaosi Tupou in modern spelling) or Tâufaʻâhau Tupou II. Siaosi Tupou II, next in line to be the king of Tonga, was the grandson of Tāufaʻāhau Tupou I (King George I), the founder of the united Tongan kingdom. Tupou II's was the son of Tēvita ʻUnga (daughter of King George I) and her husband, Prince Tuʻi Pelehake (Fatafehi Toutaitokotaha), Prime Minister of Tonga in 1905. Siaosi Tupou II was only 18 years old, and not yet married when his grandfather died and he ascended the throne. On December 8, 1898, Siaosi Tupou II married Edith Marie Pomare-vahine, daughter of Prince Punuariʻi Teriʻitapunui of Tahiti, and granddaughter of Queen Pōmare IV of Tahiti. The marriage ended in the death of Edith Marie Pomare-vahine in 1899. After her death the chiefs suggested ʻOfa-ki-Vavaʻu, the daughter of Māʻatu from Niuatoputapu, who was related to the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua line. But he refused; He choose Lavinia Veiongo as his bride. She was the daughter of Kupuavanua from Vavaʻu and Tōkanga from Niuafoʻou, and they were married on June 1, 1899. It was not a popular union; almost starting a civil war. For years relations between the king and the rest of the country remained strained. Queen Lavinia died on April 25, 1902 from tuberculosis, leaving only a daughter, Sālote. She too, was not popular as she was born from the 'wrong' mother. Again, on November 11, 1909, Siaosi married 16 year old ʻAnaseini Takipō Afuha'amango, a first cousin of the rejected ʻOfa (who had by then died). The chiefs were jubilant, although for the kings daughter, Sālote's, safety, it was necessary for her to go into exile. It was fortunate that the king had plans for Sālote to go to school in Auckland. She was put on ship in December bound for New Zealand. For five years, she only came home during some Christmas holidays. In December 1914 her father insisted that she remain at home. Queen Takipō had not given birth to a son. Her only living child was a daughter. The hope of Takipō supplying an heir was vanishing, and Sālote's followers' chances escalated. Finding a politically suitable husband for her was a necessity. The selection of a husband for Sālote was Tungī Mailefihi, a cousin of ʻOfa. The merriage of Siaosi Tupou II's, daughter, Sālote, to Tungī Mailefihi left an affirmative and lasting legacy to Tonga. At that time politically, Tonga was in trouble, and the island was suffering from a Spanish flu epidemic. King Siaosi Tupou II became ill and died on November 26, 1918. He was buried at Mala'e Kula in a Royal tomb. Siaosi's daughter succeeded him. She proved to be politically adept and was able to drag Tonga out of the mire it was in.
Siaosi Tupou II, (George Tupou II in English) was the King of Tonga from February 18, 1893 until his death. His official crowning on March 17, 1893 at Nukucrownʻalofa. On his home island of Tonga he was better recognized by the Tongan verities of his name, Jiaoji Tubou (Siaosi Tupou in modern spelling) or Tâufaʻâhau Tupou II. Siaosi Tupou II, next in line to be the king of Tonga, was the grandson of Tāufaʻāhau Tupou I (King George I), the founder of the united Tongan kingdom. Tupou II's was the son of Tēvita ʻUnga (daughter of King George I) and her husband, Prince Tuʻi Pelehake (Fatafehi Toutaitokotaha), Prime Minister of Tonga in 1905. Siaosi Tupou II was only 18 years old, and not yet married when his grandfather died and he ascended the throne. On December 8, 1898, Siaosi Tupou II married Edith Marie Pomare-vahine, daughter of Prince Punuariʻi Teriʻitapunui of Tahiti, and granddaughter of Queen Pōmare IV of Tahiti. The marriage ended in the death of Edith Marie Pomare-vahine in 1899. After her death the chiefs suggested ʻOfa-ki-Vavaʻu, the daughter of Māʻatu from Niuatoputapu, who was related to the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua line. But he refused; He choose Lavinia Veiongo as his bride. She was the daughter of Kupuavanua from Vavaʻu and Tōkanga from Niuafoʻou, and they were married on June 1, 1899. It was not a popular union; almost starting a civil war. For years relations between the king and the rest of the country remained strained. Queen Lavinia died on April 25, 1902 from tuberculosis, leaving only a daughter, Sālote. She too, was not popular as she was born from the 'wrong' mother. Again, on November 11, 1909, Siaosi married 16 year old ʻAnaseini Takipō Afuha'amango, a first cousin of the rejected ʻOfa (who had by then died). The chiefs were jubilant, although for the kings daughter, Sālote's, safety, it was necessary for her to go into exile. It was fortunate that the king had plans for Sālote to go to school in Auckland. She was put on ship in December bound for New Zealand. For five years, she only came home during some Christmas holidays. In December 1914 her father insisted that she remain at home. Queen Takipō had not given birth to a son. Her only living child was a daughter. The hope of Takipō supplying an heir was vanishing, and Sālote's followers' chances escalated. Finding a politically suitable husband for her was a necessity. The selection of a husband for Sālote was Tungī Mailefihi, a cousin of ʻOfa. The merriage of Siaosi Tupou II's, daughter, Sālote, to Tungī Mailefihi left an affirmative and lasting legacy to Tonga. At that time politically, Tonga was in trouble, and the island was suffering from a Spanish flu epidemic. King Siaosi Tupou II became ill and died on November 26, 1918. He was buried at Mala'e Kula in a Royal tomb. Siaosi's daughter succeeded him. She proved to be politically adept and was able to drag Tonga out of the mire it was in.
