Tupua Tamasese


Tupua is a state dynasty and one of the four paramount chiefly titles of Samoa, known as the Tama-a-Aiga. It derives its name from the first Tupua - King Tupua Fuiavailili - who was descended from the royal line of Queen Salamasina and adopted to the elder line of her descendant, King Fonoti. Tupua ascended to become King of Samoa in c.1550, upon the death of his father, King Muagututi'a..
Tupua Fuiavailili was adopted by King Muagututi'a and his wife, Fenunuivao of Falefa and named as the King's successor, leading to the first usage of the term "Tama-a-'aiga" by the orator polity of Leulumoega and Lufilufi in reference to his many genealogical connections Tupua had to the great families of Samoa. The Aiga Sā Fenunuivao from the villages of Falefa and Salani, are the primary political family of the Sā Tupua clan, led by Moeono of Falefa and Tofua'iofoia of Salani. The family holds authority and custodianship of the title and decides who from among its heirs it should be bestowed upon.

Royalty: The Tama-a-'aiga & Pāpā Titles

Tama-a-Aiga titles are the maximal lineage titles of Samoa. These titles are often associated with Pāpā titles, paramount district titles which affords the holder authority over an entire region or sovereignty over all of Samoa. The field of contention for the papa titles and tafa'ifa was confined to the leading members of two families, Sa Tupua and Sa Malietoa, under whom all Samoa was united. The leading tides of these two family lineages were called tama'aiga. By mid-19th century, the tama-a-aiga Tupua Tamasese of Sa Tupua and Malietoa of Sa Malietoa were joined by two more titles Mata'afa and Tuimaleali'ifano as the four highest titleholders of Samoa. All were descended from Queen Salamasina, the daughter of Tui A'ana Tamalelagi and the first sovereign of all Samoa.
Throughout most of Samoa's history, the root cause of civil unrest was the struggle for titular supremacy among these families.The senior of the two, Sa Tupua dominated the office since the late 1500's. Sa Malietoa joined at the beginning of the 19th century, coinciding with the collapse of Manono's dominance and the arrival of British missionaries.
Both the Tama-a-Aiga Tupua Tamasese title and the pāpā Tui Atua mantle are currently held by Samoa's former Prime Minister and Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi.

Origins of Tupua Tamasese

The origins of the Tupua title is found in the genealogical line of succession tracing back to the rule of Queen Salamasina. Her descendant, Fonoti, won the civil war that led to his installation as King. His son and successor, Muagututi'a, married Fenunu'ivao, daughter of Leutele of Falefa. Because they had no children of their own, they adopted Fuiavailili, son of Fuimaono of Salani as their son. As the successor of King Muagututi'a, the orators of Tumua - the orator polity of Upolu based in Lufilufi and Leulumoega - questioned who this child was to assume such an important mantle and whether he possessed the necessary genealogical links to the great families of Samoa in order to be worthy. This inquiry is known as when "na saesae laufa'i ai Tumua".
Through this careful process, it was revealed that Fuiavailili's biological father Fuimaono was a direct descendant of Queen Salamasina's second child, Tapumanaia. Through his ancestry and adoption, Tupua Fuiavailili re-united the Salamasina lineages through his biological ancestor, Tapumanaia, and King Muagututi'a's ancestor Fofoaivao'ese, Salamasina's first child. Having satisfied the requirements of having strong linkages to Samoa's royal lineages and noble families, Tupua Fuiavailili was proclaimed as the first ''Tama a 'Āiga by the orators of Tumua and succeeded his adoptive father as the next King.

Queen Salamasina to King Tupua I: Reuniting the Royal Bloodlines

Samoa's first ruler to possess all four pāpā titles and therefore become Queen was Salamasina, daughter of Vaetofaga and the Tui A'ana Tamaalelagi. She was entrusted to the care of Levalasi So'oa'emalelagi, wife of the Tui Atua Māta'utia. She was betrothed to marry Tonumaipe'a Tapumanaia in order to form a political alliance with the influential Tonumaipe'a faction in Savai'i. Salamasina instead, eloped with her love, Alapepe. This relationship brought forth a daughter named Fofoaivaoese, who grew to become Tuia‘ana and the ancestress of several prominent Samoan families.
Alapepe, however, was pursued by the furious Tonumaipe‘a clan to the Tongan island of Tongatapu where he was killed for “defiling” the taupou. Salamāsina's son by Tapumanaia was named after his father and later received the Lesātele title of the Salani and Sālesātele villages in Falealili, thereafter known as Tapusatele.
In a twist of fate, the lines of both Fofoaivaoese and Tapusatele - Salamasina's heirs - were reunited by Tupua Fuiavailili, the first Tama-a-'Aiga. Tupua's biological father, Fuimaono, was a direct descendant of Tapusatele. His adoptive father, King Muagututi'a, was a direct descendant of Fofoaivaoese. Tupua Fuiavailili was thus the first King to be descended from Queen Salamasina through both her children, Fofoaivaoese and Tapusatele. The young untitled men of Falefa have thereafter been called Tupua ma le Aumaga, marking the arrival of Tupua Fuiavailili to Falefa and his status as the young heir of King Muagututi'a, which would also have entailed duties as leader of the young untitled men. To this day, these young men stand guard at every bestowal ceremony and are responsible for guarding the chiefs of Falefa and the holder of the Tupua Tamasese title.

Fofoaivaoese, to Tupua

Tupua would go on to sire children through different unions, all politically important to cement his reign. From his four usuga, King Tupua Fuiavailili had five children:
When a Tupua is to be appointed, the two senior members of Aiga' Sa Fenunu'ivao summon the descendants of Fenunu'ivao to decide on who should hold the mantle.
The current holder, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, is thus a direct descendant of Fenunu'ivao, Tupua Fuiavalili and his grandson, Nofoasaefā, of Asau, Savaii. Tupuola Efi was chosen as Tupua Tamasese by Aiga Sa Fenunu'ivao after the passing of his uncle, former Prime Minister Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV.
Moeono and Tofua'iofoia speak for Aiga Sa Fenunu'ivao, not only on matters pertaining to the Tupua title, but also on dealings with Samoa's other main political families, such as Sa Tuala and Sa Levalasi. Tofua'iofoia and Moeono are members of the great council of Atua which meets at Lalogafu'afu'a, the meeting place of Atua's leaders in Lufilufi.

Notable Holders

Salamasina's Daughter, Fofoaivaoese, to Tupua

Tafa'ifā Queen Salamāsina
Tafa'ifā Queen Fofoaivaoese
Tafa'ifā Queen Taufau Asiata
Le Tupufia Faumuinā
Tafa'ifā King Fonoti
Tafa'ifā King Muagututi'a.
Tafa'ifā King Tupua Fuiavailili

Salamasina's Son, Tapumanaia II (Tapusatele), to Tupua

Tafa'ifā Queen Salamāsina
Tapumanaia
Tapufautua
Sifuiva
Fuimaono
Fuiavailili
Tafa'ifā King Tupua Fuiavailili

King (Tafa'ifā) Tupua Fuiavailili to Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi

King Tupua Fuiavailili, descendant of Queen Salamasina, adopted son of King Muagututi'a and Fenunuivao, daughter of Leutele
King Afoa
King Galumalemana
King Nofoasaefā
King I'amafana
1751 - 1830: Maeaeafe Mataafa
1830 - 1860: Tupua Moegagogo
1860s - 1891: Tui Aana Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Titimaea
1891 - 1915: Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-a'ana I, son of Tupua Tamasese Titimaea.
1915 - 1918: Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-a'ana II, eldest son of Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-a'ana I
1918 - 1929: Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o'a'ana III, younger brother of Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-a'ana II
1929 - 1963: Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole, younger brother of Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-a'ana III
1963 - 1983: Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-a'ana IV - Third Prime Minister of Samoa, son of Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-a'ana III
1986–present: Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi  , son of Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole.