Iti'a

Iti'a (c. 1764–1814), also known as Tetuanuireiaitera'iātea, Vaira'atoa Vahine, and Patea, was a prominent chiefly woman from the island of Mo'orea. Her political significance in the history of the Society Islands is underscored by her decisive role during a period of upheaval following the expulsion of her son Pōmare II from Tahiti in late 1808. Drawing upon the strategic alliances forged through her marriages to Pōmare I and Tenani'a, both influential chiefs affiliated with the Tamatoa lineage of Ra'iātea, she mobilized warriors from the Leeward Islands to restore his son to his territories on Tahiti. Beyond military support, Iti'a's influence also extended to the ideological realm as she played a part in supporting her son's eventual acceptance of Christianity, a transformation that would have enduring consequences for the sociopolitical and religious landscape of the Society Islands.

Iti'a
Regent of Tahiti
Reign	1782–1803
Born	c. 1764
Died	16 January 1814 (aged 50)
Spouse	Pōmare I Tenani'a
Issue	Teri'inavahoroa v. Pōmare II Teri'inavahoroa, Vehiatua VIII Teheimaitua v. Oroho
Names Iti'a, Tetuanuireiaitera'iātea, Vaira'atoa Vahine, Patea
Father	Teihotu i Ahurai
Mother	Vavea i Nu'urua

Biography

Iti'a was the granddaughter of Teri'ivaetua i Ahurai and Tevahineairorovana'a through their son Teihotu, who married Vavea. Vavea's paternal lineage traced to the hereditary title of Punuaitera'iatua, associated with the marae Nu'urua and the chiefly line of Varari in Mo'orea. Her maternal lineage traced to the western coast of Tahiti, specifically to Paea and the sacred marae Ahurai in Faa'a. Iti'a had three siblings: two brothers, Teri'itapunui and Metua'aro, and a sister, Teano. Vavea's elder brother, Mahine (not to be confused with Mahine Puru of Huahine), was one of the most prominent ari'i of Mo'orea at the time of European contact. Captain James Cook, who met Mahine in October 1777, described him as a bald man between forty and fifty years of age. He was engaged in a prolonged struggle for power against the family of his sister Vavea, supported by several leading ari'is of Tahiti. In 1774, Mahine, then chief of Opunohu, entered into conflict with his nephew Teri'itapunui, who was under the regency of his parents. Although a fleet of war canoes was prepared to support Teri'itapunui, the dispute remained unresolved by Cook's return in 1777. Lacking support from Tu vaira'atoa (Pōmare I), Toofa, the Tahitian warrior chief, made peace with Mahine. According to James Morisson, Mahine retained control of Mo'orea, while Metua'aro and his sisters, Iti'a and Teano, were compelled to remain in Tahiti. During this period, Tu Vairaatoa took Iti'a as his wife, while Metua'aro married Terereatua, Tu's sister. Iti'a, the eldest daughter of Vavea, inherited the prestigious title of Tetuanuireiaitera'iātea. While Teuira Henry distinguishes between Iti'a and Tetuanuireiaitera'iātea as separate individuals, other sources identify them as one and the same.^[1]

Captain William Bligh, who met Iti'a in October 1788, estimated her age to be approximately twenty-four years. Between 1777 and 1780, Iti'a married Tu Vaira'atoa, later known as Pōmare I. They had six children: the first, born while they were members of the Arioi society, was ritually suffocated at birth; their eldest daughter, Teri'inavahoroa, died in 1791; their son Otoo, later Pomare II, was born around 1782; another son, Teri'itapunui, born circa 1786, adopted his sister's name before becoming Vehiatua VIII; the last two children, a daughter and a son born between 1789 and 1791, died between 1792 and 1797.^[1]

Metua'aro maintained his struggle against Mahine until the latter's death, which occurred shortly before the arrival of Captain Bligh in 1788. Mahine was reportedly killed in a naval battle in Matavai Bay by Vaetua, the brother of Pōmare I. In 1790, Metua'aro was compelled to expel Mahine's adopted son, Teri'iha'amoetua, who laid claim to his predecessor's succession. Metua'aro himself died in January 1792 during the stay of Captain George Vancouver in Tahiti.His succession was subsequently secured under the suzerainty of Tu Vaira'atoa (Pōmare I), either by his son according to William Bligh or by his daughter Tetua according to George Vancouver, who noted she was betrothed to Pōmare II. During that period, Iti'a remained Pomare's legitimate wife and mother of his children, although he had taken her younger sister Vairiti as a consort. Between 1792 and 1797, Iti'a bore at least two children who were suffocated at birth due to the perceived inferiority of their paternal lineage. Around 1797, Iti'a married Otihe, who was later known as Ari'ipaea and subsequently as Tenani'a, a high-ranking chief of Huahine. Alternative sources indicate that the marriage may have taken place in May 1799. From this union was born a daughter, Teari'ia'etua later called Teraimano.^[1]

In September 1804, Pomare II appointed his infant half-sister Teari'ia'etua, daughter of his mother by Otihe, the chief of Huahine, as his representative in Mo'orea. This assertion of authority encountered significant resistance. The ra'atiras, local chiefs and landowners of Mo'orea, refused to recognize Teari'ia'etua under the regency of her parents as their legitimate leader. They dismissed her by labeling her manahune, a term traditionally used to denote individuals of common or low-born status. They also declined to relinquish their firearms. The resulting conflict led to the deaths of nine men and one woman. Despite this violent episode, peace was soon restored.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]}

On 17 April 1808, missionaries Henry Nott and Gregory Warner reported in a letter that they had been detained in Mo'orea by King Pōmare II, his mother, and Tenani'a. The king's half-sister, Teari'ia'etua, was reportedly gravely ill. On May 1, Pōmare II crossed the islet of Motu uta at Nanu (Papeete Bay) and traveled toward Papa'oa (Arue). Both the king and Ari'ipaea were seriously ill. Although the missionaries referred to Ari'ipaea as Pōmare's "father-in-law," he was in fact his stepfather. When Ari'ipaea arrived at Matavai on 2 May, he was unable to walk, though he appeared in better condition than the king.^[8][9][4] Their illness was traced to the consumption of newly distilled wine on April 6. Ari'ipaea later credited the care of Nott and Warner with saving his life. Despite his impaired mobility, Ari'ipaea, along with his wife Iti'a and their daughter, resolved to relocate to the island of Huahine. On 25 May 1808, they departed from Matavai Bay, traveling through Pare (Pirae and Papeete) and Mo'orea before heading to Huahine. Prior to departure, the missionaries presented them with a musket. Their journey was made aboard a newly acquired boat, purchased by Pōmare II from missionary Henry Bicknell on 9 October 1807, in exchange for one ton of iron. Although the voyage through the Leeward Islands had been planned since the ship's acquisition, it was delayed due to the debilitating illness that afflicted both Pōmare II and Ari'ipaea.^[10][11][12]

On November 11, 1808, English missionaries arrived on the island of Huahine aboard the Perseverance, seeking refuge following an insurrection by the eastern coastal tribes against Pōmare II in Tahiti on November 6, 1808.^{[13][14][15][16]}. They were welcomed by Ari'ipaea, Iti'a, and Puru, also called Mahine, who was Ari'ipaea's brother and a prominent chief of Huahine.^[17][18]. The missionaries were settled near Fare Harbour at the site where James Cook had previously established the House of Ma'i during his 1777 expedition.^[19] Local leaders arranged accommodations and ensured a regular supply of food.^[20] On 14 November, missionary John Davies reported that Mahine and his brother Tenani'a recognized Teri'itaria II as the supreme chief, or legitimate Queen, of Huahine. She was the daughter of Tamatoa III, a principal chief of Ra'iātea, and had been promised in marriage to Pōmare II.^[21][22]. This dynastic decision was part of a broader political strategy to forge a military alliance between the Tamatoa and Pōmare dynasties.^[23][24]. On 21 November 1808, Iti'a sent a message to Tahiti, inviting her son, to come down to Huahine and take Teri'itaria II as his wife.^[25]

In December 1808, Pōmare II led an unsuccessful assault on rebel forces at Onohea, resulting in the loss of key allies and his retreat to Pare in Nanu Bay (present-day Papeete Bay). In response to the deteriorating situation, the missionaries withdrew to Mo‘orea. Rebel factions subsequently seized control of Matavai, Pare, and Faa‘a, prompting Pōmare II to flee and regroup in exile on Mo‘orea.^{[26][27][28][29][30][31]}

In February 1809, Tamatoa III and Tapoa I visited Huahine, where they were received with ceremonial honors and engaged in political discussions with local chiefs, including Iti'a, Puru and Ari'ipaea. Their stay included gift exchanges, religious gatherings, and a hog collection. After nearly two weeks, they departed for Ra'iātea.^[32][31] In April 1809, missionaries William Scott and Charles Wilson arrived in Huahine and were received by Iti'a and Ari'ipaea. Upon learning of her son Pōmare II's exile, Iti'a was visibly distressed. Political and logistical preparations followed, as chiefs from Huahine, Ra'iātea, Taha'a and Maupiti coordinated plans to support Pōmare II's return to Tahiti, while missionaries assisted in repairing canoes for the expedition.^{[33][34][35][36][37][38][31]} On May 1, 1809, Puru and his son Ta'aroaari'i, Ari'ipaea, Iti'a, and other chiefs departed Huahine for Eimeo with a fleet of boats, canoes and warriors, following prayers at the marae Mata'irea rahi situated on a hill in the district of Maeva. The departure was marked by island-wide mourning and ceremonial farewells, with approximately 250 people, including women and children, joining the expedition.^{[39][40][41][31]} On October 1, Mahine's fleet landed unexpectedly at Mahaʻena, scattering rebel forces. His warriors pursued them inland but were ambushed and forced to retreat, losing 24 men.^{[42][43][44][45]}

By late 1810, King Pōmare II secured reinforcements from the Leeward Islands in his effort to reclaim control over Tahiti. On July 12, Ma'i III and Tefa'aora I arrived at Mo'orea from Bora Bora with 262 warriors. Tapoa I followed on September 27, bringing 288 fighters from Ra'iātea aboard the Venus. On October 10, 199 warriors from Huahine arrived in nine canoes and one boat. Patea or Iti'a, 'Ūtami, and other loyalists remained in Tahiti.^[46][47] Missionary James Hayward later joined Henry Nott at Mo'orea.^[48] The combined arrival of nearly 750 warriors significantly bolstered Pōmare's forces and contributed to the restoration of peace. Shortly after arriving in Mo'orea on 27 September 1810, Tapoa proposed that Pōmare marry his adoptive daughter Tetupai'a later called Teremo'emo'e, the biological daughter of Tamatoa III. He agreed to the proposal, reportedly due to the youth and beauty of the prospective bride. To soften the disappointment of Teri'itaria, who had previously been promised in marriage to the King, she inherited the honorific title of Pōmare Vahine. Tamatoa arrived later in Eimeo, as reported by Pōmare in a letter dated 28 January 1811.^{[49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57]}

In 1812, when Pōmare II chose to adopt Christianity, he faced opposition from influential chiefs like Tamatoa III and Tapoa I. However, his mother Iti'a and stepfather Tenani'a supported his decision, deeply affected by the recent death of their daughter Tera'imano (formerly Teari'ia'etua), aged 15 or 16. Despite ritual offerings and priestly consultations, her passing led them to question their traditional beliefs. Disillusioned by the gods they had once trusted, they embraced Christianity and offered Pōmare their full support from the beginning of his religious transformation.^{[58][59][60][5][7][61]} The restoration of peace allowed English missionaries to resume their efforts to Christianize the Society Islands. A mission that had seen limited success since its inception in 1797. As conditions in Tahiti improved, additional missionaries departed from New South Wales for Mo'orea during the autumn of 1811.^[62][63][64] On 18 July 1812, Pōmare declared his desire to convert to Christianity and offered himself for baptism, expressing deep conviction in the faith’s truth and moral teachings. He urged other chiefs to follow his example, though they remained loyal to traditional beliefs. Missionaries required him to undergo instruction and demonstrate sincere reform.^{[65][66][67][68][61]} On 8 October 1812, Pōmare informed missionaries that Tahiti was relatively peaceful and unified under his authority, though he cautioned that the stability might be temporary.^[69][70]

In 1813, Pōmare's public conversion to Christianity sparked a spiritual awakening in Tahiti. Inspired by this, a group called Pure Atua formed in Pare, renouncing traditional beliefs and embracing Christian teachings. Their dedication led missionaries to invite them to Mo'orea for further instruction, marking a key moment in Tahiti’s Christianization.^[71][72] In mid-1813, English missionaries began formally registering converts to Christianity in Mo'orea. Several chiefs requested religious instruction, marking growing elite engagement with the faith.^{[73][74][75][76][77][78][44]} By late 1813, all of Pōmare's troops were attending school and receiving Christian instruction in Papetoai, reflecting the deepening influence of missionary efforts among his followers.^[79]

Iti'a died on January 16, 1814, in Mo'orea, followed ten days later by Tenani'a, also known as Ūtami. The couple had never recovered from the loss of their daughter Teari'ia'etua and had succumbed to alcoholism, which ultimately accelerated their decline. Throughout her life, Iti'a remained a sincere friend to the missionaries, yet she consistently resisted their religious teachings until her death. She was widely recognized for her sound judgment and notably robust, masculine constitution. With her death, Pōmare II became the last surviving member of a family that, during the era of James Cook, had been remarkably numerous.^{[80][81][82][83]}

See also

• Kingdom of Huahine
• List of monarchs of Huahine
• List of monarchs of Tahiti