Pōmare III

Pōmare III (1820–1827), born Teriʻitariʻa, was the king of Tahiti between 1821 and 1827. He was the second son of King Pōmare II and his second wife, Queen Teriʻitoʻoterai Tere-moe-moe.[1] Sources differ on his relation to his sister with missionary sources citing them as half-siblings while later sources cited Tere-moe-moe as both of their mother.

Pōmare III
Pōmare III, drawing from montage by Madame Sophia Hoare, 1885.
King of Tahiti
Reign	7 December 1821 – 8 January 1827
Coronation	21 April 1824
Predecessor	Pōmare II
Successor	Pōmare IV
Regent	Teriʻitoʻoterai Tere-moe-moe Teriʻitariʻa Ariʻipaea Vahine five principal chiefs of Tahiti
Born	25 June 1820 Military Hospital, Papofai
Died	8 January 1827 (aged 6) Papetoai, Moʻorea
Burial	Pōmare Royal Cemetery, Papaʻoa, ʻArue
Full name Teriʻitariʻa Pōmare III
House	House of Pōmare
Father	Pōmare II
Mother	Teriʻitoʻoterai Tere-moe-moe
Religion	Reformed

Biography

He was born at Papofai, on 25 June 1820, as Teriʻitariʻa, and was baptised 10 September 1820.[2] He succeeded to the throne on the death of his father 7 December 1821. He was crowned at Papaʻoa, ʻArue, 21 April 1824.

The British missionaries decided that Pomare should have a coronation, although Tahitian tradition required investment with a sacred girdle and did not involve the use of a crown. The coronation was arranged by the British missionary Henry Nott and involved a procession of Tahitian judges and other dignitaries as well as British missionaries, accompanying the infant king, seated in a covered chair, to a specially-constructed stone platform. Here he sat behind a table carrying a crown, a bible and a book of Tahitian law. Mr Davies, a senior missionary, spoke on his behalf, confirming that he agreed to reign with justice and mercy, according to the law and the word of God. Not then placed the crown on his head.[3]

While Pomare was king the missionaries advanced their own agenda in his name, for example by having him write to George IV to request British protection and the British flag.[4]

He ruled under the regency of his mother Queen Teriʻitoʻoterai Tere-moe-moe, his aunt and stepmother Teriʻitariʻa Ariʻipaeavahine, and the five principal chiefs of Tahiti due to his minority.

Pōmare III's education took place at the South Sea Academy, Papetoai, Moʻorea.[3] He died of dysentery on January 1827[1] and was succeeded by his full sister, ʻAimata Pōmare IV Vahine-o-Punuateraʻitua, who reigned 1827–1877.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Pōmare III

16. Tu-moe-hania 8. Teu Tunuieaite Atua 17. Tetua-huria 4. Pōmare I 18. Tamatoa III (= 24) 9. Tetupaia-i-Hauiri 19. Mai-he’a 2. Pōmare II 20. Teri’i-Vaetua-i-Ahura’i 10. Teihotu-i-Ahura’i 21. Airoro-ana’a-i-Farepu’a 5. Tetua-nui-reia-i-te-raʻi-atea 22. Punua Teraitua-i-Nu’urua 11. Vave’a Tetua-nui-rei-a-ite Ra’iatea 23. Fetefete-te-ui 1. Pōmare III 24. Tamatoa III (= 18) 12. Vetea-raʻi Uʻuru 25. Hapaitaha’a 6. Tamatoa IV 13. Opai-pai Te-roro 3. Teri’to’-o-terai Tere-moe-moe 28. Mau’a 14. Mato Teri’i Tepoara’i 29. Te-atua-nui-marama 7. Tu-ra’i-ariʻi E-he-vahine 30. Teri’i-taria Te-ha’apapa 15. Te-ha’apapa I 31. Teri’i-ohua-e-te-anuanua-i-te-tuahu

References

1. Robert L. Gale (1995). A Herman Melville Encyclopedia. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 360–. ISBN 978-0-313-29011-4.
2. The New Monthly Magazine and Literary Journal, Part II. Original Papers. London: Henry Colburn and Company. 1825. p. 161. OCLC 6941153.
3. William Ellis (1829). Polynesian Researches, During a Residence of Nearly Six Years in the South Sea Islands, Including Descriptions of the Natural History and Scenery of the Islands, with Remarks on the History, Mythology, Traditions, Government, Arts, Manners, and Customs of the Inhabitants. Fisher, Son, & Jackson. pp. 535-8.
4. C.W. Newbury (15 May 2017). The History of the Tahitian Mission, 1799–1830, Written by John Davies, Missionary to the South Sea Islands: With Supplementary Papers of the Missionaries. Taylor & Francis. pp. 280–. ISBN 978-1-317-02871-0.