Tonga

The Tongans are the Polynesian people of Tongatapu, Haʻapai and Vavaʻu, whose Lapita ancestors settled Tongatapu some three thousand years ago, making Tonga and Samoa a gateway to other Polynesian islands.

From around the tenth century the islands were ruled by the Tuʻi Tonga, a line of sacred kings; under Momo and Tuʻitātui, who built the coral trilithon Haʻamonga ʻa Maui about 1100, their maritime empire drew tribute from Samoa, Fiji and Niue.

The empire weakened after about 1250 when Samoa was lost to the Malietoa, and around 1470 the Tuʻi Tonga withdrew into a sacred role while the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua took over everyday government. Rival title-holders plunged the islands into civil war from 1799. In 1826 the chief Tāufaʻāhau defeated the last Tuʻi Tonga Laufilitonga at Velata, opening the way for the dynasty that would unite Tonga.