Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga

Taufaʻahau Tupou IV (Siaosi Tāufaʻāhau Tupoulahi; 4 July 1918 – 10 September 2006) was king of Tonga since the death of his mother, Sālote Tupou III in 1965 until 2006. As crown prince he was known by the name Siaosi Tāuf'āhau Tupoulahi.

Biography

Early years and education

Siaosi (Jorge) Tāufaʻāhau Tupoulahi was born as the firstborn of Queen Salote Tupou II and Viliami Tungī Mailefihi on July 4, 1918.

His baptismal name was Siaosi Tāufaʻāhau Tupoulahi, but he soon became better known by the traditional title reserved for crown princes: Tupoutoʻa, (awarded in 1937), more It was later replaced by the title he inherited from his father: Tungī.

The king was a great athlete and religious preacher in his youth. He was educated at Newington College and studied Law at the University of Sydney.

Positions held

He was appointed Minister of Education by his mother, Queen Salote in 1943, Minister of Health in 1944 and Prime Minister in 1949. He wielded great authority and political influence in Tonga, essentially in the aristocratic system of government, along with the nobles of the country, who control 70% of the Legislative Assembly.

Marriage and offspring

His consort was Queen Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe (1926-2017). The couple had three sons and a daughter.

• Prince Siaosi Tāufaāhau Manumataongo Tukuaho (1948-2012), it happened later as Jorge Tupou V.
• Royal Princess Salote Mafileλo Pilolevu Tuita (1951-). The Honorable Lady Tuita for marriage.
• Prince Fatafehi 'Alaivahamama'o Tuku'aho (1953-2004), he was stripped of his title after marrying a plebeya, later he was awarded the hereditary title of Mā'atu.
• Prince ONE ONE ONE ONE (1959-) known for its traditional titles, Tupoutoḳa Lavaka. It happened to his brother, Jorge Tupou V, who died without legitimate offspring, and became the king Tupou VI.

Death

On 15 August 2006, Prime Minister Feleti Sevele interrupted radio and television broadcasts to announce that the King was seriously ill at Mercy Hospital in Auckland.

He died 26 days later, on September 10, 2006 at the age of 88.

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His remains were buried on September 19 in Mala'ekula. The funeral was attended by a number of foreign dignitaries, including Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, Vanuatu President Kalkot Mataskelekele, and American Samoa Governor Togiola Tulafono., the Premier of Niue, Mititaiagimene Young Vivian and Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

Honorary distinctions

Tongan honorary distinctions

• Sovereign Grand Master of the Order of the Crown of Tonga (16/12/1965).
• Sovereign Grand Master of the Royal Order of King George Tupou I (16/12/1965).
• Sovereign Grand Master of the Royal Order of Pouono (16/12/1965).
• Tongan Red Cross Medal.

Foreign honorary distinctions

• Royal Medal of Recompense of King Frederick IX [Galatian Expedition] (Reino de Denmark, 1950-1952).
• Diner of the Most Holy Order of the British Empire (CBE) (British Empire, v. 16/02/1951).
• Commander of the Most Holy Order of the British Empire (KBE) (British Empire v. 25/08/1958).
• Commander of the Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (GCMG) (United Kingdom, 30/06/1968).
• Knight of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) (United Kingdom, 09/03/1970).
• Great Knight of the Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (GCMG) (United Kingdom, 14/02/1977).
• Medal commemorative of the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II (United Kingdom, 11/06/1977).
• Grand Cross Knight of the Order of the Brillante Jade -Taiwan- (Republic of China, 19/09/1977).
• Grand Cross of Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Germany, 02/12/1977).
• Big Cross Knight of the Order of Tahiti Nui (French Polynesia, 04/03/1997).
• Knight of Justice of the Venerable Order of St John (KStJ) (United Kingdom).
• Gold Medal of the Border Men's Legion -Australia- (United Kingdom).
• Big Knight of the Supreme Order of Chrysanthemum (Japanese Empire).

Images

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  The Crown Prince Tāufaāmadhau in 1928

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  As an athlete at Newington College.

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  Currency of T$2 Paanga with the portrait of the King.

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Predecessor: Sālote Tupou III	King of Tonga 16 December 1965 - 10 September 2006	Successor: Jorge Tupou V
Predecessor: Solomone Ula Ata	Prime Minister of Tonga 1949-1965	Successor: Fatafehi Tu #ipelehake