Sau (Rotuman king)

Sau, (often mistranslated as “King”), refers to the role of spiritual leader in pre-Christian Rotuman society. The title was neither primogenitary nor held for a lifetime, but rather was cycled through the chiefs of each of Rotuma's districts.

Overview

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The position of sau was primarily tied into Rotuma's pre-Christian fertility cult and the worship of the supreme deity Tagroa Siria. This is reflected in the fact that each reign was generally for the six-month ritual cycle of the Rotuman calendar. At the beginning of each sau's reign, they would be installed by the fakpure or secular ruler, and would subsequently be deified for six months, in the polity's hope that the appeasement of the sau, as a proxy for the God on earth, would result in prosperity and peace on the island.

There were also instances where the sau was female, then called "sauhani". The other major political roles in Rotuman society were the fakpure and the mua.

List of title holders

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Order Reigned Sau
1. unknown Sauhani
2. unknown Kaurifanua
3. unknown Riamkau
4. unknown Kaufose
5. unknown Taio
6. unknown Fonomanu
7. unknown Varomua
8. unknown Tiu I
9. unknown Marafu-Kauat
10. unknown Irava
11. unknown Tokoara
12. unknown Asesekava
13. unknown Mariseu
14. unknown Sakanane
15. unknown Tausia
16. unknown Sautupuak
17. unknown Paka
18. unknown Ravak
19. unknown Tokoniua
20. unknown Titofag
21. unknown Irava
22. unknown Ravak
23. unknown Tua-Oajo
24. 1820 Gagafag
25. 1825 Fatafesi
26. 1829 Fatenefau
27. 1833 Vuna
28. 1838 Fatafesi
29. 1838 Tamanava
30. 1839 Solovalu
31. 1839 Riamkau
32. 1839 Tirasoko
33. 1840 Otorovao
34. 1841 Ragafua
35. 1843 Vaurasi
36. 1843 Vavaoti
37. 1845 Ufat
38. 1845 Patipat Vavahina
39. 1845 Furisefaua
40. 1845 Tirotorava
41. 1846 Marafu
42. 1846 Pogisemose
43. 1846 Tarupea
44. 1846 Sukamaso
45. 1847 Mua
46. 1847 Kausirafe
47. 1847 Toporotu
48. 1848 Tokaniua
49. 1849 Garagasau
50. 1850 Fakarufono
51. 1850 Matagatage
52. 1851 Manava
53. 1851 Sokagatau
54. 1851 Vavaoti
55. 1851 Tavao
56. 1852 Vaimanoko
57. 1852 Katoagatau
58. 1854 Kautane
59. 1855 Fonogarotoi
60. 1856 Tiporotu
61. 1857 Fonmanu
62. 1858 Tiu II
63. 1858 Sarsartau
64. 1859 Taipo
65. 1859 Kauika
66. 1860 Faoriro
67. 1860 Farapapau
68. 1860 Saurorota
69. 1860 Ufamarata
70. 1862 Sarasortau
71. 1862 Teau
72. 1864 Ufagatau
73. 1865 Kavasakamua
74. 1865 Saurativa
75. 1865 Fotoafuru
76. 1865 Fonomanu
77. 1866 Jimi
78. 1866 Varea
79. 1866 Ravak
80. 1866 Maraa
81. 1867 Fonomanu
82. 1867 Vasea
83. 1867 Tavo
84. 1867 Sokagaitu
85. 1868 Ragafua
86. 1868 Irava
87. 1868 Hanifiro-Asoatemuri
88. 1868 Tuipenau
89. 1869 Tigarea
90. 1869 Vasea
91. 1869 Maraia
92. 1869–1870 Suakamasa

Sources

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