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• Comment: "Historical writings and written histories of High Talking Chief and Fuailelagi Descendant" We need a proper source, one that allows any reader to find it. Qcne (talk) 11:40, 14 July 2024 (UTC)

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Fuailelagi

Fuailelagi, is The ancient "Sa'o Tama'ita'i" Title of The Villages of Vailele and Fagali'i. The title would be the equivalent of a Female Chieftess or 'Princess' of The two villages, though in ancient times the two villages used to be one single entity known as 'SaleUpolu' and Fuailelagi was its Chieftess.

ie Toga (Samoan woven fine mat)

Origins of The Name.

Around the 15th century the Tupu (King) of SaleUpolu village (now known as Vailele & Fagali'i respectively) named 'Salima I Papa' Had fell ill and sent word for His first wife Faolupeilesau (daughter of Te'o of Safata) and their young daughter to be at his side before he passes. Faolupe and their young daughter had lived in Faolupe's home town of Safata. By the time The two made their way to Saleupolu, they found crowds and many clans from neighboring villages who had come to pay their respects as the King Had died. Each clan had their turn to give offerings and to pay respects to Salima. This had all taken place infront of his Maota (mansion/palace) Which was a Huge Earth mound and atop the mound was his Fale (House) Known as 'Papa I Galagala' . All families would present their gifts infront of the Earth mound but never ascending its steps to visit the Guarded Body of King Salima, This due to the fact that no one present was seen as High ranking or divine enough to do so. But,his daughter was urged by her mother Faolupeilesau to go up and present (Fua) Their woven fine mat to the Mound and to the other clans, not only to pay respects to her father, but to also force all other Clans and Matai (Chiefs) to acknowledge her existence as The kings Eldest Child. when she went up to present she stood at the bottom of the Mound and Presented it, But an Old Matai had called out to her saying "Fua Lava loa I le Lagi" which meant to "Present it to the heavens" (Lagi/heavens being metaphoric for the Kings Home or personal dwelling). What The Old Matai meant by this was for her to walk up the Steps and present the Ie Toga (fine mat) to her fathers body personally, as she was the only person there that day who had every right to as she was the Kings Eldest Child. The Matai's and village leaders noticed the girls Gracious and humble nature and decided to Bestow her the Sa'o Tama'ita'i Title of "Fuailelagi" which derived from the statement the old man had said prior. Thus she would become the first to hold this Taupou title, she was its Founder. Her birth name is Unknown to us today but after she gained her Title she would go on to be known Only as Fuailelagi.

List of Title holders.

1. Fuailelagi I - Estimated to have been born sometime in the 1560's. Founder of the Fuailelagi Title. She had an arranged marriage to a man named LeAumoana who was the son of 'Tu'itonga Puipuifatu' and his Samoan wife Maupenei. Tu'itonga Puipuifatu lived mainly in Samoa and spoke Samoan, He would try in vain to invade Vava'u Tonga to take back control of his kingdom but was defeated in Civil war by his brother 'Tu'itonga Kau'ulufonua II'. Had Puipuifatu succeeded his son Leaumoana and wife Fuailelagi would've been the reigning monarchs of Tonga. Fuailelagi I had one child, a son named 'Tau'ili'ili'ilepapa' who was known for his 3 famous wives and the 3 sons they had together. his first wife was 'Tuiatua Tuiaana Taufau' who was queen over A'ana & Atua as she was a grand daughter of the Tupu Tafa'ifa Queen Salamasina herself. their son together was Tupuivao, a tyrant cannibal who would be defeated by his first cousins for the kingship of Upolu and banished to Tutuila. His descendants would go on to form the now Famous Mata'afa Clan. Another of Tauiliiliilepapa's sons was 'Vaovasa' who was known infamously for his 99 wives and over 100 children. He would be assassinated and buried in his Stone wall known as "Ole Pa le so'o" or the "Unfinished Wall" in Manono Island.
2. Fuailelagi II Salima Letelesa Pafeli'o - The granddaughter of the first Fuailelagi, through her mother 'Letelesa Lapulouafiti' she was the Great granddaughter of a TuiManu'a and through her father 'Tau'ili'ili'ilepapa' was the Great granddaughter of a Tu'itonga. She would go on to hold both the 'Fuailelagi' title along with her great grandfather's (King Salima) Title of 'Salima'. She would Rule Saleupolu village entirely after Aquiring both Titles. She was more 'Queen' Of the Realm than Princess if anything. The Earth mound constructed by her great grandfather 'Salima' which was named 'Papa-i-Galagala' was destroyed during a war with the Malietoa and King Salima. Eventually Letelesa Lapulouafiti would bring her second husband 'Samoa Leo'o' with his armies decades later to defeat Malietoa and to rebuild the mound and most of the damage done. Through this the Village would regain its power and strengthen the Families political ties.
3. Fuailelagi III Levasa - A granddaughter of The previous Fuailelagi. Fuailelagi-Levasa, Samoa Leota -tu’u her brother along with Taufaga’afa, Te’o ma Tavu’i (o Ali’i ia o le Gautaala) came together to build up Saleupolu village which was scattered. They brought along Matua’itoaga, a person of Lepea (a foster father to Samoa Leota-tu’u and Fuailelagi-Levasa). Unsure why Taufaga’afa and Te’o ma Tavu’i came with Leota-tuu to Saleupolu, but we do know they were from the village of Vini, the village of Samoa-Leo’o, who defeated Malietoa. They came to help build up (toe atina’e le nu’u) the village after the defeat from Malietoa and were honoured by Samoa Leota-tu’u by referring to them as, ‘Ole Falefia o Ali’i’. ‘Ole to’atolu o Ali’i ma lo latou ma’upu ole Savaiinaea’. The three were ‘Samoa, Taufaga’afa and Te’o ma Tavu’i’. This was ‘Samoa Of Vini's' connection to the Amituana’i Clan. The current 3 Main Branches or clans of the 'Fuailelagi 1st' Family (or her descendants) are today split up by 3 Main Branches being referred to as the Levasa Clan, Tamaoleve'a Clan, and the Soaoleve'a Clan. The Levasa Clan being named after of course Fuailelagi III Levasa and reserved for her descendants
4. Fuailelagi V Savaiinaea - A great granddaughter of 'Samoa Leota-tu'u' the brother of the Previous Fuailelagi. The fact that whether or not she held the Title is disputed.
5. Fuailelagi IV Te'o - Daughter of the previous Fuailelagi, not much is known about her and just like her mother, the fact that whether or not she also held the Title is mostly disputed.
6. Fuailelagi VI Aso'iva Samoa - A Great great Granddaughter of Fuailelagi III Levasa. She was born December 9th, 1927 in Vailele village to Father 'Aitiope Samoa' and mother 'Fa'alagi'. It is believed she attained the Fuailelagi Title in her youth. She held four other titles aside from Fuailelagi which were 'Simanu'a, Taufaga'afa, Malamailagina, and Saitupualemateia'. She would go on to Marry Robert Collin's of Leufisa and have a total of 8 children in her lifetime. By the time she had passed away on August 7th 2015, she had Numerous grandchildren, Great grandchildren, and Great great grandchildren. She was a humble and God fearing woman, and said to be very Gifted in the Art of Samoan Oratory speaking other wise known as 'Lauga'.
7. Fuailelagi VII Tamali'iMamali Collins Fa'anu - The daughter of the Previous Fuailelagi and her husband Robert Collins. Her mother was of Samoan, Tongan, and Uvean Blood but through her father she was Samoan, and Irish. The Fuailelagi Title was bestowed on her on January 6th, 2018 in Vailele. That day she was also given the title of 'Letupuloa' alongside her Grandson Gus Fa'anu Totive who was granted the title of 'Seugama'ali'i' and 100 other Distant cousins and family members who were bestowed various other titles. They had flown in from the USA, New Zealand, Hawaii, American Samoa and Australia. She was referred to as the "Lady of the Family" by Newsline Samoa. On November 22nd, 2019 Fuailelagi VII would pass away peacefully in her Residence in Tacoma, Washington. As of now the title of Fuailelagi Lays dormant and Unclaimed. Below I will Paste the Article created bye Newsline Samoa to cover the Event:

_{"Vailele Family Bestow Over A Hundred Matai Titles Seneuefa Foetuese}

_{Caption : Sa’o tama’ita’i Fuailelagi Letupuola Tamaliimamali with other newly bestowed matai holder in the family}

_{A Vailele village family came together last Saturday to bestow matai titles on more than a 100 selected members, representing the three main branches; Tama ole Vea, Soa ole Vea and Levasa. Many of the new title holders came all the way from New Zealand, Hawaii, Australia and American Samoa. Among the noted titles conferred were Avamua, Letupuloa, Lapapalo and Laifaileava. A title of prominence reserved for the lady of the family or sa’o tama’ita’i, Fuailelagi, was also bestowed. The recipient, Fuailelagi Letupuola Tamaliimamali was also honoured with the chiefly title of Letupuloa. Fuailelagi summed up the high mood in the family with the large gathering of members for the special occasion. “ I feel so thankful and so glad to meet many of the relatives from overseas,” she said, humbled to be respected with the sa’o tama’ita’i title she did not expect. Reverend Siaosi Salesulu of the EFKS Church at Vailele offered the holy blessings onto all the newly appointed matai of the family."}

Notable Descendants

• Mata'afa Iosefo (1832-1912)
• Mata'afa Muliufi (-1936)
• Mata'afa Faumuina Fiame Mulinu'u I (1849-1948)
• Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II (1921-1975)
• Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa (1957)

References

1. Historical writings and written histories of High Talking Chief and Fuailelagi Descendant 'Fonoti Sofeni Laulu'.
2. "The Samoa Islands: Constitution, pedigrees and tradition" page 113.