This is alist of currently reigning constituent monarchs, includingtraditional rulers and governingconstitutional monarchs. Eachmonarch reigns over a legally recognised dominion, but in most cases possesslittle or no sovereign governing power. Theirtitles, however, are recognised by the state. Entries are listed beside their respective dominion ("polity"), and are grouped by country.
This is adynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help byediting the page to add missing items, with references toreliable sources.
This is adynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help byediting the page to add missing items, with references toreliable sources.
This is adynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help byediting the page to add missing items, with references toreliable sources.
Each major atoll in the Cook Islands has a number ofarikis, ceremonial high chiefs who together form theAre Ariki, a parliamentary advisory body with up to 24 seats. The only domains not listed below are those ofManuae, on which current information is inadequate, andPenrhyn, whose chiefly line is extinct. Styles and names are listed in their conventional local form. In addition to the generic title ofariki, which is worn at the end of one's name, each chiefly line carries its own uniquestyle, which is placed at the beginning. Thus, if the chief's name is "Henry" and his title is "Ngamaru", he is styled "Ngamaru Henry Ariki".
InFiji, which became a colony of the United Kingdom in 1874, theBritish monarchs were historically bestowed the titleTui Viti, which translates as "King of Fiji" or "Paramount Chief of Fiji". The last holder of the title (from 6 February 1952) wasQueen Elizabeth II, of theHouse of Windsor. The state became arepublic in1987, abolishing the title by establishing a newconstitution. The formerGreat Council of Chiefs, however, still recognised Elizabeth II asTui Viti, as the nation's traditional queen and its supreme tribal chief, despite no longer holding a constitutional office. Consequently, while Fiji remains a republic, a monarch or paramount chief is still recognised by traditional tribal politics. The Queen made no official claim to theTui Viti throne, although until at least 2002, she remained open to the possibility of a constitutionalrestoration of the monarchy.[49]
Nativechiefs in Fiji are considered members of the nobility. TheHouse of Chiefs, consisting of about 70 chiefs of various rank determined by a loosely defined order of precedence, was modeled after the British House of Lords.[50]Tongan chiefs, subordinate to a king, are also considered nobles and have therefore been excluded from the above list.[51]
InAmerican Samoa there are 14paramount chiefs, with Manu'a traditionally subordinate to theTu'i Manu'a, a title that is now considered purely historical; the last titleholder,Elisala, died 2 July 1909. The paramount chiefly titles are: onTutuila,Faumuina,Lei'ato,Letuli,Fuimaono,Tuitele,Satele,Mauga, and in theManu'a Islands,Laolagi,Aso'au,Lefiti,Sotoa,Galea'i,Misa andTuiolosega.
^The government of the Marshall Islands recognises 12 chiefly domains, calledmojen, each headed by one or several paramount chiefs. Each domain is represented in theCouncil of Iroij, an advisory body of traditional chiefs guaranteed by the Constitution.
^The Naisseline family is a branch of the Netché, a tribe ofKanaks.
^The throne of thegrand chef on Maré Island is traditionally held by the chief of Guahma district, an hereditary position.
^The throne of thegrand chef on Lifou Island, which also rulesOuvéa, is traditionally held by the chief of Lössi district, an hereditary position.
^Commonly referred to as the "Māori King Movement". Its electedariki nui is often called the "Māori King" due to his nationalistic influence over all Māori tribes as a symbol of unity. This title is not officially recognised by the government of New Zealand.
^Te Wherowhero is the lineage of the first king. It belongs to theWaikato iwi, which is part of theTainui confederation.
^The monarch is appointed for life by the chiefs of the tribes involved in the Kīngitanga movement. Traditionally, selection is limited to direct descendants of the first king:Pōtatau I, of the Waikato tribe. However, in principle inheritance is open to any lineage should the electing chiefs be in agreement.
^Palau is divided into 16 traditional polities. The 16-seatCouncil of Chiefs, made up of the traditional chiefs from each constituentstate, is an advisory body to the President. The chiefs of Koror and Melekeok, the highest chiefs fromEoueldaob andBabeldaob respectively, are recognised as the twoparamount chiefs of the nation.
^abThis is not the name of the ruling house or clan: it is theritual name used by the successive chiefs from this lineage.
^abChiefs are selected by the most senior women of the ruling clan.
^There are fourparamount chiefs in Samoa, each presiding over a royal lineage (Tama a 'Āiga) of past kings. Chiefs are afforded considerable power. The national parliament, theFono, is composed exclusively of chiefly titleholders (matai). The office of head of state (theO le Ao o le Malo) is traditionally reserved for the paramount chiefs, although this is not required by the Constitution.
^Tufuga Efi has held the chiefly title ofTui Atua Fa'asavali since 1 July 1983. He served as head of state from 2007 to 2017.
^Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II has been the head of state since 21 July 2017.
^The throne of theMata'afa has been vacant since 1997; little other information is available.
^The lineage associated with this title consists of three branches: Sa Moli, Sa Talavou and Sa Natuitasina (also spelled Gatuitasina). As the succession law dictates, heirs of all three branches are equally entitled to hold the title, and accession of an heir to the title is subject to nomination and consensus from all three branches. The most recent titleholders have been from the Moli sept.
^Each island or atoll has a traditional high chief, theulu-aliki, who is recognised by and plays an active ceremonial role in the national government. Thrones are primarily elective, but candidates are limited to members of a number of chiefly clans.
^Funafuti's traditional chieftaincy is limited to senior members of two chiefly clans: Te Aliki a Mua, and Te Aliki a Muli. By custom, succession rotates between the two lineages.
^The high chief, orPulefenua, is elected by a council of chiefs (the Fale Kaupule) from senior members of Nanumea's seven chiefly clans, all of which claim descent from the first settlers.
^The king is elected by a council of chiefs from the senior members of the kingdom's four chiefly clans.
^The king is elected by a council of chiefs from the senior members of the kingdom's three chiefly clans: the Tamole, the Keletaona, and the Safoka.
^The king is elected, traditionally for ten years, by a council of ministers from the senior members of the kingdom's royal clans. These clans correspond to the three districts of the island:Hahake,Hihifo, andMuʻa. The present king is of the Hihifo clan.
^The two high chiefs on Manihiki also traditionally reign over neighbouringRakahanga. They represent the populace of both islands in the area Ariki.
^The title is also often written asWhakaheo Ariki.
^Arikis of this line belong to either the Numatua or Tiangarotonga tribes.
^The throne ofTe Faingaitu Ariki (alternativelyWhaingaitu) is vacant. It is apparently disputed between members of the eligible tribes, but no information is available on the claimants.
^Arikis of this line belong to either the Heahiro or Mokopuwai tribes.
^Sources are unclear on the name of the currentTamuera Ariki (often writtenSamuela Ariki).
^His name is sometimes written "Te Maeva" or simply "Maeva".
^TheMakea Nui Ariki is one of threehigh chiefs in the Te Au o Tonga tribe on Rarotonga. The previous ariki died in 1994, and her successor has yet to be agreed upon. Several members of the tribe claim rightful inheritance of the title. Succession is traditionally limited to the Rangi Makea clan; the three other clans of the tribe (Sadaraka, Mere and Upokotokoa) are considered junior branches. Mere Maraea MacQuarrie, the youngest daughter of the last ariki, is the only known claimant from the Rangi Makea clan, and is apparently the contender most likely to be granted the title. Other contenders include Stanley Adam Hunt, Yolande Browne, and Matapo Oti Oti, all of whom claim descent from the earlier arikis. The first of these, Hunt, was "invested" with the Makea Nui title under the regnal name "Takaia Tutavake"; the ceremony, which took place 16 May 2009, was not recognised by the government.
^Her full regnal name is "Tapaeru Teariki Upokotini Marie", most commonly known as "Pa Marie".
^"Ngati Tuwharetoa".Genealogical Gleanings. Henry Soszynski, University of Queensland. Archived fromthe original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved12 June 2010.
^"Tupua Tamasese".Genealogical Gleanings. Henry Soszynski, University of Queensland. Archived fromthe original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved18 June 2010.
^Tuimaleali'ifano, Morgan A. (2006).O Tama a' āiga: the politics of succession to Sāmoa's paramount titles. Suva, Fiji: Institute of Pacific Studies, the University of the South Pacific.ISBN978-982-02-0377-8.
^"Tuimaleali'ifano".Genealogical Gleanings. Henry Soszynski, University of Queensland. Archived fromthe original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved18 June 2010.
^"Mata'afa".Genealogical Gleanings. Henry Soszynski, University of Queensland. Archived fromthe original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved18 June 2010.
^"Malietoa".Genealogical Gleanings. Henry Soszynski, University of Queensland. Archived fromthe original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved18 June 2010.
^Moekaʻa, Moana (31 December 2009)."Oliveta celebrates centenary".Cook Islands News. Rarotonga: Cook Islands News Online. Archived fromthe original on 30 May 2009. Retrieved18 June 2010.
^Losirene Lacanivalu (28 November 2020)."The queen of happiness". Cook Islands News. Retrieved29 November 2020.
^Moekaʻa, Moana (14 January 2009)."Tahiti claimant seeks title".Cook Islands News. Rarotonga: Cook Islands News Online. Archived fromthe original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved17 June 2010.
^"Queen still chief of Fiji".The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Sydney Morning Herald Online. 20 November 2002. Retrieved18 June 2010.
^"Fijian Chiefly Titles".Genealogical Gleanings. Henry Soszynski, University of Queensland. Archived fromthe original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved18 June 2010.
^"Tongan Titles".Genealogical Gleanings. Henry Soszynski, University of Queensland. Retrieved18 June 2010.
Van Klinken, Gerry (2007). "Return of the Sultans: The Communitarian Turn in Local Politics".The Revival of Tradition in Indonesian Politics: The Deployment of Adat from Colonialism to Indigenism. London: Routledge:149–169.SSRN1309406.
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Ireland
Panama
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Trinidad and Tobago
Bolivia
Afro-Bolivians
Cook Islands
Atiu
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Manihiki[oc 30]
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