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Kingdom of Rapa Nui | |
|---|---|
| c. 4th century – 1888 / 1902 | |
  Top: 1880–1899 Bottom: 1899–1902  Coat of arms | |
 Location of the Kingdom of Easter Island in the South Pacific | |
| Status | Independent Kingdom (until 1888) Chilean Protectorate (1888–1902) |
| Capital | Anakena |
| Common languages | Rapanui, laterChilean Spanish |
| Government | Monarchy |
| King | |
• c. 400 | Hotu Matuꞌa |
• 1892–1899 | Rokoroko He Tau |
| History | |
• Settled | 300–400 CE |
• Annexed to Chile | September 9, 1888 |
| Today part of | Chile -Easter Island |
Easter Island was traditionally ruled by amonarchy, with a king as its leader.
The legendary, first chief ofEaster Island is said to have beenHotu Matuꞌa, whose arrival has been dated in the 4th, 6th[1] or 9th century AD.[2] Legend insists that this man was the chief of a tribe that lived on Marae Renga. The Marae Renga is said to have existed in a place known as the "Hiva region". Some books suggest that the Hiva region was an area in theMarquesas Islands, but today, it is believed that the ancestral land of the Easter Islanders would have been located in the Pitcairn Mangareva intercultural zone. Some versions of the story claim that internal conflicts drove Hotu Matuꞌa to sail with his tribe for new land, while others say a natural disaster (possibly a tidal wave) caused the tribe to flee.
Despite these differences, the stories do agree on the next part: A priest named Haumaka appeared to Hotu Matuꞌa in his dreams one night. The priest flew out to sea and discovered an island, which he calledTe Pito ꞌo te Kāinga ("The Center of the Earth"). Sending seven scouts, Hotu Matuꞌa embraced his dream and awaited the return of his scouts. After eating, planting yams, and resting, the seven scouts returned home to tell of the good news. Hotu Matuꞌa took a large crew, his family, and everything they needed to survive in the new land. Then, they rowed a single huge, double-hulled canoe to "The Center of the Earth"[3] and landed atAnakena,Rapa Nui (Easter Island).
According to Steven Roger Fischer'sIsland at the End of the World, a certain individual named Tuꞌu ko Iho co-founded the settlement on the island. Fischer's book claims he not only did this, but a legend says he "brought the statues to the island and caused them to walk".[4]
Shortly before the death of Hotu Matuꞌa, the island was given to his children, who formed eight main clans. In addition, four smaller and less important clans were formed.
Over the years, the clans slowly grouped together into two territories. TheKo Tuꞌu Aro were composed of clans in the northwest, while theHotu Iti were mainly living in the southeast part of the island. TheMiru are very commonly seen as the true royal heirs who ruled the Ko Tuꞌu Aro clans.
Since then, leaders of Easter Island have been hereditary rulers who claimed divine origin and separated themselves from the rest of the islanders with taboos. Theseariki not only controlled religious functions in the clan, but also ran everything else, from managing food supplies to waging war.[7] Ever since Easter Island was divided into two super-clans, the rulers of Easter Island followed a predictable pattern. The people of Rapa Nui were especially competitive during those times. They usually competed to build a bigger moai than their neighbors, but when this failed to resolve the conflict, the tribes often turned to war and throwing down each other's statues.
(The alternative rulers after Terahai: Koroharua, Riki-ka-atea, whose son was Hotu Matua, then Kaimakoi, Tehetu-tara-Kura, Huero, Kaimakoi (or Raimokaky), finally Gaara who is Ngaara on the main list below.)