Saudeleur dynasty

6°51′N 158°13′E / 6.850°N 158.217°E / 6.850; 158.217

Saudeleur dynasty
c. 1100-1200–c. 1628
Saudeleur Dynasty
Saudeleur Dynasty
CapitalNan Madol
Common languagesPohnpeian
Religion
Pohnpeian, Saudeleur
GovernmentAbsolute monarchy
Saudeleur 
• c. 1100–1200
Olosohpa
• ?
Mwohn Mwehi[note 1]
• ?
Inenen Mwehi
• ?
Ketiparelong
• ?
Raipwenlake
• ?
Raipwenlang
• ?
Sakon Mwehi
• ?
Saraiden Sapw
• c. 1628
Saudemwohl
History 
• Arrival of Olisihpa and Olosohpa
c. 1100-1200
c. 1628
Nan Madol, capital of the Saudeleur dynasty

The Saudeleur dynasty (Pohnpeian: Mwehin Sau Deleur, "Period of the Lord of Deleur"; also spelled Chau-te-leur)[1] was the first organized government uniting the people of Pohnpei island, ruling from c. 1100-1200 CE[2][3] to c. 1628 CE.[note 2] The era was preceded by the Mwehin Kawa (Period of Building) or Mwehin Aramas (Period of Peopling), and followed by Mwehin Nahnmwarki.[1] The name Deleur was an ancient name for Pohnpei, today a state containing the capital of the Federated States of Micronesia.[8]

Pohnpeian legend recounts that the Saudeleur rulers were of foreign origin, and that their appearance was quite different from native Pohnpeians. The Saudeleur centralized form of absolute rule is characterized in Pohnpeian legend as becoming increasingly oppressive over several generations. Arbitrary and onerous demands, as well as a reputation for offending Pohnpeian deities, sowed resentment among Pohnpeians. The Saudeleur Dynasty ended with the invasion of Isokelekel, another semi-mythical foreigner, who replaced the Saudeleur rule with the more decentralized nahnmwarki system in existence today.[9][10]


Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Hanlon was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Flood was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Nan Madol (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov.
  4. ^ Cordy, Ross H (1993). The Lelu Stone Ruins (Kosrae, Micronesia): 1978-81 Historical and Archaeological Research. Asian and Pacific Archaeology. Social Science Research Institute, University of Hawaii at Manoa. pp. 14, 254, 258. ISBN 0-8248-1134-8. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  5. ^ Morgan, William N (1988). Prehistoric Architecture in Micronesia. University of Texas Press. pp. 60, 63, 76, 85. ISBN 0-292-76506-1. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  6. ^ Panholzer, Tom; Rufino, Mauricio (2003). Place Names of Pohnpei Island: Including And (Ant) and Pakin Atolls. Bess Press. pp. xiii, 21, 22, 25, 38, 48, 56, 63, 71. 72, 74, 104. ISBN 1-57306-166-2. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  7. ^ Micronesica. University of Guam. 1990. pp. 92, 203, 277. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  8. ^ Petersen, Glenn (1990). "Isokelekel". Lost in the Weeds: Theme and Variation in Pohnpei Political Mythology (PDF). Occasional Papers. Center for Pacific Islands Studies, School of Hawaiian, Asian & Pacific Studies, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. pp. 34 et seq. hdl:10125/15545. OP35. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ballinger was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Native was invoked but never defined (see the help page).