Seru Epenisa Cakobau

Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau
King of Fiji
6th Vunivalu of Bau
King of Bau
King of Fiji
Reign5 June 1871 – 10 October 1874
SuccessorVictoria
Borncirca 1815
Natauloa, Nairai, Lomaiviti, growing up on Vanuaso, Gau, Lomaiviti before returning to Bau.
Died1 February 1883 (aged 67–68)
SpouseAdi Litia Samanunu
Adi Salote Qalirea Kaunilotuna
IssueChildren by Adi Litia Samanunu:
Adi Arieta Koila
Ratu Epeli Nailatikau I
Adi Asenaca Kakua Vuikaba
Ratu Timoci Tavanavanua
Ratu Josefa Celua
Children by Adi Salote Qalirea Kaunilotuna:
Ratu Sukuna Vana
Ratu Viliame Bulu
Adi Lusiana Qolikoro
FatherTanoa Visawaqa
MotherAdi Savusavu
ReligionMethodist
SignatureRatu Seru Epenisa Cakobau's signature
The Vunivalu of Bau, lithograph portrait in the possession of Henry Mangles Denham, c. 1858.

Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau (pronounced [ˈseru epeˈniːsa ðakomˈbau]; occasionally spelled Cacobau or phonetically Thakombau) (c.1815 – 1 February 1883)[1] was a Fijian chief, monarch, and warlord (Vunivalu) who united part of Fiji's warring tribes under his leadership, establishing a united Fijian kingdom. He was born on Natauloa, Nairai Island in Lomaiviti but spent his youth on Vanuaso, Gau, Lomaiviti, later returning to Bau to re-establish his Father's Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa reign. Ratu Epenisa Seru Visawaqa was given the name "Cakobau" meaning destroyer of Bau, in reference to his grandfathers' (Nailatikau) effort to first claim the tile from the people of Butoni and Lovoni, returned with most of his warriors from Vanuaso, Gau, Lomaiviti to coup the leadership in Bau then and later takeover his father's title; known after his father as the 6th "Vunivalu" or Warlord of Bau.[2]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Genealogy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Mennell, Philip (1892). "Thakombau" . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.