Tanoa Visawaqa

Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa (pronounced ) (died on 8 December 1852) was a Fijian Chieftain who held the title 5th Vunivalu of Bau. With Adi Savusavu, one of his nine wives, he was the father of Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau, who succeeded in unifying Fiji with the help from British missionaries and the crown into forming the contemporary Fiji today.

Biography The son of Ratu Banuve Baleivavalagi, 3rd Vunivalu of Bau and his second wife, Roko Lewasaki. He was the father of the acclaimed Tui Viti, Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau, Ratu Tanoa was installed as Vunivalu upon the death of his elder brother Ratu Naulivou Ramatenikutu, who was involved in a fierce power struggle against the Roko Tui Bau, Ratu Raiwalui, which led to his death.

The idea of a Tui Viti was conceived by the British in their effort to solidify the collateral for the payment of a debt in the burning of a US privateer at Nukulau during the reign of his son Seru.

Wars of Bau The island of Bau was burned three times. First by the original occupants from Butoni and Lovoni in the early 1700, upon which occupancy was by Nailatikau.

As the animosity intensified, Ratu Tanoa was forced into exile, after his failed exploits to the highlands in effort to claim the priced baton only to be captured in nadovu in the late 1700 before been exiled firstly on Koro Island and then in Somosomo on Taveuni, where he remained until his son, Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau led a his families tradition of coup in 1837, reinstalling his father as Vunivalu until his death in 1852, whereupon Cakobau inherited the title. He had nine wives (six of whom were strangled to death in December 1852); amongst his issue were Ratu Tubuanakoro and Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau.

Burner of Boats It was before his exile that Tanoa was named Tanoa "Visawaqa" for his bloody campaign and slaying of the Roko Tui Bau, Ratu Raiwalui, he set fire to the War Canoes of the warriors of the Roko Tui Bau, and was thereafter called Tanoa — "Burner of boats", or figuratively, "excessive killer" — even though Ratu Naulivou sent his brother Tanoa on the mission to punish the Roko Tui Bau and his followers he did not expect the bloodbath that would follow, and Tanoa's actions greatly worried his brother.