Tuku'aho

Tuku’aho was the 14th Tu’I Kanokupolu of Tonga, reigning approximately from 1793 to 1799. He was considered the “strong man” of the Tupou family despite coming from a lower lineage, and he used his power to depose the 12th Tu’I Kanokupolu, Tupoumoheofo, who was of the higher line. Tuku’aho placed instilled his own father, Mumui, as the 13th Tu’I Kanokupolu and then took the title for himself upon Mumui's death. Tuku’aho reigned Tonga as a tyrant, for which he was assassinated by a team of high chiefs. His death sparked a civil war that lasted for nearly a half century.

War with Tupoumoheofo Around the year 1792, when Mukuiha’ame’a vacated his title of Tu’i Kanokupolu, the recently deceased Tu’i Tonga's high ranking wife Tupoumoheofo declared herself the replacement. Historians debate the appropriateness of her action as a female, Tuku’aho began publicly denouncing Tupoumoheofo. He further instigated conflict by seizing some of her estates.

Tupoumoheofo would not step down. Mumui, Tuku’aho, and Tupoumoheofo all shared ancestry through Ma’afu’otu’itonga,

The solidarity of the conspirators did not last long. Contests for power devolved into chaos in Tongatapu with Finau ‘Ulukalala becoming ruling warlord over Ha’apai and Tupouniua his deputy in Vava’u. Thus began the civil wars that wouldn't end until the 1845 unification of Tonga under Taufa’ahau (a grandson of Tuku’aho).