Person

George Tupou I

c. 1797–1893 · 19th century · Also known as Tāufaʻāhau

George Tupou I, born Tāufaʻāhau, was a chief from Haʻapai who converted to Wesleyan Christianity and united Tonga through civil wars, ruling as king from 1845. He issued law codes, freed commoners from forced labour to chiefs and granted the constitution of 1875, which still underpins the monarchy. His kinsman Enele Maʻafu built Tongan power in eastern Fiji.

George Tupou I
Image: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 3 state histories

Tuʻi Tonga EmpireKingdom of TongaTovata Confederacy

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). George Tupou I. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/george-tupou-i
MLA
“George Tupou I.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/george-tupou-i. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “George Tupou I.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/george-tupou-i.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘George Tupou I’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/george-tupou-i (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻