The Kingdom of Tahiti or the Tahitian Kingdom was a Polynesian monarchy founded by paramount chief Pōmare I, who, with the aid of British missionaries and traders, and European weaponry, unified the islands of Tahiti, Moʻorea, Teti‘aroa, and Mehetiʻa.

The kingdom eventually annexed the Tuamotus, and the Austral Islands (Rapa Iti, Rurutu, Rimatara, Tubuai, Raivavae).

The kingdom is known for bringing a period of peace and cultural and economic prosperity to the islands over the reign of the five Tahitian monarchs.

"The attempt at colonization by the Spaniards in 1774 was followed by the settlement of thirty persons brought in 1797 by the missionary ship Duff.

The additional British captains arriving at Tahiti accepted his claim to hegemony.

Captain James Cook gave him the advantage in a number of battles with rival forces during his last stay in Tahiti, circa 1777.

Initially recognised as supreme sovereign and Ariʻi-maro-ʻura by the ruler of Huahine, he was subsequently forced to take refuge in Moʻorea 22 December 1808, but returned and defeated his enemies at the Battle of Te Feipī.

Warring resumed, with Pomare winning the decisive Battle of Te Fe’i Pī, on 12 November 1815.

When defeated warriors returned from the hills, they found their homes had not been set afire and that their wives and children had not been slaughtered.

Centralized authority among chiefs was not traditional in Tahiti,[3] but the missionaries welcomed Pomare's new power.

The climate was suitable to exposing the skin to the greater cool of open air, but for the missionaries the temperature was of no consideration.

In 1817, Tahiti acquired its first printing press, and, in 1819, cotton, sugar and coffee crops were planted.

They did make suggestions, however, and in September 1819, Pomare produced Tahiti's first written law.

There was protection of life and property, observance of Sabbath, a sanctification of marriage and a judiciary to maintain the laws.

Pomare II died in 1824 at the age of forty-two, leaving behind an eight-year-old daughter and a five-year-old son.

Pomare III's education took place at the South Sea Academy, Papetoai, Moʻorea.

She succeeded as ruler of Tahiti after the death of her brother Pōmare III when she was only 14 years old.

Since the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the Pitcairn islanders had been discovered by and had friendly contact with the Royal Navy and British authorities.

[6] In 1842, a European crisis involving Morocco escalated between France and Great Britain when Admiral Abel Aubert du Petit-Thouars, acting independently of the French government, convinced Tahiti's Queen Pomare IV to accept a French protectorate.

[7] During this time, Thouars managed to convince Pomare IV to sign to putting her country under the protection of France, although he was not empowered to do so, nor was he ever sanctioned in this regard.

He was born as Teri'i Tari'a Te-rā-tane and became Heir Apparent and Crown Prince (Ari'i-aue) upon the death of his elder brother on 13 May 1855.

His second marriage was to Joanna Mara'u-Ta'aroa Te-pa'u Salmon (thereafter known as Her Majesty The Queen Marau of Tahiti), at Pape'ete on 28 January 1875.

He died from alcoholism at the Royal Palace, Pape'ete, and is buried at the Tomb of the King, Utu'ai'ai in 'Arue.

At their height of power, the Pomares' managed to rule effectively from their base in Tahiti and Mo'orea a kingdom of islands spread over 3 million km2 of sea and had diplomatic relations and influences from the Cook Islands to Rapa Nui.

They both preserved traditions and independence for a time, while also serving as a conduit for suppression of culture and resigned to French demands, facilitating the subsequent colonization of Tahiti by France.

As of February 2009, Tauatomo Mairau claimed to be the heir to the Tahitian throne, and attempted to re-assert the status of the monarchy in court.