Queen Mamea

[2] The French, who occupied nearby Tahiti, desired Mamea's realm as did the German and British Empires.

[2][4] A French invasion of 1890 was successfully resisted after Mamea withdrew her warriors to a series of canyons in the island's interior where she had stockpiled several years of food supplies.

[2] Mamea withdrew to the woods and hills of the interior with her 500 warriors, said to be the fiercest in the South Seas, and 300 women.

[2] In a retaliatory raid on the French missionaries of Uturoa in northern Raiatea Mamea's forces killed several traders.

[2] Mamea sought assistance from the British resident at Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and was advised to submit to the French.

[6] Shortly thereafter Mamea was captured in a surprise attack and agreed to grant France control of the island, its shipping and permission to establish a coaling station.

[7] (~23,000 US Dollars in 2015) By June 1896 Mamea's former subjects were flying the British flag and claiming to be under the protection of Queen Victoria.