Thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Arts of the Australian National University, 1976.

M.A. Australian National University 1976

Includes bibliographical references.

"On his succession to the throne Tupou II was spoiled, young and ill prepared for kingship. He had to mature, trained to be a monarch and reign as one, all at the same time. The enormity of the strain and the pressures which these imposed upon him, dramatically disrupted the normal course of his personal development. These, together with his limited capacity for coping with problems, were responsible for the problems and mistakes which riddled the earlier part of his reign. Thus he became vulnerable to the flattery of self-seeking advisors and susceptible to errors of judgment. To Tupou's misfortune his succession coincided with the most aggressive period of European imperialism in the Pacific. The Anglo-Tongan Agreements forced on him in 1900 and 1905 weakened his position in Tonga. Because he was the monarch it was he who answered personally to the British authorities whenever there was a misunderstanding or dispute between their respective governments. Because he was the most ardent and consistent campaigner against Britain's intrusion into Tongan affairs he therefore became the most frequent target of the British. This was especially intense during the premiership of Mateialona. In fact no other monarch in modern Tonga had suffered as much external pressure as Tupou II. It is to his credit therefore that he did not then accept Britain's domineering influence, an action which might have resulted in the loss of Tonga's independence. Once these pressures were relaxed, as they were after Mateialona's resignation, and by which time Tupou II had mastered the skills for kingship, his performance distinctly improved. Once these pressures were relaxed, as they were after Mateialona's resignation, and by which time Tupou II had mastered the skills for kingship, his performance distinctly improved"--Abstract.