Malietoa Tanumafili II of Samoa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II | ||
|---|---|---|
| Head of state (Malietoa) of Samoa | ||
 |
||
| Reign | 1939 - Present | |
| Born | January 4, 1913 (age 94) | |
| Predecessor | Malietoa Tanumafili I | |
| Successor | Incumbent | |
| Father | Malietoa Tanumafili I | |
| Mother | Momoe Lupeuluiva Meleisea | |
Malietoa Tanumafili II, GCMG, CBE, (born January 4, 1913) (also called Susuga) is one of the paramount chiefs, Malietoa (since 1939), and the current head of state (O le Ao o le Malo) of Samoa (and also the oldest national leader in the world). He holds this position for life. He descends from Samoa's four princely families (Aiga Tupu) and holds the King Title "Mālietoa".
He was born in 1913 as the son and third child of Malietoa Tanumafili I and Momoe Lupeuluiva Meleisea. He has been the Mālietoa since his father's death.
Upon Samoa's independence in 1962, he was joint head of state with Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole. When the latter died in 1963, he became sole head of state. As of November 2006, Malietoa Tanumafili is the longest serving monarch in the world, ahead of the King of Thailand and Queen Elizabeth II. He is as of March 2007, however, only the seventh longest serving head of state, as Samoa did not gain independence until 1962. Malietoa Tanumafili II is a follower of the Bahá'í Faith. He is the second royal (after Queen Marie of Romania) to be a member of that religion. The Bahá'í House of Worship in Tiapapata, eight kilometers from the country's capital of Apia, was dedicated by him in 1984.
[edit] Honours
- Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (1977)
- Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire
[edit] See also
| Samoa |
 This article is part of the series: |
|
|
|
Other countries · Politics Portal |
| Preceded by Charles Lyttelton, last pre-independence Governor-General of New Zealand |
Head of State of Samoa 1962-Present (with Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole until 1963) |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Malietoa Tanumafili I |
Malietoa 1939-Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
 |
This Samoa-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
