TONGA
ORDERS & DECORATIONS
The Order of Pouono (Fakalangilangi ‘o Pouono): founded by King George Tupou II 1st June 1899, and named in honour of the sacred place of the great fale, where the first written laws were promulgated in 1839 and the kingdom was dedicated to God in 1845. The order is reserved for the reigning Sovereign and foreign Heads of State, but has never been awarded outside Tonga. Awarded in a single class, the insignia consists of a collar, collar badge, breast star, sash badge and riband. Motto: ‘Oku ‘ he ‘Otua ‘a Toga (Tonga is with God). Loosely modelled on the Order of the Black Eagle of Prussia.
The Order of Pouono - breast star.
The Order of Pouono - riband.
The Order of King George Tupou I (Fakalangilangi ‘o Kingi Sia’osi Tupou I): founded by King George Tupou I after 1882. Awarded in three classes (1. Knight Grand Cross – collar, breast star, badge and riband, 2. Knight Commander – breast star, neck badge and ribbon, and 3. Companion – badge and chest ribbon). Motto: Koe ‘Otua mo Toga ko hoku tofi‘a (God and Tonga are my inheritance). Originally the second in rank of precedence, modified in 2008. Superseded by the Royal Household Order in 2009 (see below).
The Order of King George Tupou I (type I insignia): Knight Grand Cross or first class - breast star (above) and riband (centre), Knight Commander or second class (below) - breast star (L) and neck badge (R).
The Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga (Fakalangilangi ‘o Kalauni ‘a Tonga)*: founded by King George Tupou II on 4
The Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga - Member 4th class badge obverse (L) and Companion 3rd class reverse (R), post 1965 ribbons.
The Order of the Tongan Star (Fakalangilangi ‘o Fetu’u ‘o Tonga): founded by Queen Salote Tupou III on 9th April 1956 to reward eminent services to her kingdom, particular by foreign subjects. Awarded in three classes (1. Grand Cross – collar, breast star, badge and riband, 2. Commander – neck badge and ribbon, and 3. Member – badge and chest ribbon). Obsolete 2008.
The Order of the Tongan Star - collar, badge and riband, and miniature badge.
The Royal Family Order: founded by Queen Salote Tupou III in 1965. Obsolete 2008 (probably never awarded).
* Also sometimes termed the Order of the Cross of Tonga (Fakalangilangi ‘e Kolosi ‘i Tonga (translation uncertain), the details of the Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga are riddled with much confusion, largely due to several articles published in “Pacific Islands Monthly” in 1938, 1940, 1942 and 1949. The source of information being a certain Mr F T Goedicke a.k.a. Goedicke-van Asten, sometime storekeeper in Tonga and supposed friend of King George Tupou II, each successive article being more embellished than its predecessor. A supposed recipient of the third class of the order, he claimed to be intimately involved in the order’s creation on 6th April 1913. In fact, the picture of himself that he supplied to go with his text undoubtedly shows him wearing the third class of the Royal Order of King George Tupou I. His accompanying information on the Prussian, Moroccan and Italian decorations conferred on Tongans, as well as his feigned knowledge of the Hawaiian orders are so confused and ridiculous as to render his entire contribution worthless.
Copyright© Christopher Buyers, May 2001 - June 2024