Malietoa Tanumafili I

Malietoa Tanumafili I
Malietoa King (Tafa'ifa) of Samoa
King of Samoa
Reign	1898 – 2 December 1899
Coronation	31 December, 1898
Predecessor	Malietoa Laupepa
Successor	Monarchy abolished
Malietoa
Reign	1898 - 5 July 1939
Predecessor	Malietoa Laupepa
Successor	Malietoa Tanumafili II
Born	1879 Samoa
Died	5 July 1939(1939-07-05) (aged 59–60) Faatoialemanu, Samoa
Spouse	Momoe Lupeuluiva Meleisea
Issue	5, Including Malietoa Tanumafili II
Father	Malietoa Laupepa
Mother	Sisavai'i Malupo Niuva'ai

Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili I OBE (1879 – 5 July 1939) was the Malietoa in Samoa from 1898 until his death in 1939. After the death of his father, Malietoa Laupepa, the recognized King of Samoa by many western countries, Tanumafili was immediately crowned as King, alongside Tupua Tamasese Lealofi I as vice-king. Tanumafili was backed by the United States and United Kingdom, however Germany supported rebel chief Mata'afa Iosefo who eyeing the throne. The battle between the two made up the Second Samoan Civil War and in the end caused the Tripartite Convention that split the islands. After the war, Malietoa pursued education in Fiji and then came back to Samoa, where he was appointed as an advisor.