10. The War of the Whiskers (Tonga vs. Fiji, 1855)
In 1855, the Kingdom of Tonga, under King George Tupou I, intervened in Fiji to support the chiefdom of Bau, led by Seru Epenisa Cakobau, during a civil war. The Tongan forces, numbering over 3,000 warriors, played a pivotal role in the Battle of Kaba, where they decisively defeated the forces of Rewa and its allies. This intervention significantly bolstered Cakobau’s position, leading to his eventual conversion to Christianity and the consolidation of his power in Fiji. The Tongan involvement in Fiji during this period is often referred to as the “War of the Whiskers” due to the cultural and political dynamics at play (en.wikipedia.org).
