In November 1836, fathers and Caret Laval landing discreetly Tautira Papeete and move towards the west coast. Pastor George Pritchard, also English consul, sees this visit as a double threat (political and religious) may endanger the presence English on the island.
On 12 December 1836, he received the Queen Pomare IV expulsion of the two Catholic missionaries french (Caret & Laval) on the decision of the Council of Chiefs.
The french of the island and become outraged against royal authority established. This attitude creates a climate of tension between the french nationals settled in the island and Maohi loyal to the royal authority established. Faced with the resurgence of these incidents, Admiral Abel Dupetit-Thouars trying to negotiate with the Queen Pomare IV treaty friendly french nationals.
However, the interpretations on the goals of this agreement were perceived differently by the signatory parties:
Admiral Abel Dupetit-Thouars had set the goal of power by the treaty, fully exercise its police powers to ensure the protection of french nationals. The queen saw in the treaty the possibility of obtaining a simple agreement to formalize the status of french residents.
Faced with the worsening of internal rivalries and the reluctance of the Queen to endorse a document that did not take into account its suggestions, the Protectorate was imposed on September 9, 1842 by Admiral Dupetit-Thouars.

In fact, the real objective was to get in place in our fenua, the basics of french colonial system, the protectorate was that the excuse, and history will confirm.



The war Franco-Tahitian


The uprising of Queen Pomare IV

The unilateral proclamation of the Protectorate September 9, 1842, has tarnished relations between the royal and representatives french. The internal rivalries are on the increase and often degenerate into battles.

When official notification of the treaty in 1843, the Queen Pomare IV protests against its implementation and denounced colonial its true nature.
This decision earned him being stripped by Admiral Abel Dupetit-Thouars which proclaims on the field, taking possession of the island:
On November 8, 1843, it shall appoint Armand BRUAT as Governor of the island;
In July 1844, he trial of the expulsion of George Pritchard in the direction of Chile;
Queen Pomare IV s'enfouit on board the ship "English" Basilisk who leaves immediately Tahiti;
She finds refuge in Raiatea and from the island, she urged the heads of Tahiti and Moorea in support of the resistance;
She informed its allies that the island of Tahiti was taken by the french colonial power and that now belongs to the people to mobilize and react strongly against this act of unspeakable

From 1844 to late 1846, most of Tahiti and Moorea, is in a state of rebellion against the French government.
On March 21, 1844, the French-Tahitian war erupts in Taravao:
* Maohi organize themselves into camps especially in Papeete, Papenoo and Punaruu;
* Several measures to combat see the light of day, foreigners are threatened, dtruites their crops and their houses looted.
Armand Joseph Bruat is identified in Papeete and Taravao. The island lies in the hands of leaders who maohi launch their offensive from Punaruu and Papenoo. Some districts of Tahiti and Moorea not participate in the insurgency. This will be the case in Tahiti Tati, Hitoti, Utami and Paraita and Moorea, Hanoto and Tairapa. Several of these districts also provide the french, contingents of volunteers.


The War of Independence

It is divided into three phases

1st phase:
* It opens on April 17, 1844 by the first landing of Mahaena;
* Losses are enormous in both camps and forcing defeated Maohi to retreat to the valleys of Papenoo and Punaruu;
* The Maohi who occupy the bottom of these two valleys, must defend their access to the sea threatened by the presence of strong and forts erected by french soldiers;
* In Papeete, French colonial army supported by columns freshly landed Marqesas, erecting new fortifications in the hills above the city.

2nd phase:
* Bruat decided to intervene Islands Windward, imposes a blockade of Raiatea and stirs in January 1846, the landing of a Marine Expeditionary Force of french to take possession of the island of Huahine;
* The operation led by Commander Bonard was a real setback for the French navy facing the valiant warriors of the queen of Huahine Teri'itaria;
* On 20 and 22 March 1846, the Maohi launching two attacks, one against the fort de la Pointe Venus and the other against Papeete, which require members of the European community to take refuge on the vessels of the bay and on the islet of Motu Uta;
* During this short period, the blockade set up around the island and unwavering reinforcement provided by the French community french soldiers, undermine the Maohi who are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain food and weapons.


3rd stage:
* Bruat decides to develop an attack strategy aimed at repelling the warriors maohi ever further in the valleys;
* On May 25, 1846, he launched the first successful offensive against the camp Papenoo quickly abandoned by its occupants;
* On 27 May 1846, he launched a second offensive against the camp Punaruu and forced its occupants turning inwards;
* On 17 December 1846, he made it from the rear by the collar "Diadême", the bulk of maohi entrenched at the bottom of the valley Fautaua and obtains their surrender;
* On 18 December 1846, after lengthy talks, a thousand warriors maohi depositing their weapons entrainant capitulation of the other refugee group in the valley of the Papenoo;
* After the capitulation, Fareau, Pitomai and Teaviri, Teva heads-I-Uta, true leaders of the insurgency, will finally submit

Pacification 

 * It will be imposed with intimidation, humiliation and oppression exerted on the royal power and the people maohi;
* Queen Pomare IV returns to Papeete on February 9, 1847;
* On August 5, 1847, concerned about the survival of his people, it signed the Convention setting out the conditions for internal administration of the regime Protectorate.
* The Protectorate was immediately restored;
* The insurgency who won the other archipelagos, is gradually defused.


Pomare IV (1813-1877)
Aimata, Queen of Tahiti, the daughter of Pomare II and one of his concubines. She gained sovereignty to the death of his brother in January Pomare III 1827.Elle refused any negotiations during the war of 1844 to 1846. After the capitulation, it made its official entry in Papeete on February 9, 1847 and accepted the protectorate