Polynesian Conflict of 1286

The Polynesian Conflict of 1286 (November 1286 - January 1287; sometimes referred to as the Tonga-Samoa Conflict or Tonga-Samoa Battle) was an armed clash between the people of two Polynesian nations - what are modern day Tonga and Samoa. Though the total number of casualties is unknown, it is believed that as many as 500 Tongan fighters and 250 Samoan fighters died in the three month conflict, with an additional 500 casualties on either side.

Although the conflict is now known as the Polynesian Conflict of 1286, that name is a fairly modern invention. Up until 1932, it did not have an official name. Rather, it was known as "Iiki Tau" ("Little War" in Tongan) or simply "Ma’a" (Samoan for "Rock", in reference to the many rocks they Samoans used in the conflict). After many years of peaceful trade, a tension between the two islands started to build. The Samoans accepted the peace agreement, and the two islands traded relatively peacefully once again for about the next ten years. Two Tongans and three Samoans were killed<ref nameGeorgeTurner />, and around August 1286 Tonga called of the peace agreement with Samoa<ref nameDouglasOliver />. Samoa did likewise in early November, and sent at least six ships full of warriors to the island of Tonga, thus officially beginning the conflict<ref name=DouglasOliver />.
The conflict
Initially, the conflict was fought by small factions all over Tonga<ref nameNancyKeller />, but by mid-November it had developed into a more organized fight<ref nameNancyKeller />. Nuku’alofa, the Tongan capital, saw major fighting. It was there that 200 Tongans and 120 Samoans perished over the course of two weeks <ref name=PaulDale />.
Through early December, it seemed as if the Samoans had a decisive advantage over the Tongans - they had forced the Tongans to retreat to the center of the island nation<ref nameNancyKeller />. According to historian Rickey Brock, had the Tongans not counter-attacked as they eventually did in mid-December, the islands of Tonga may have fallen entirely under Samoan control<ref nameMattFletcher />.
It seemed as if the conflict was entirely in Samoa's favor, although in mid-December the Tongans mounted a massive counter assault, forcing the Samoans off the islands and onto Niue<ref nameBenFinney />. By this point, 350 Tongans had perished in the conflict, and 150 Samoans had died<ref nameGeorgeTurner />.
Wanting to maintain a state of neutrality, Niue forced the Samoans and Tongans off the island<ref namePaulDale />. The fighting re-commenced on Samoa, and by early January the entire Tongan army was in Samoa<ref nameBenFinney />. Although a Samoan victory seemed imminent at one point, it now seemed as though the Tongans were going to come out victorious<ref name=PaulDale />.
Like the Tongans did in mid-December, the Samoans mounted a counter-attack, and forced the conflict back to Niue<ref nameBenFinney />. Once again, Niue fought both of them off, losing around 15 men to battle<ref nameGeorgeTurner />. This was the first time a non-Tongan or a non-Samoan died in the conflict<ref name=NancyKeller />.
Following the Niuean eviction, the Tongans retreated to Tonga while the Samoans retreated to Samoa<ref nameJohnWinkelheimer />. The conflict ended in late January, after the two island nations once again came to a peace agreement<ref nameMattFletcher />.
Aftermath
After the conflict, relative normalcy and peace resumed between the two nations<ref nameJohnWinkelheimer />. Though there were a few notable flair ups between the countries, notably in 1294 and 1333, peace was almost entirely maintained<ref nameJohnWinkelheimer />. Niue, which was the most involved "third party" in the conflict, also maintained trade between the two nations<ref name=PaulDale />.
Others involved
Very little assistance was offered to either side from other island nations during the Polynesian Conflict of 1286<ref nameNancyKeller />. In fact, Niue received more help than either Samoa or Tonga - modern day Wallis and modern day Tokelau both aided Niue<ref nameDouglasOliver />. The only outside assistance given to either Tonga or Samoa came from Kermadec mercenaries, who helped Tonga for about one month<ref name=PaulDale />.

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