If Nepal had everything from palace politics to nationwide protests and a fair share of bloodshed, the previous country to do away with monarchy did so by default. And its monarch was one of the most-loved and longest reigning kings of the world.
Samoa's King Malietoa Tanumafili, who sat on the throne ever since Samoa gained independence from New Zealand, which was given responsibility for the tiny group of islands in the South Pacific by the League of Nations after the islands were seized from Germany during the first world war in 1917.
The king succeeded to the Malietoa title in 1940, when his father passed away. He was made the joint head of state with Tupua Tamasese Meaole when Samoa, which has a tiny population of 200,000, gained independence in 1962. Malietoa became the sole head of state a year later when Tupua Tamasese passed away.
He held the post for life. But the Samoan constitution, however, stipulated that he would be the last non-elected ruler and that his successor will be elected by the legislature to a five year term.
Photograph courtesy: Bahai International
Also read: Asia's Monarchs
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