SAMOA
East Samoa, American Samoa
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Polynesians, possibly from Tonga, first settled in the Samoan islands about 1000 B.C.. The archipelago was discovered in 1722 by Jacob Roggeveen. In 1830 the first missionaries arrived and on their initiative the Kingdom of Samoa was founded. By treaty of 1878 with the kingdom the United States were allowed to built a navy base at Pago Pago. On 22 December 1899 the archipelago was diveded in American and German spheres if interest. The islands of Tutuila and Manua were granted to the U.S.A.. On 17 April 1900 sovereignty of these islands was offered to the U.S. by the local chiefs and the offer was accepted on 20 February 1929. |
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The seal of America Samoa shows the house of parliament,
and a fly-whisk and a Samoan sceptre in saltire. The field is decorated with
Samoan native motives. The legend reads: SEAL OF AMERICAN SAMOA 17
APRIL 1900 / SAMOA - MUA MUA LI ATUA. Most of the time the seal is depicted in black and white but there exists also a colored version which is given here. |
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A flag was adopted on 27 April 1960. The flag is blue with a white triangle, edged in red, pointing and extending to the hoist. At the fly is a descending American eagle, grasping the symbol of power of the Samoan chiefs, the uatogi (war-club), and the symbol of wisdom of the councils, the fue (ritual stick). The colors of the flag are both Samoan and American, and the American eagle represents the protection and friendship of the United States.
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The arms of the territorial police of American Samoa shows the descending American eagle with uatogi and fue on a black field, with the title TERRITORIAL POLICE in chief and the title AMERICAN SAMOA on a black listel in base.
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© Hubert de Vries, 2009.02.07
Updated 2011-09-22
Heraldry of the World