Senyavin Islands


The Senyavin Islands belong to the Federated States of Micronesia. They consist of a larger volcanic Pohnpei Island and two small atolls Ant and Pakin.

History

On Pohnpei, pre-colonial history is divided into three eras: Mwehin Kawa or Mwehin Aramas ; Mwehin Sau Deleur ; and Mwehin Nahnmwarki. Pohnpeian legend recounts that the Saudeleur rulers, the first to bring government to Pohnpei, were of foreign origin. The Saudeleur centralized form of absolute rule is characterized in Pohnpeian legend as becoming increasingly oppressive over several generations. Arbitrary and onerous demands, as well as a reputation for offending Pohnpeian deities, sowed resentment among Pohnpeians. The Saudeleur Dynasty ended with the invasion of Isokelekel, another semi-mythical foreigner, who replaced the Saudeleur rule with the more decentralized nahnmwarki system in existence today.
For the Europeans these islands were discovered first by Pedro Fernández de Quirós In 1828 Russian navigator Fyodor Litke named the group after Russian admiral Dmitry Senyavin.