Raja Hanaf Pauspaus of Arguni

5 of the 9 monarchs of the main island of Papua during a national meeting of Indonesian dynasties.
From left to right:the raja of Fatagar, the raja of Rumbati,a former raja of Sekar, the raja of Arguni, a raja-muda (son of the ruler) of Kaimana and the Rat Umis of Kaimana. With thanks to His Highness Raja Abubakar Saleh Bauw of Rumbati for letting use this picture, royal organisation FSKN for the photorights and Her Highness Ratu Muda Arwan Heremba of Wertuar for research and further help.

In Papua there is an extraordinary principality called Arguni. Strong in some aspects of it's existance.
It's lying on the north part of the Bomberay peninsula.
Before it was an area,where the ruler was a representative of the once very powerfull and paramount power in a part of this peninsula: the raja of Rumbati.
Like Sekar, Wertuar and Patipi this area was ruled by clans, which delived rulers not with a raja title.
Later these areas became more and more powerfull themselves and could gain some amount of independence from Rumbati.
In ca. 1865 the ruler of Rumbati received the rajatitle from the paramount ruler in this area:the sultan of Tidore.
When the Dutch East-Indish Government really obtained the influence here at the end of the 19th century the raja of Arguni became more or less totally independent.
Sekar, Arguni and probably also Wertuar were later not ashamed to acknowledge the paramount position of Rumbati in the northern part of the Bomberay peninsula.
Nearly all of the 9 principalities in this peninsula had his own influence area outside his central area;mainly on the Bird's Head peninsula.
These influenced was reduced more and more.But strange enough only in the Arguni area this influence remained very strong.Only in 1928 a begin of a reduced influence was started (the 2 areas of Arguni then were in 2 seperate districts).

The raja of Arguni also was always known a a strong bringer of the islam religion in his influence area.
The Arguni area was known as the area of the excellent boatmakers. The Arguni boats (for business for instance) were always real bigger than the used boats in the other Bomberay principalities.
Also the pottery and the sagoproduction in Arguni is well-known in the area.
The raja dynasty has strong descent connections also with Ceram.
The businnes principalities of the Papua Bomberay peninsula were always strong in trading with the areas around them.
These activites remained strong later.The present rajas are nowadays also engaged in business, or/and are engaged in local politics.
Before Arguni was quite densely populated. Later the amount of population diminished a little.
Arguni is described in the modern time maybe not as the most richest principality in this area, but for sure one of the most remarquable principalities.

D.P. Tick gRMK
I. Festivana

New raja of Rumbati was Already Selected and Proclaimed 30-11-2009

In Papua 2 sons of recently deceased rajas were proclaimed recently.
The 2 rajas are:
Raja Abubakar Saleh Bauw;son of the on 29-11-2009 deceased Raja Haji Ismail Samali Bauw of Rumbati and Raja Taufiq Heru Uswanas;son of the on 24-12-2009 deceased Raja Said Arobi Uswanas of Fatagar.
The new raja of Rumbati was proclaimed after the 40 days of general mourning on 8-1-2009 and the new raja of Fatagar was proclaimed after 7
days of strong mourning on 31-12-2009.
I try to inform you about these 2 new monarchs of Papua in due time.

D.P. Tick gRMK
I. Festivana

The Sultan of Cirebon-Kanoman;another Indonesian King, Who Saves The Local Identity

The last years the present sultan of Cirebon-Kanoman was much in the news. He belongs to a quite nationalistic dynasty, who also had some quite strong opinions about it's position. Cirebon is one of the most early islamic kingdoms of Indonesia.Some say, that you can very good feel the traditional atmosphere of Indonesian in Cirebon. The Cirebon kings are descendants of Sunan Gunung Jati; one of the original bringers of the islam to Java. His son Hassanuddin became the first king of Banten in West-Java and from the brother of this king;Pangeran Pasarean;descends the kings of Cirebon. After the death of Pangeran Giri Laya of Cirebon in 1662 his kingdom was divided into 3 areas among his sons with a special roulating system of succesion. When king of the first branch died, than a prince of the 2nd branch became the crownprince there,etc. That system ended later. In the 18th century even a 4th branch of the dynasty began to rule. So now you had the Cirebon branches of Kanoman (2nd most important), Kasepuhan (1st one), which were both sultans. Then the pangeran branch of Kacirebonan (3rd most important) and the Panembahan branch of Kaprobonan (who only delivered 3 rulers for a relative short time, but continued to exist a a dynastic branch). In 1819 the remaining 3 branches were abolished as ruling dynasties, but continued as keepers of the traditions in all it's aspects. As such they were discovered in the independence struggle after WW II. Already before the greatgrandfather of the present sultan;Sultan Anom Raja Nurbuat (1934-1935) asked to be more recognized as a real sultan with a full title like his forefathers. It was then the time, that the Dutch East-Indish government was thinking of restoring abolished dynasties in Indonesia as the first steps to give back the government responsibilities to the local people of Indonesia. The son of Sultan Anom Raja Nurbuat;Sultan Anom Muhammad Nurus (1935-1989);even asked after WW II to be a ruling sultan again and hoped, that Cirebon would become one kingdom. His son Sultan Anom Muhammad Djalaluddin;father of the present sultan of Cirebon-Ka-noman;ruled until his death in 2002. This sultan continued the restoration of at least the cultural function of the dynasty. His oldest son of his royal wife was the later Sultan Elang Muhammad Emiruddin;born in 1973. The a few months older brother of the latter had actually a non-royal mother, so according to the traditional rules of succesion he was not the 1st eligible person to become a sultan:Pangeran Elang Muhammad Saladin. For some reasons later mentioned Prince Saladin assisted much his father in his function a sultan.His father had also symphaty for the idea, that this prince would have a chance to become a sultan. But the dynasty network thought, that it was better,that the tradition would be maintained. Sultan Anom Muhammad Djalaluddin died 18-11-2002. His brother then was temporary-sultan for a while to sort out things. Suddenly Prince Saladin let install himself as sultan in the palace (5-3-2003). One of the reasons for it was, that his close family found, that the health problems of his full-royal brother was a point of consideration, wether he could be a good sultan, or not. The day thereafter in a bigger ceremony Sultan Elang Muhammad Emiruddin was installed as 12th king of Cirebon-Kanoman. The recognition of the local government for one of the 2 royals was not immediately there. Sultan Emiruddin had after a while enough of the unharmonious atmosphere in the palace and removed his brother Saladin and his followers from the palace. In Indonesia you can see, that the government also likes to see one king only living in the palace. This present sultan of Cirebon-Kanoman is a special king actually. When he was 9 years old he got a trouble with his ears and when he was 16 his ability to hear ceased to exist. But, which is mostly the case, when a sense-organ ceased to function;other sense-organs are sharpened. The young Prince Emiruddin developped a very sharp eye for the details of the weaving - and other local culture. Espacially the local batik is his specialism. From that he could make his later work.That work and specialism had resulted in fascinating batik exhibitions he organise regulalry in his aim to preserve the true local culture. In this he is supported by his dynastic near family. The sultan married in 2000 with Sultana Ratu Dian Astuti. On 11-12-2001 the present crownprince of his branch was born:Pangeran Raja Muhammad Qodirudin. It is also hoped,that the harmony in the dynasty can be restored completely. The Kanoman dynasty is known for it's firm conviction for it's own opinion, but for his willingness to listen to people with other opinions. It is wished, that this talent will be used for the good.

D.P. Tick gRMK
I. Festivana

Indonesia Royal Pictures Online

Malaysia and Brunei show their royalty online in abundance,but the (so-called non-ruling) dynasties of their neighbours in Indonesia and the Philippines are hard to find in pictures on internet. Only maybe in social network pages of sites like facebook, etc. of royalty from there. But then you must know many names of Indonesia royals.
Sometimes you find a rare,but beautifull exception.
When you search for molied.multiply.com Sultan Ternate,then you find some interesting and beautifull recent photoseries about Sultan Mudafar Syah II of Ternate.
This sultan is known for his hard work to preserve the ages old royal traditions and it's functioning in the social network and his functioning as moral king of his people.
I wish all of you a nice and interesting time, while looking at these pictures.

Thank you for your interest.

Raja from Papua Dies

On the 29th of november 2009 one of the most important rajas of Papua died:Raja Ismail Bauw.
Like his father Raja Ibrahim Bauw:ruled from 1946 and died 1994 , he was an important political leader in Papua.
In the begining of the 1960-ies,when there was the matter of Papua would join Indonesia finally;he tried to keep Indonesia one,so not all kind of independent states in the former Dutch East-Indies.
His son Crownprince Ismail Bauw was then the sub-district chief of the Fak Fak area.
Already soon the crownprince took over the political leadership of his father.
Raja Ismail Bauw as a young politician was in the beginning very much in favour to keep Indonesia one, But later in his more older and mild years he also could understand the ideas of Papuan people, who wished more autonomy for the area.
A big part of his life he was political active. In 1999 he was still the candidate for the local parliament.
The historical grown role of the rajas in Papua is still functioning as a part of the social system.
Before they were under the paramount rule (sometimes at least nominally) of the sultanate of Tidore in the North-Moluccans. The representative of the Tidore sultan in Papua was the raja of Lilinta on the island of Misool in the Raja Ampat islands (before the west coast of Papua).
Locally the raja of Lilinta was represented by the raja of Rumbati, who also was a paramount raja in big parts of the Onin, or Bomberai peninsula.During the course of the history several parts of the Rumbati principality became independent principalities themselves.
Raja Ismail Bauw was already sick for some time.
May his sole can take part in the eternal peace and that his succesor will be a leader with wisdom.

Amin

D.P. Tick gRMK
I. Festivana

The Datu of Luwu

Datu Andi Iwan Alamsyah Bau Djemma Barue of Luwu with his wife

In the very old time the rulers of Buginese Kingdom of Luwu were the main powers on the island of Sulawesi, which held sway over many Toraja peoples to. Later the kingdoms of Bone and Gowa in SW-Sulawesi began to be more powerfull, but Luwu remained a big power, having it's sphere of influence in a big area. So nowadays several non-Luwu districts/kabupatens on Sulawesi still have a very strong traditional relationships with Luwu. The datu's of Luwu also always stayed very selfconfident. Until the end of the Dutch rule in Indonesia. Of course the datu's also saw the good sides of Dutch rule, but always wanted to have independence for their area and country. The last in this line of freedomseekers kings was Datu Andi Djemma Barue (a later national hero). He ruled 1936-1946(deposed) and 1949-1959 as king;from 1957-1960 as bupati of Luwu. He died in 1965.His son Andi Achmad was bupati of Luwu 1968-1972.The traditional postion of his dynasty always remained strong.In the present time of revival of the cultural and social value of the Indonesian dynasties also here that has not happened without problems. In Luwu the succesion always was settled with the rule, that the new king,or queen had to be descended as much as possible form former monarchs. That is the so-called "being of pure royal blood" principle. Nowadays some dynasties, which did not use the latter principle of succesion also try to use the principle "a monarch will be followed by the oldest child". The hereby depicted Datu Iwan Alamsyah Bau Djemma Barue is the oldest son of Andi Bau Djemma gelar Tellu PoccoE, who is the only son from the marriage of Datu Andi Djemma Barue with his fullblooded royal daughter of a raja of Bone(the also as Indonesian national hero recognized Arumpone/Raja Andi Mappanjuki). He was installed as datu of Luwu in 2006. Before he already was considered as the semi-official dynastychief, but in 2003 some people in the dynasty network thought it also good to use the principle "oldest child is succesor", so another grandchild of Datu Andi Djemma Barue was respected from that time as the main person in the datu dynasty. This princess is Datu Andi Luwu;the daughter of the oldest son of Datu Andi Djemma, who always was a big help of his father before and also an important person in the independence struggle in Luwu after WW II. Nowadays you see, that also the traditional values are restored in Luwu in which the dynasty also plays an important role. You can see, that we live now in a time, where the good things of the old time are taken back and the unneccesary things are left behind. Also here it is hoped, that wishes of harmony will remain.

D.P. Tick gRMK
I. Festivana

The picture is from the collection of Forum Silaturahmi Keraton se-Nusantara

Indonesian King attends Royal Installation in Malaysia

On the 26th of october 2009 the 11 th Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan federation was installed as the crown of a ca. week long installation ceremonies in this Malaysian federal royal member state.
The new king;Tuanku Muhriz;was chosen 29-12-2008 as such by the 4 eligible member rulers of the Negri Sembilan federation as succesor to his shortly before deceased uncle Tuanku Jaafar.
Already enough has been written about this installation before, so it would be a bit unnessarily to write again elaborately about it.
Only it was an extraoridinary fact,that an Indonesian king and his queen were also attending officially.
It is Sutan Taufik Thaib gelar Yang Dipertuan Tuanko Mudo Mangkuto Alam of Pagaruyung.
The reason for it, was that some centuries ago the present ruling system of the Negri Sembilan federation;a by Minangkabauw from Sumatra peopled area;took shape, when the member states went to their old homeland on Sumatra to ask the Emperor of the Minangkabauw peoples there to give them a prince of his dynasty to be the first ruler of an united Negri Sembilan.
And so it happened.
The historical contacts with the long ago departed homeland remained very strong again ever since and that is why this ceremonial bond between the 2 areas was made in the open again by the attending of the king of the Minangkabauw area on Sumatra;also called the Emperor of Pagaruyung. He is seen on the 2nd picture.
Somewhere in the audience was the ruler of an other seperate Minangkabauw area;the close to Negri Sembilan attached area Naning in Malakka. The Dato Undang with name Abdul Latif of Naning will be shown in due time attending the event.

The installation itself was also attended by Malaysia royalty and the crown prince couple of Brunei.
The royal banquet afterwards was also attended by more royalty from all over Malaysia, the Sultan of Brunei with his near family, the Emperor of Pagaruyung with his wife and more very high dignitaries.

May all this be a blessing also for a wise rule of the new king of Negri Sembilan.

Donald P.Tick
Festivana