The Tomundo of Banggai;one of the 3 boy-kings of Indonesia

The principality in NE Sulawesi already exists as an united principality for ca. 410 years. It was founded by a son of the Javanese sultan of Banten, or by a representative of the sultan of Ternate. Maybe he was both.
For a long time Banggai;ruled by a raja with the title Tomundo,was under the influence of the sultan of Ternate in the N-Moluccans, but in ca. 1900 it was made totally independent from Ternate by Holland.
Mostly the Tomundo was chosen by the royal election council;a body of 4 members;from a certain line.
When Tomundo Haji Awaluddin died in 1939 after having been tomundo for 15 years his son Raja Muda Jaida was to young to succeed, so an important prince became a sort of raja in between:Raja Haji Sukuran bin Aminuddin Amir. This raja ruled until 1955 and was raja one way or another active until 1959. His son Raja Muda Muhammad Chair Amir (RM Hideo Amir) was from 1987 on the main representative of the dynasty.In 2008 the grandson of the oldest son of Raja H. Awaluddin was selected as new tomundo;the 22th;of Banggai.
At 16-1-2008 this raja was installed:Tomundo Ir. Haji Iskandar Zaman Awaluddin;SH.
He did much for the identity of Banggai.
He was very much respected and loved by the people of Banggai.
He died suddenly 27-1-2010.
One of the royal organisations of Indonesia did a lot to let the succesion of him happen in full harmony.
So later the oldest son of the deceased raja could be selected and recognized as the 23th tomundo of Banggai:Tomunda Muhammad Fiqran Ramadhan Iskandar. He now is raja under the regency of the younger brother of his father Raja Muda Irawan Zaman Awaluddin.
The boy-king of Banggai is 17 years old and one of the youngest kings of Indonesia.
The other boy-kings are the sultans of Deli (E-Sumatra) and of Sambas (W-Kalimantan).
The dynasty is still working hard to make verything very perfect in the dynastic network.

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Tidore (North-Maluku) has New Palace

Tidore, KOMPAS - Sultan Tidore 36th, Djafar Sjah, began living in kadaton-called Java-once the palace of the building was completely built in March 2010 in the City Tidore, North Maluku. This new history for the Sultanate Tidore for nearly a century old has not Tidore kadaton.
Building kadaton made similar kadaton original building.
- Djafar Sjah

Sultan Tidore Djafar Sjah, Sunday (28 / 3), said the development of new kadaton start was made in 1997 by the government. Because of limited funds allocated each year, phased construction and newly completed mid March 2010.

"Building kadaton kadaton made similar to the original building by looking at pictures ever made when it is colonizing the Netherlands and other historical evidence," he said.

After kadaton completely built, the Sultan and the Sultanate of customary holders Tidore, March 17 and then, spreading crown sodoro rituals, which transfer the crown of the Sultan to kadaton. Previously, the crown kept in museums in Tidore.

"The Emperor and the crown are two forces that are not integral. Therefore, both must be in its rightful place, namely in kadaton, "observers said the history of the Sultanate of Tidore, Lahman Saleh.

Kadaton building is a building that formerly was built in the reign of Sultan Muhammad Muttahiddin (1811-1831) in 1812. It takes about 50 years to complete the construction of which was given the name kadaton Kadato this Kie, or about the year 1861.

Muttahiddin post-Sultan, the sultan of development followed two successors, namely Sultan al Mansyur Ahmadul Mansyur Chalifahtullah Sirajuddin (1831-1856) and Sultan Ahmad Syaifudin (1856-1865).

The last sultan who occupy kadaton is Qawiuddin Syahdjuan Sultan Ahmad (1894-1905). Post-coup Sultan Syahdjuan inter-child descendant of Sultan for seven years. This condition is exploited by the Dutch colonizers direct lift of an emperor.

Prime Minister of the Sultanate of Tidore Nau Tjenge who holds the government at that time have destroyed kadaton as a form of resistance against Dutch colonial policy.

Pay officers kadaton

In sodoro ritual crown, the sovereign is not allowed to leave kadaton for 44 days. Every Sunday night and Wednesday night, the sovereign must remembrance praised room, where the crown is stored in kadaton.

Lahman Saleh added that the existence of kadaton and return the crown to the sultan and the momentum of rise kadaton Tidore Sultanate. "Ritual and other traditions that have long since have strived to be raised again so that citizens know their heritage and the positive values of each tradition," he said.

Djafar Sjah said, it could be performed if there is support from government funds. "Currently, we are still puzzled how to employ the officers in kadaton because there are no funds allocated," he said. (APA)

Picture & Document are from Kompas Article
(Link :
http://travel.kompas.com/read/2010/03/29/20141867/Tidore.Miliki.Kadaton.Baru)

Festivi
Donald

Siak; a Major Power on Sumatra

Before the sultanate of Siak was one of the major powers in the East/N-part of Sumatra for a long time. Several small and little principalities were under it's sway. Later these all became independent, but always respected the historical position of the sultan of Siak.

Espacially the sultanate of Aceh was also an important player in the search for control of the area.

The last ruling sultan of Siak;Sultan Abdul Jalil Saifuddin V(rule (1908-)1915-1946); also known as Tengku Syarif Kassim II, ruled in a much turbulent time. In the independence struggle around WW II he was an important defendant of Indonesian independence.
Because of that he was made a national hero of Indonesia in 1998.
He died in 1968 and left no royal heirs. His brother had sons,but not from a royal wife.
So for a long time there was no official dynastychief of Siak.Some years ago that was changed.
The last ruling sultan was descendant of Sultan Abdul Jalil Saifuddin III( T. Sy. Kasim I;ruled 1864-88). This sultan had succeeded his older brother Sultan Abdul Jalil Saifuddin II(Raja Ismail),who ruled from 1827 and had to stop as sultan, because of his health.
Now the line of Sultan Abdul Jalil Saifuddin III/Sy. Kasim is extinct, the dynasty decided to continue with the line of his older brother.
The present chief of the sultan's dynasty of Siak is Haji Tengku Muhammad Muchtar Anum Raja;greatgrandson of the foremost last mentioned sultan, who is also described as Sultan Syarif Ismail Abdul Jalil Syafuddin II.

Siak is one of the important centres of East-Sumatra culture.


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Main Palace of the Emperor of Minangkabauw burnt down on 21th March, 2010

Some disasters are following the last time the Imperial dynasty of Minangkabauw,or Pagaruyung in West-Sumatra.
On 27-2-2007 THE symbol of Minangkabauwculture;but not the main palace of the imperial dynasty of Minangkabauw;the Istano Basa Pagaruyuang was burnt down.
At this moment the rebuilding activities are nearly finished so the new palace at Batusangkar could be reopened with big festivities. A joy for the Minangkabauw area and also of Indonesia in general a bit,because this palace is seen culturally as one of the main palaces of Indonesia.
But at 01.00 A.M. the main palace of the Imperial dynasty of Minangkabauw, or Pagaruyung;the Istano Silindung Bulan;also at Batusangkar;was burned down and now there were very strong proofs that is was set onfire.
The from wood built very traditional palace was burned down totally.
There are rumours going on now in all kind of networks on internet for instance,that it was done,because of a rivalry inside the network involved with traditional matters in the area,which would like to see promoted the nearlty rebuilt palace Istano Basa Pagaruyuang; a museum; as the main palace of the area,instead of the Istano Silindung Bulan.

We hope, that matters will be come to total harmony again.
We also hope to inform you in due time about this matter.

We thank Mr. M. Safuan from Malaysia for giving us a link on internet to the matter.

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Very rare flower grows near royal graves(Selimbau)

In the life sometimes you can see very extraordinary matters, which you can not explain at all. We only can see it then as one of the many miracles of God.
One of it is the place, where the legendary black orchid is growing.
For lovers of orchids the name black orchid is a very legendary one. Does it really exists, or not?
In 2007 2 people from the district of Kapuas Hulu in West-Borneo (West-Kalimantan) found these very beautifull flowers.
The men;called Uju Suharman and Abeng;founded the flowers growing near the royal graves of the rajas of the very ancient kingdom of Selimbau.
They were stunned by their beauty and talked about it to a youth leader in Selimbau called Mr. Muhamad Walidad.
He to went to the area,where the flowers are growing;an area of ca. 5 ha near the graves of the royal family of Selimbau;besides also growing on nearby lying trees.
Then he went to the government of the district of Kapuas Hulu and also there were talks with the traditional leaders of Selimbau and of course also with the nominal king of Selimbau:Raden Muhammad Asbi Assidiqi. He is the grandson of the last ruling raja of Selimbau:Pangeran Gusti Haji Muhammad Usman, who died in 1925.
Then the chief of the district;the bupati:Bupati Drs. Abang Tambul Husin (a local royal too),
the local king:Raden Muhammad Asbi Assidiqi, local traditional and community leaders came together end 2008 for an important meeting, what important measures there had to be taken to protect this very rare and very beautifull (and very legendary) black orchid;growing near the royal graveyard of the rajas of Selimbau.
It then was declared, that the area would be a special protected area under strict protection from the government. Stealing of the flowers would be punished with very heavy fines per flower.
Of course the area could be visited after permission only and under guidance of the local government.
In the mean time Mr. Muhamad Walidad kept on visiting the area to look after the condition of the legendary flowers.
The area of the royal graveyard of the rajas of Selimbau in Kapuas Hulu district now could become a very important touristic site.
It is hoped, that all will be enjoyed in a very wise way by visitors under the guidance of the local government.
Until now this place is not very well-known,but if the very many orchid lovers of the world knows,that the black orchid really exists and that the royal graveyard of Selimbau is the rare site for it, it could be a very busy visited place in the future.

How a little kingdom like Selimbau could become a famous place in the modern time!


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I. Festivana

Royal Indonesian Wedding Festival Take Place on March 6, 2010

On 6 march the Forum Silaturahmi Keraton se Nusantara (the Cooperation of Friendship of the Indonesian Dynasties/FSKN) will held a special royal festival dedicated to the rich and very variated royal wedding culture of Indonesia.
The 1 day festival will take place in Sasono Utomo TM II building in Jakarta and will be opened already by the celebrity Mr. Menko Kesra at 9.00 in the morning.
The festival is of course open for the public.
Royal and Princely dynasties from several places of the Indonesian archipelago will show their centuries old wedding ceremonies, special wedding clothes, special wedding music, etc.
A few of them, who display and present their palace wedding culture are:the sultan's dynasty of Bulungan (East-Kalimantan), the sultan's dynasty of Siak (East-Sumatra), the pangeran dynasty of Gebang (Cirebon-area/West-Java) and the sultan's dynasty of Pontianak(West-Kalimantan).
The festival also will be attended by several kings,rajas,dynastychiefs and the like of areas all over Indonesia.
The royal wedding culture of Indonesia is one of the most interesting subjects of the general and royal culture.

We hope to be able to put some reports about it later.

Namatota;the most eastern Indonesian principality

In the SE East of the Bomberay peninsula of Papua lies the Namatota, or Kowiai area. The raja of Namaotota, who lived in the capital Namatota was together with the raja of Rumbati the most important raja of the peninsula.His area was the biggest of all, although not always he had a very direct influence there. Before the stateletts of Arguni and Kaimana were his vasals. The raja of Namaotota could augment his influence with the help of the sultan of Tidore. It was also described as a commercial principality with the economic centre in the capital. The dynasty says, they come from the Gunung Baik area originally. The present raja of Namatota is Raja Hayum Ombaier and like most of the other rajas here also member of the local government. The present raja is meber of the staf of the bupati of Kaimana.

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