Manek Benjamin Messakh of Thie; The King, who preserved the history of the Rote-Ndao islands;died 25 januari 2010

Property of PUSAKA

Unfortunately the last time several of important and well-known,or lesser well-know rajas and sultans of Indonesia had died.
5 days ago one of the most important kings of the Rote-Ndao islands in East-Indonesia; being known for his preservation of the history of this archipelago, where the kings in fact continued to rule the longest in Indonesia(until ca. 1970) had died.
He was one of the most important and most active dynastychiefs from a total of 19 dynastychiefs;from the Rote islands;an archipelago of ca.
1.200 km2 lying west of Timor.
It seems, that most of his life was dedicated one way,or another to the well-being of Thie; one of the more bigger principalities of the Rote-islands, or of the Rote-archipelago in general.
When he was born in the 1930-ies His grandfather Manek Jeremias Wilhelmus Messakh was king of Thie;a royal power, which the Dutch had to reckon with, because of the consistent nationalistic performance against the Dutch government. Because of that his grandfather was deposed in 1948 after 17 years of rule.
After 2 tempory-rulers, his son Jusuf Nicolaas Messakh became manek,or king of Thie and ruled from 1949-1951. Then it was totally the end of Dutch rule in Indonesia (in fact in 1949) and Manek Jeremias W. Messakh could be installed as king of Thie again. He ruled for another 2 years.
Then the vice-manek,or fettor of Thie:Fettor Hermanus Haning ruled temporarily from 1953-1956.This ruler is the father of them present
bupati(districtchief) of Rote-Ndao:
Drs. Leonard Haning.
Then in 1956 the son of Manek Jermias W. Messakh and the father of the just deceased Manek of Thie Drs. Benjamin Messakh;Manek Jeremias Arnoldus Messakh became king of Thie. As such he ruled until 1962.Then this father was elected as subdistrict chief of West-Rote and his younger brother Thobias Arnoldus Messakh then was the last official royal ruler of Thie by being the caretaker of the royal dignity of manek from 1962-69.
The father of Manek Drs. Benjamin Messakh died in 1985.His uncle ex-Manek Thobias A. Messakh died in 2004.
When this uncle died the functioning of the dynasties were also revived in Rote-Ndao:as preservers of a big part of the local traditions.
In the mean time a lot had happened in the area. The Rotenese people;although having strong contacts with their brother peoples on nearby Timor;wanted to form their own seperate district.
Manek Benjamin Messakh would become the last assistant-bupati of Rote-Ndao in the transition period. After that period from 1998-2003 the new kabupaten of Rote-Nado was proclaimed.
Prince Drs. Benjamin Messakh was then officially proclaimed as the new king of Thie.
Officially they called it the chief of the manek,or royal clan BuralaE;named after the first king of this branch of the dynasty (who ruled continuously for nearly 300 years from then on):Manek Messakh Mbura (ruled 1674-1694).
This dynasty delivered 23 kings.
Manek Drs. Benjamin Messakh was the first dynastychief to be recognized again in the modern time as such.
As a assistant-bupati he already was known for his dedication to the well-being of his own and the people of the total Rote-Ndao archipelago.
He was very interested in history and preserved by all means the old historical stories from the area.
His dream was to publish his own book about the history of the 19 monarchies of the Rote-Ndao archipelago:being known as the area settled with the biggest density of monarchies of total Indonesia.
When I did in 2000 for the first time fieldwork concerning the dynasties of Rote-Ndao he did all, what was in his power to help me.
Although already being one of the mayor princes in the dynasty then, he was very humble in the acting towards other people.
And most of all:his rule was always clean!
He chared his historical interest for the principalities of Rote-Ndao with his wife, who is a princess of the Johannis dynasty of Landu(according to the traditional view the most important oldest kingdom of Rote-Ndao).
Apart from the politics his historical research was his lifework.
The last time he suddenly had problems with his heart and suddenly on the 25th of januari he died.
That the government will publish his bookmanuscript about the history of the principalities of Rote-Ndao;an area,which is also called because of his big density of dynasties:the archipelago of the kings.
That his succesor as manek,or dynastychief of Thie (also written as Ti'i) (unknown until nowto us,who will succeed him) will have the same wisdom, warm heart and dedication in live.
May the soul of this symphatic king,who had a well-spend life with his several dedications; rest in peace and that his family and dynasty will feel the comfort of the Loving God in Heaven during this difficult time.
From Lampung and Holland we send hereby also our sincere condolences.

I. Festivana
D.P. Tick gRMK
(pusaka.tick@tiscali.nl )

We also like to thank HRH Raja Leopold Isu Nisnoni of Kupang/Timor, who informed us about the passing way of the manek of Thie.

The Tomundo of Banggai Died on January 27th, 2010

Raja of Banggai : Middle

Again a sad message have reached us:the passing away of the Tomundo of Banggai after only ca. 1 1/2 year of rule in a hospital in Jakarta.
He passed away at local time 18.00 at the 27th of januari 2010 at the Mitra Keluarga Hospital the dynasty announced officially.
His younger brother Raja Irwan Zaman Awaluddin was directly proclaimed as the new Tomundo of Banggai.
Only at the 14th of august 2008 HH Tomundo Ir. Haji Iskandar Zaman Awaluddin,MM;born as the greatgrandson of the last raja of Banggai of their more direct line;Tomundo Haji Awaluddin(1924-1939);was installed as the new tomundo of the in N.E.-Sulawesi lying big area of Banggai.
In Banggai there is no direct father-to-son succesion, but they sometimes tend to follow that line;espacially in the present time.
When Raja Haji Awaluddin died in 1939 his oldest son Raja Muda Jaida was to young to become the new raja,so an influential member of one of the 3 branches of the dynasty was chosen to be the raja from then on:Raja Haji Aminuddin alias Raja Sukuran Amir (1939-1957). He was from the branch of the predecessor of Raja H. Awaluddin:Raja Abdulrahman(1904-1922). Descent via the female line.
Descent via a female line also is allowed in this dynasty.
Because the on 27-1-2010 died Tomundo Ir. Haji Iskandar Zaman Awaluddin was the son of the granddaughter of the in 1939 died Raja,or Tomundo Haji Awaluddin.
This line provides the most rajas of Banggai.
So with him the strongest branch of the dynasty came back to the throne.
The 49 years old raja was working as a teacher and on 1 july 2009 was even so popular,that he was chosen as member of the local parliament.
Banggai is an island group,but also the name of an island.
The area derives it name from the island, where the present dynasty comes from.
Between ca. 1365 and ca. 1478 there was some kind of stateformation here, in which time also the 1st real monarch in the area was installed.
The present statehood of Banggai;an united principality of Banggai, must have been made ca. 16-5-1600.
Already soon the big local power here;Ternate;could be the big brother also in this area,but the Banggai people are known for their strong feelings of a form of liberty, so tried to regain their first freedom all the time. That is why, that looking on the pedigree of the raja dynasty of Banggai you see so many rajas, who were deposed,because did not want to cooperate with the then then paramount power in the area;Ternate,or Holland.
After the death of Raja Nurdin (1870-1880);the 2nd most important branch of the dynasty never came back with a raja.
The present dynasty is said to be descendant from a sultan of Banten on Java. This sultan's son was armyleader of the sultan of Ternate (N.-Moluccans), who had conquered the area in 1580. After some kind of stateforming after a chaotic time his brother Raja Perinci Mandapaar became the 4th raja of his dynasty and could bring some unification in Banggai. Also some from of independence.
Banggai was however reconquered by Ternate in 1655.
Much later the total freedom for Banggai under Dutch rule was regained in the 20th century.
The last ruling raja,Raja Sukuran Amir;was followed as the face of the monarchy by his son Raja Muda Muhammad Chair Amir alias Raja Hideo Amir.
In 2008 however the traditional council of the dynasty decided to let install Tomundo Ir. Haji Iskandar Zaman as the 22th raja of Banggai.
So sad,that already after less than 1 1/2 year after his installation the life of this monarch of Banggai ended.
He was known for having so much ideals to give the people of Banggai an indentity within the Indonesian state:Unity in Diversity;the words under the Indonesian coat of arms; was a loved principle of him.

His remains were flied back to Banggai on the 28th of januari, where royal ceremonials would take place;attended by the dynasty,local government and traditional chiefs and many representatives of the Indonesian royal world;followed by his royal funeral.
This all would be led by the new raja of Banggai;his younger brother Raja Irwan Zaman Awaluddin.
We would like to give the dynasty and the people of Banggai hereby our sincere condolences;not in the last place the widow of the deceased Tomundo:
Her Highness Hajjah Ratu Zulvaina Djibran Zaman Awaluddin.
May the ratu and her close family espacially find the strenght of God to be able to take up the life again in due time.
After the prescribed 40 days of mourning the dynasty will decide over the date of the installation of the new raja.
Maybe he follow in the wise footsteps of his brother.
May the soul of the 22th Tomundo of Banggai:Raja Ir. Haji Iskandar Zaman Awaluddin rest in peace!

Amin.

Thanks to HH Kanjeng Pangeran Haryo Gunarso G. Kusomodingrat;secretary of the Forum Silaturahmi Keraton se Nusantara;Jakarta;to inform us about the tragic death of the Tomundo of Banggai.


I. Festivana
D.P. Tick gRMK

Raja of Fatagar Dies.

Again in one month time ca. one of the monarchs of Papua died. This time it was also an important raja and an important politician.
On 28-11-2009 Regent-Raja Ismail Samali Bauw of Rumbati died. One of the most important politicians of the Fak Fak/Kaimana area, where are 8 of the 13 monarchies of Papua.
On the 26th of december 2009 Raja Haji Said Arobi Uswanas of Fatagar, south of Rumbati,but in the same district/kabupaten of Fak Fak, died as well. Before he entered politics as a full time job, he was a businessman. One of his things was a well-known restaurant in the city
of Fak Fak. Later he became quite important;f.i; as a member of the parliament of kabupaten Fak Fak.
Maybe his son Raja Muda Jufri Uswanas, or another member of the raja dynasty will after the prescribed 40 days of mourning be selected as the next raja of Fatagar.
May his soul rest in peace.

In due time we inform you about further developments also in this dynasty.

We thank hereby also Her Highness Ratu Muda Arwan Heremba;sister of His Highness Raja Musa Heremba of Wertuar/kabupaten Fak Fak, and her dynasty for informing us about the sad death of the monarch of Fatagar.

Amin

D.P. Tick gRMK
I. Festivana

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