LAST RULING MONARCH OF INDONESIA DIED

Manek Marthen Matheos Johannis and Dynastychief Willem Marthen Johannis of Landu

The manek, or Raja of Landu depicted here was the last ruling monarch of Indonesia until he died 18-3-2008. He ruled 1960-1966. Actually his brother was the crownprince, but he was alerady a judge in the big city of Kupang on the nearby island os Timor, so he gave his rights to the dignity to his younger brother. Landu is considered as the oldestso most respected culturally principality of Rote-islands. It is situated on a peninsula, which connection via land is flooded part of the year (ca. half of the year), that is why the landu people are not very much mixed with other peoples. Euroepan people thought befiorem, that the Landu people were actually a mix of Portugese and Melayu people. Sometimes they look very much like Arabs.
The present dynastychief is hisn oldest son and he was before the mayor of the royal town in Landu area; nowadays called Sotimori.

Donald Tick,
Pusat Dokumentasi Kerajaan-kerajaan Indonesia "Pusaka"
Edit by festivi