UNHOLY ALLIANCES
Southeast Asian merchant vessels and colonial warships, have been the sites of extraordinary conflicts and changes often associated with the formation of ethnic groups and boundaries, political struggles and national histories. One profound era was the hey days of pirating, slaving and marauding of Iranun and Bangingi Nations.
Many historians see this maritime raiding as "state sanctioned" by the Sultanates of Sulu and Maguindanao. I believe otherwise. Although there was actually an insatiable demands of the sultanates of Sulu and Maguindanao for slave labor -( labor to harvest and procure exotic natural commodities, such as sea cucumbers and birds' nests, reached a peak in the first half of the nineteenth century as the China trade flourished) these activities were actually independent of these governments. It is the classic story of PIRATES similar with the pirates of European waters. To support this claim: although the Sultanate of Maguindanao was predominatly Iranun, it is a historical fact that the IRANUN NATION PER SE WERE NOT SUBJECTS OF ANY GOVERNMENTS. They were an independent sea faring people governed by their respective datus.
However, it is not an exclusively "muslim activity", Francisco Mallari wrote in his book "It is unjustifiable to impute all acts of piracy to muslims" he further explains that there were actually christian and pagan renegades and pirates who joined the muslims in slave trading across south east asia. We can also say even if there were alliances between the Iranun and the Bangingi Nations/tribes, often times battle of control do occur in the seas.
Iranun squadrons regularly plundered villages and captured slaves. Their exploits and conquests had the immediate effect of both disrupting and destroying traditional trade routes across Asia (Warren 1981: 152-53) . These reputation prompted the Sultanate of Sulu to seek the services of these sea faring warriors when he helped the Sultan of Brunei quell a rebellion against his throne. In return Sabah was given to the Sultan Of Sulu as gift in the late 17th century and rewarded the Iranun to stay in Brunei as long as they wish, today, we can still see Iranun communities in Brunei.
Image: The Garay, a typical boat of Iranun and Bangingi Nations, and an Iranun sea faring warrior
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