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| Rajah Baguinda tomb at Bud Datu (Prince Mount), Indanan, Sulu. For photo source, please click here ... |
Sumatra is a huge Indonesian island in the Northwest facing the famous Strait of Malacca to the east and the vast Indian Ocean to the west. Its peoples are as diverse as its natural flora and fauna, and as rich as its history. Politically and historically, Sumatra is dotted by princely states intermittently at war and at peace with each other. From time to time, one kingdom consolidates enough power to rule over the island and the islands beyond.
Kantoli was one of the earliest known kingdoms to have rule a large portion of the southern region in the 5th century. Between the 7th and 9th centuries, the Buddhist monarchy of Sri Vijaya centered around Palembang was master of the island as well as significant portion of the SE Asia. At the same time, it was subject to invasion from southern India by the Chola Dynasty and from the south by Javanese kingdoms. From the south first came the Singhasari and subsequently Majapahit, a Hindu kingdom like Sri Vijaya eventually became a regional power. At the same time Islam made its way to Sumatra through Arabs and Indian traders in the 6th and 7th centuries AD.
By the late 13th century, King Merah Silu of the Samudra kingdom (also known as the kingdom of Pasai, Samudera ot Samudera-Pasai) converted to Islam and adopted the name Malik ul Salih in 1267. Italian traveler Marco Polo visited the island in 1292 and Arab explorer Ibn Battuta visited twice during 1345-1346. Samudra was succeeded by the powerful Aceh Sultanate, which survived to the 20th century. The Sultanate of Aceh was established with the conversion of its ruler to Islam as Ali Mughayat Syah by mid-15th century.
In relation to Rajah Baguinda, what is of interest to us is the period between late 14th and early 15th century, covering roughly the period when Pasai was overlord of Sumatra. Did he (Rajah Baguinda) came from the ruling Pasai dynasty, or was he from one of its tributary states? Aceh and later dynasties is out of the picture as well as those outside the island of Sumatra.
A similar claim says, he is from Minangkabau (earlier Minangkabwa). This is possible as it is a highland region in Western Sumatra. A Minangkabau kingdom around Pagayurung with ties to both the Singhasari and Majapahit kingdoms of Java, is believed to have ruled between 1347 and 1375, most likely to control the local gold trade.
What is interesting to note here is the establishment of a royal system. This royal system seems to have involved conflict and violence, eventually leading to a division of villages into one of two systems of tradition, Bodi Caniago and Koto Piliang, the later having overt allegiances to royalty. By the 16th century, royal power had been split into three recognized reigning kings. They were the King of the World (Raja Alam), the King of Adat (Raja Adat), and the King of Religion (Raja Ibadat), and collectively they were known as the Kings of the Three Seats (Rajo Tigo Selo). The Minangkabau kings were charismatic or magical figures who received a percentage of gold mining and trading profits, but did not have much authority over the conduct of village affairs.
Is Rajah Baguinda from this evolved Minangkabau royal system? Was his travel to Sulu intended or was he just a wayward traveler? We must remember that Minangkabau has a unique matrilineal descent. Was this unique descent the reason for allowing his daughter's husband, Sayyid Abubakar, to become Sulu's first sultan in his stead?
Since most of these Sumatran dynasties are converts from Hinduism/Buddhism to Islam, connecting him to the Prophet's genealogy is nil. This is similar to the Banu Hashim attribution of Shariful Hashim; unless it is proven that his father was an Arab trader of Hashimi descent who married a royal lady.
What's in a name. Another interesting part is the name itself "Rajah Baguinda". Certainly, the title of "rajah" speaks highly of pre-Islamic influence. In the same line as the title of "rajah", "baguinda" is also honorific, not a personal name and commonly appended to royal titles, i.e. several Malay sultans including the Sultan of Brunei is also titled as "Paduka Seri Baginda". While we are certain "rajah" is a title, is "baguinda" his personal name or an extension of his title to mean a "a great king" or a "strong prince"?
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