BONE
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The Bugis state of Bone was founded ca.1350, when a
union between the seven ancient states of Ujung, Tibojong, Ta, Tanete Riattang,
Tanete Riawang, Ponceng and Macege was effected by Mata Selompu. He was
invited by the advisory council of seven lords to become the first supreme
ruler of the Bone federation. In 1582 Bone, together with Soppeng and Wajo,
founded the Tallumpocco alliance which dominated the region for many decades.
Islam became the state religion in 1608 when the Arumponi converted and
adopted the personal title of Sultan. During the next half-century the state was conquered
by Gowa several times, in 1611, 1640 and finally in 1644. On the last
occasion it lost its independence and became subject to Makassar. It took
another twenty years before Bone regained its independence under 'Arung
Palakka' in the 1660's. He developed the Bugis into a great maritime
power who allied themselves with the Dutch and dominated the islands for
nearly a century. After the conquest of Makassar by the Dutch in 1669
with the help of Arung Palakka the Dutch gave him his kingdom as a heritary
fief in return. This was granted by G.G. Joan Maetsuyker by an act dated 28
of February 1670. In the next century Bone became a considerable power on the
island extending his sphere of influence over the neighbouring principalities After British occupation in the early 19th century
Dutch rule was restored with a military expedition
in 1824. In 1825, 1859 and 1860 other military expeditions followed. When
the Dutch dispatched a pacification force in 1905, the Arumponi fled into the
jungles with his nobles and warriors, and prepared for war. After evading
troops, he was captured, deposed and exiled to Java. A Council of Nobles administered Bone after 1905,
but self-rule was restored in 1931. La Mappanjuki Karaeng Silayar, younger
son of the deposed Sultan of Gowa and a grandson of a former Arumponi
succeeded. The new ruler had served with his father against the Dutch
invasion in 1905 and shared his exile for several years. He proved to be no
friend of the Dutch, siding with the Javanese republicans during the
independence struggle. He therefore retained an honoured place during the
post independence period, occupying several important offices in the
provincial administration. His name is revered as one of the founders of
Indonesian independence.[1] |
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About the emblems of the state of Boni we know relativeley much because of the preserved treasury of Bone described after a Dutch military expedition to Bone in the middle of the 19th century. A report of this expedition is written by Perelaer, M.T.H.: De Bonische expeditiën: Krijgsgebeurtenissen op Celebes in 1859 en 1860. Leiden 1872. [2] The treasury is described in the article “Inventaris van de thans aanwezige Rijksornamenten van Boni” (Inventory of the national treasures of Bone present today), also cited by Perelaer. [3] The treasure consisted of swords and kerisses, flags and some other interesting pieces considered to be pusaka or objects legitimizing the authority of the ruler. The dating of the pieces poses problems, the flags being certainly younger than claimed. |
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The most striking piece of the treasure is the National Standard which is an all-embracing emblem of the State of Bone. The standard, named Kasitanganga or Lima-si-attangé was presented to the King of Bone on 16 August 1755, that is to say to King Abdul Razzaq Jalal (1749-’75). It shows: |
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National Standard
of Bone, 1755. |
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1. A sun radiant, a crescent and three stars Or. 2. The cypher of the Middelburg Chamber of the United East India Company (V.O.C.) and the seal of King Abdul Razzaq Jalal. 3. A sailing vessel, being the emblem of the V.O.C.. 4. An Achievement: Emblem: A cuirass and a helmet Or, and a trophy consisting of a blue and a red ensign per chevron, and some arms: spears rifles, swords, trumpets, drums and the like as well as two cannon pointing outwards, and their belongings, and a circular shield, all on a grassy ground. Crown: The Royal crown of Bone Or. This being the achievement of Bone. ð See illustration in the head of this essay And in between the two emblems: 5. Two clasped hands, issuing from two clouds. 6. A Motto: 1. ZOLANG DE ZON EN MAAN SCHEYNE:
ZAL DE E: COMPE MET BONI VAST VEREENIGT BLEYVE and: Salagi ada matahari dan boelan
bĕrtjahaja di langit dĕmikijĕn-lagi Kompeni dan Bone akan
langgar bĕrkĕkalan jang tijada bĕrtjĕre in arab script (As long as the sun and the
moon will shine, the Noble Company and Bone will remain strongly united). 2.
DOOR ONSE KRAGTEN BLEYVEN DE HANDEN VAST and: Dari kami ampoenja kakoewasja-an akan tangan ini tienggal
berpĕgangan in arab script (By our Forces our Hands remain Steady) |
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The Celestial Bodies |
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Even when the celestial bodies on this standard can have a political meaning, it is more likely that they are the representation, together with the other charges on the standard, of the first motto. |
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The Ensigns |
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The
two ensigns may be the light-blue Samparajae and the Uia-bal uwe, a red flag with green
bordures. [4]
Samparajae Samparaja is a light-blue silken
banner charged with an anchor within an ornamented bordure. Its staff has a
ball in the shape of a four-leaved flower, two of its leaves of gold, and the
other two of iron. These two leaves are called brani which means
“brave” and are turned to the enemy in battle. The ball is decorated with the
hair of a killed Ceram prince. The anchor certainly refers to
the maritime power of Bone and the command of the Bone-king of the Bone navy.
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Banners |
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In processions (or on campaign) the Bone people had
to divide in three groups.
After Waromporong was
lost it was replaced by Samparaja which is the royal ensign. |
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Tjallae-ri-atau and Tjallae-ri-abeo |
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Tjallae-ri-atau and Tjallae-ri-abeo are red banners, with an upper
breadth of green velvet. The staffs are decorated with hair of the people
from Ceram killed in war. Both banners were, according to
legend, made on command of Lasaliwu Karampeluwa, the 3rd king of Bone. On
campaign they had to be displayed on both sides of Waromporong,
the banner of Manurung-ri Matajang (1350-1366). Later they had to be displayed on both sides of the Samparadjae.
These banners are not in the achievement. |
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The Drums |
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The set of ganrangs (drums) consists of the
drums La-maronrong and Ta-sisompala which have a martial
function. They are used together with the Samparadjae and two red
flags with green chiefs called Tjallae-ri-atau and Tjallae-ri-abeo La-maronrong and Ta-sisompala are thought to date from the
time of Manurung ri Matajang. The names mean “the Alarm” and “the
Irresistible” and they call up the population for war. |
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The Lances |
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Two of the lances may be Lasalaya
and Laloleyang. These lances have golden decorations. Lasalaya,
means “the harrow”, Laloleyang “the overthrower”. A legend about these lances
tells us: “In the time Boni had no ruler a
terrible thunderstorm shook the earth for three months. When the thunderstorm
and the earthquake had come to an end a man all dressed in white was seen in
the fields. Impressed, the people unanimously declared that this man was a Tumanurung,
a being descended from heaven. Convinced, all people went to the man and said
to him “Oh Lamarupa, we have come to you to beg you to take pity on
us, and to beg you to never leave us but always to stay with us and be our
king and let us to be your subjects. Ours shall be yours and only your
commands will be obeyed, and be it that it was differently agreed with our
children, when you disprove we will abandon it, when only you will stay with
us and be our ruler.” The man supposed to be from
heaven answered: “I must admit I can not be your King because I am a slave,
but, when you want to have a ruler, I know somebody who you may elect”. Now the presumed Tumanurung conducted
the crowd to kampong Matajang. On their way the thunderstorm broke out
again but, appeased by their new leader nobody thought of returning. Arrived
at the spot they saw the true Tumanurung. He was dressed in yellow
clothing and kept the spear Lasalaya in his hand whilst his slave kept
the spear Laloleyang. This man was proclaimed the first king of Bone
and his name means “He who descended from Heaven in Matajan”.” And so the two lances are thought
to be from the time of the first King. |
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The Shield |
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The shield between the two
cannon may be the Leengu, a silver shield with a golden medallion in
the middle, usually displayed with a small keris. Nothing special is known of
this piece. We may suppose that it was the royal shield or actual royal arms
(in the Western sense) and symbolized
the Empire, the combination symbolizing the chief commander of the empire (of
Bone). (This, of course, should have
been the centerpiece of the achievement, the cuirass-and-helmet being the
crest of these arms). |
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The Crown |
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The crown is of a conical form
known from the 16th century kuluk of Demak and the headdresses of the
muslim rulers of Surakarta and Yogyakarta. |
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Tadung Pulawange |
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This Payong was the badge of
rank of the Sultan of Bone and was still in use in 1845. It consisted of a
red silken screen decorated with golden bows and rings. It had a large golden
ball and the pole was entirely covered with gold. [5] |
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Set of Drums |
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A second set of drums consists
of the smaller drums I. Mananasie and Daeng Baine and is
used for civic purposes. They are beaten when the king is in procession under
his payong (umbrella) Tadung Pulawange. These drums are also
thought to be from the time of Manurung ri Matajang. |
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Ula-manreli. |
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The Royal Keris is decorated with a naga (snake) which is the royal badge in Buddhist political symbolism. Its sheath is covered with gold and bears a large blue precious stone called bate-bate. A legend tells us: “A prince of Bone called Karampeluwa, (third ruler of Bone, reigned 1398-) bathing in the Uwae Warani river of Palakka, thought to have seen a snake in the distant clear waters. Arriving on the spot the snake had disappeared but he found the keris Ula-manreli instead.” After the death of Karampeluwa the keris was given to his successors from which it came to Arung Palakka (1634-‘98). |
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Lamangotong |
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Lamangotong The Royal Pennon Lamangotong is a white cloth with a decorated bordure and narrow black breadths at the mast-end and the upper side. It is attached to a spear. Its name means “The pennon that strikes” (the enemy). A legend tells: “Arung Palakka was at war with
Wajo and had lost his Samparaja when he had the idea of showing his
kerchief, shouting that Samparaja was not the only ensign of Bone.
Seeing this the men from Bone resumed their attack with such vigour that they
recaptured their ensign.” |
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Royal Seals |
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Three silver seals hanging from a
small silver chain. The one on the left bears the name of To-ri-Sompae Arung
Palakka. On the one in the middle is an achievement which may be the first
achievement of the royal government. It shows a three-quarter standing man
keeping a snake in his hand. On the shield, supported by two lions or tigers,
is a crown of seven leaves which is the crown of a baronet. On the third is a figure which
may be an eight leaved lotus-flower, charged with a pair of compasses and a
circlet. |
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The Banner
Garuda |
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The banner Garuda is a white
silken cloth charged with a Garuda
with two snakes in his hands and standing on another snake. In the corners
are four tigers. This banner is the counterpart
of the Kasitanganga. When the Kasitanganga
should be called the National Standard, the Garuda-banner is the Banner of
State as it displays a Garuda who is the vehicle of the ruler and the symbol
of state in Buddhist political symbolism. The charges of the flag compose a quasi-achievement which can be blasoned: Emblem: Garuda trampling a snake proper. Supporters: (Four) Tigers. [6] The tigers may be the emblem of the highest ranking warrior of Bone, thus making the achievement: “The government by the grace of the Supreme commander.” |
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La Makkawa |
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This keris, an important pusaka
of the Sultanate of Bone, has the typical Sulawesi sheath with flat end, pendok
(oversheath) of wrapped gold wire and hanging loop of braided gold with
anchoring jeweled rosette. Its name means “a warning game, a feint”. Although
documentation does not define the provenance, it was probably among the
treasures of Arung Palakka. The hilt of La Makkawa consists
of a statuette of prince Dewa Mandu from the mythical kingdom of Gangsa
Indera. After many
marvelous adventures he settled down on the throne of his father together
with four wives he had gathered along the way. The story has been popular in
Indonesia and Malaysia. On the selut (sheath-basin) a phoenix is carved which is
the emblem of the vizier or prime minister in Chinese and Muslim political symbolism.
For that reason we may call this keris the Keris of State, and the badge of
the Makkedangetana: “the spokesman of the land”, the most senior
officer in Boni after the King and often equated with Prime Minister. The Keris of State is preserved
in Watampone. |
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The ensigns Samparajae and
Uia-bal uwe the banners Tjallae-ri-atau and Tjallae-ri-abeo
etcetera described above certainly are heraldic symbols in the real sense of the
definition of heraldry as they are the symbols and colours borne in war. As such, the Achievement of Bone
is a real Achievement of Arms as it is mainly composed of armature and for that reason it is the
symbol of the armed force of Bone as, in the European context, an Achievement
of State was also composed of martial symbols. The Treasure of Bone consisted
mainly of such armature and we are informed about eleven swords and kerisses,
two spears, two blowing pipes and a shield, thus bearing witness to the
martial tradition of Bone. One of this pieces deserves
special attention. |
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Latea-ri-duni |
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Latea-ri-duni is a sonri or sonre (short sword) its sheath decorated with gold wire wrapping, on its toli-toli (loop) a large piece of mas-urung (nugget). A legend about this sonrie tells us: Latea-ri-duni belonged to a prince called Arung Alita. In his will he decided that it should be buried with him after his death. Of course his relatives did as he had wished but the next day Late-ri-duni had come out of the coffin and was laying on his grave. The relatives, to obey his command buried the sonrie for a second time but some days later it was again found on the grave of the prince. Then, the arms were presented to the ruler of Bone who concluded from the story the relatives told him that it was the desire of the Lord that the sword should not be buried but had to be preserved for ever as a relic in the royal treasury. If anything, this sword could have been the Sword of State and for that reason can be compared with the famous European Swords of State like the French Joyeuze, the swords of the German Empire or the Polish Szerbice. Last but not least we also have to think to the muslim Dhu-‘l Fakar, the sword of the Prophet Mohammed. Latea-ri-duni is not the royal arms (which are the Ula manreli or the Leengu) but it is, in fact, the arms of the supreme commander, an office not necessarily held by the king. Latea-ri-duni ð Once part of the pusaka
of Bone, 17th century. 74 Í 11 cm. State collection Watampone. [7] |
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© Hubert de Vries 2010-11-17