Confederate States of Lanao

Pre-Islamic period Before the Maranaos were invaded by the Sultanate of Maguindanao, it already existed as a separate nation. The Chinese chronicle Zhufan Zhi (諸蕃志) published in 1225, described it as a country southeast of Shahuagong (Sanmalan) in present-day Zamboanga City, a country called "Maluonu", of which this is what the chronicles have to say. Darangen The Darangen is a traditional Maranao epic narrative in song existed before the 14th century during the pre-Islamic period in Mindanao. The epic has connections with early Sanskrit traditions, composed of 17 cycles and 72,000 lines. Aside from history, the epic explores themes of life, death, love, and politics, reflecting Maranao customs and values. The Darangen was mostly transmitted orally. As part of the Maguindanao Sultanate Eventually, the Lanao nation fell under the power of the Maguindanao Sultanate. The areas of Maguindanao and Lanao had embraced Islam, and Sultan Sharīf Kabunsuan, an Arab-Malay, introduced sultanate leadership to these regions. As he aged, Kabunsuan passed his title as sultan of Maguindanao to his son, Sharīf Makaalang, the first native Maranao sultan. The leadership continued through his descendants until Sultan Laut Buisan. After his death, Datu Kudarat sought to become the sultan, but leadership was to rotate to the Maranaos in Lanao based from tradition. Due to his want of power, Kudarat invited his relatives from Lanao and announced his ambition of becoming sultan of Maguindanao. The Lanao lords were outraged. Balindong B'sar of Masiu, a Lanao lord, organised a meeting in Taraka then to Sawir, Lanao over which the Lanao datus decided to establish their own sultanate. • Bayabao - Bubong, Ditsaan-Ramain, Marawi City, Kapai, Lumba-Bayabao, Poona Bayabao, Saguiaran, and Wao Decline and fall The American colonizers gained control of the Philippines from Spain in two ways: first, through the Treaty of Paris in 1898, which cost twenty million US dollars, Moro rebellion The Maranaos fought the American colonizers. Notable battles include Bayang, Sultan Gumander, Ganassi and Tugaya. The Maranao fighters only used spear, bows and arrows while the Americans used rifles and cannons. Under Captain John J. Pershing, majority of the regions surrounding Lake Lanao fell under American control, with his last campaigns in Masiu and Taraca. By November 1903, he was succeeded by General Leonard Wood who sent punitive expeditions in Lanao to renounce the Maranaos' "uncivilized" practices such as slavery and theft. His expeditions resulted to the weakening of Moro resistance in Lanao leading to the Maranaos' crushing defeat. Eventually, in 1906, Lanao was pacified as noted by U.S. officials. 1934 Dansalan Declaration The Maranaos' opposition against American annexation continued in March 18, 1935, with the "Dansalan Declaration of 1934," prepared by Didato Amai Manabilang and one hundred twenty Datus of Lanao, including thirty sultans. They sent a letter to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress, requesting that Mindanao and its Muslim inhabitants remain under American rule for future separate independence, but their request was rejected. == Government ==

Administration Unlike in Sulu and Maguindanao, Lanao's Sultanate system was decentralized. It consisted of Four Principalities, made up of various royal houses (Sopolo ago Nem a Panoroganan or The Sixteen Royal Houses) with defined territorial areas in Mindanao. This structure highlighted the shared power of ruling clans and values like unity (kaiisaisa o bangsa), patronage (kasesalai), and fraternity (kapapagaria). Overall, the Lanao Sultanate consisted of traditional leaders and forty-three sultans. Fifteen of these sultans headed the fifteen royal houses of Lanao. , sultan of the Royal House of Pagayawan Executive bodies (Pagawidan sultanates) The confederate states was geopolitically divided into seven suku or districts along with its superordinate sultanates (Pagawidan): The ruling clans governing each state traced their lineage back to Sharīf Kabunsuan. Radia-muda (minister) The minister or radia-muda advises the sultan as his main role. The sultan appoints deputies like a radia-muda or a datu-kali (head of judge) to help with judicial matters, which means the minister also assists in legal cases. Legal system The Agama Court of the Lanao Sultanate in the Philippines is different from Sharī‘ah Courts in other countries. It combines customary laws and Islamic law to settle cases. The sultan and the datu run the court, with the sultan often appointing assistants like radia-muda and or a datu-kali or kali (judge). The process of the Agama Court is straightforward. Complaints can be filed orally or in writing. If the judge finds enough reason, the defendant is called to respond. The trial involves the plaintiff stating the case and presenting evidence. If the plaintiff has no evidence, the defendant can take an oath. Historically, the datu-kali or kali enforced judgments, and appeals could be made to higher authorities if decisions were questionable. In terms of crimes and fornication, penalties included death penalty (Kitas), enslavement for women (Olol), stoning (Radiam), and fines (Kapangangawid). However, these practices were heavily discouraged by the American regime in the Philippines. Maranao society is governed by two laws: Adat laws, which are customary, and kitab or Islamic laws. Adat laws consist of taritib, meaning "ordered ways," and igma, meaning "ordinance." Both terms refer to laws that guide social, political, and cultural aspects of the Maranao people. ==Contemporary period==

, sultan of Ramain after the confederate states fell under American control, he became a member of the House of Representatives during the Philippine Commonwealth Although the sultanates as well as the royal houses still exists in Lanao, the 1935 Philippine Constitution prohibits granting title of nobility to a Filipino citizen. Hence, the sultanates of Lanao were unrecognized by the Philippine Commonwealth government and wield no political power. President of the Philippine Commonwealth, Manuel L. Quezon replaced the Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes with a cabinet-level Commission of Mindanao and Sulu (1936). One of its responsibilities was to remove all Muhammedan officials and local datus of "all official recognition". At the time, Muslim leaders accepted the new Philippine regime. Alauya Alonto, Member of the House of Representatives and Sultan of the Royal House of Ramain, proclaimed himself as a Filipino. However, he noted discrimination between Christian and Muslim Filipinos stating in his speech in 1935: "We do not like to be called 'Moros' because when we are called 'Moros' we feel that we are not considered as part of the Filipino people." As of 2004, the sultanates of Lanao govern themselves within the Republic of the Philippines as the Sultanate League of Lanao. On February 9, 2007, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 602, which founded the Lanao Advisory Council to facilitate the Philippine national government's relations with 16 royal houses in the Lanao area. == See also ==