The Confederate States of Lanao (, "Four States of Lanao") is a legislative confederation of the four Maranao states (pangampong) of Bayabao, Masiu, Unayan, and Balo-i centered around Lake Lanao in the center of the island of Mindanao, Philippines.
This confederation is also sometimes inaccurately referred to as simply the Lanao Sultanate or Sultanate of Lanao.
The Confederate States of Lanao, specifically its sultanates, still exists in modern-day Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte. However, all of the Lanao royal houses do not hold any political power in the Philippines.
History 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.A Chinese Gazetteer of Foreign Lands A new translation of Part 1 of the Zhufan zhi 諸蕃志 (1225) By Shao-yun Yang (Department of History, Denison University) October 2, 2022
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. The lords of Bayabao, Masiu, Unayan, and Balo-i seceded from the Maguindanao Sultanate in 1616. Datu Kudarat, meanwhile, became the sultan of Maguindanao.
The four states of Lanao consists of the following modern-day municipalities: Bayabao - Bubong, Ditsaan-Ramain, Marawi City, Kapai, Lumba-Bayabao, Poona Bayabao, Saguiaran, and Wao Masiu - Bacolod, Balindong, Madalum, Masiu, Mulondo, Tamparan, Taraka, and Tugaya Unayan In modern-day Lanao del Sur: Bayang, Binidayan, Butig, Ganassi, Kapatagan, Lumbatan, Madamba, Malabang, Pualas, Tatarikan and Tubaran In modern-day Lanao del Norte: Baroy, Lala, Munai, Karomatan, Nunungan, and Tubod Balo-i - Balo-i, Matungao, Pantao Ragat, and Tangcal
Despite being a separate state, the Confederate States of Lanao did not cut their military ties to the Sultanate of Maguindanao. The sultanates of Lanao worked with Maguindanao, combining their naval and military power. They also sent Maranao men to strengthen the Maguindanao fleet.
Conflict with Spain
Christianized Filipinos were used by the Spanish to invade the Maranao territory and other Muslim tribes in the Philippines. The Spanish colonial forces launched military and spiritual campaigns against the Maranao people at Lake Lanao. On April 4, 1639, Spanish conquistador Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera sent the first expedition, which included Spaniards and Boholano troops. This campaign was led by Captain Francisco de Atienza and Fray Agustin de San Pedro, who formed alliances with some local chiefs. In 1640, Don Pedro Bermudes Castro established a garrison, but the Maranaos, feeling threatened, fought back, driving the Spaniards out and destroying their installations, leading to over 250 years without Spanish presence in the area.
Due to the arrival of the Spanish in Mindanao, Lanao was prevented to develop its own centralized system of authority. This decentralization led to independent functioning inged (towns) and agamas (communities) in Lanao over which modern scholars termed it as a "segmentary society".
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, and second, through armed conquest that defeated both the Filipino people and the Moro people in Mindanao. The treaty was a political agreement after the U.S. conquered Spain in the Spanish-American War. At the treaty's signing, certain Indigenous groups had not been colonized by Spain. One key issue is that the Moro people (particularly the Sultanate of Maguindanao, Sultanate of Sulu, and the Pat a P’ngampong sa Ranao, known as the Confederate States of Lanao) were brought into the Philippines without their consent.
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 on 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.
Before becoming a sultan, a Lanao Sultanate will undergo a thorough screening of lineage, family background, personal qualities, values, and morals before electing royalty. This process was based on an established protocol of the taritib and igma (customary laws). In addition to this, there are other general requirements and functions of the sultan. These include responsibilities such as that a sultan must lead his nation and help it prosper, solves societal problems, and ends shameful issues. The sultan also acts as Allāh’s representative on earth, guiding the people and should follow Allāh's commandments.
Executive bodies (Pagawidan sultanates) The confederate states was geopolitically divided into seven suku or districts along with its superordinate sultanates (Pagawidan):
District (Suku)Founding AncestorsSuperordinate Sultanates (Pagawidan)Founding AncestorsNotesPoona-BayabaoEmbaor of BansayanBansayan Taporog RoganSultan Umparo Sultan Amid-bunol Sultan AriboLumba-Bayabao (now Lumba-Bayabao and Wao)Sultan Apha Sultan Engki-Okoda Sultan Ibango Sultan DigoaBorocot Minitupad Maribo BacolodSultan Apha Sultan Engki-Okoda Sultan Ibango Sultan DigoaMala-Bayabao (now Ditsaan-Ramain, Marawi, Marantao, and Saguiaran)Datu Ottawa of DitsaanRamain DitsaanDatu Acari of Ramain Sultan OlokButigSultan BarakatButig (East Unayan)Sultan BarakatDomalon-dong (now Tatarikan/Pagayawan, Bayang, Tubaran, Pualas, and Binidayan)Sultan BorrowaPagayawan BayangSultan Arobiro Sultan DiwanEast Masiu and West Masiu (now Bacolod, Taraka, Balindong, Madalum)Sultan Balindong B’sar of MasiuSultanate of Masiu Datu-a-KabugatanSultan Racmatullah Datu DialalodenBalo-i (now Balo-i and Matungao)Sultan AlanakBalo-iSultan Alanak The ruling clans governing each state traced their lineage back to Sharīf Kabunsuan. Sultan Okoda (Minitupad), Ibango (Maribo), Digoa (Bacolod), and Apha (Borocot) were descendants of Maniri of Lumba-Bayabao. Alanak, who established the State of Balo-i, was a descendant of Butuanun Kalinan of Bayabao.
Provincial governors and legislative bodies (Pagawid sultanates) The provincial governors of the Confederate States of Lanao were 28 m’babaya ko taritib, who acted as policymakers. They governed 28 states and were known as pagawid sultans. Their appointment and qualifications were similar to those of the sultan and radia-muda (minister).
Here were the 28 pagawid sultanates: Talagian Bubong Bualan Lumbak-a-inged, Sisianun Galawan Botod Taluan Maguing Marawi Marantao Buadipuso-Buntong Antanga-Didagun Ragayan Timbab Malalis Dolangan Binidayan Pualas Padas Boribid Lumasa Malungun Pitakes Lima-inged/five county: Wato Tugaya Kalawi Bacolod Madalum Madamba Basagad Matampay Kabasagan Lumbak of Bae-sa-Lumbak
Lowest-ranking officials The lowest group, lipongan, consisted of village units. The Taraka territory, capital of Masiu, was divided into lipongan groups, and those who built separate mosques gained autonomy.
Royal court officials Bai-a-labis One unique feature of the Confederate States of Lanao was that its royal court gave authorities to women. The bai-a-labis were symbolic leaders and actively serve their communities like the sultan. In Maranao society, women have special rights and lead community gatherings where they are the majority. The bai-a-labi also crowns lower-ranked bais, though a male representative from the royal houses must be present during these ceremonies. The position of bai-a-labi is typically held by the daughter, sister, or any woman relatives of the sultan.
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.