Sulu

Population

The dominant population of the archipelago of Sulu are Tausug, of which a part is Moslem and the other Christian woman. They were the first population of Philippines to be converted with Islam. Their traditional political structure is the sultanate. The Sultan is the supreme authority. Its successor is elected by a council, although a patrilineal succession is the ideal.

Tausug are called " populate courant" , which reflects their close links with the sea. they have a reputation of brave men, independent and in love with the adventure, as well as with advised tradesmen and excellent sailors and soldiers. Tausug are also very artists. Their traditional clothing, their jewels, their weapons, their ornaments of copper, their music, their dances and their architecture testify to their rich person cultural heritage. The craft industry of Sulu shows Moslem influences and Indonesia. Skilful craftsmen build boats, blades, copper and bronze articles, clothes, textiles embroidered, objects in shell, traditional engravings on wood.

One finds a small community of Tausug (12 000 people) on the north-eastern coast of the province Indonesia of Kalimantan Is.

The language Tausug belongs to the group known as " méso-philippin" Austronesian branch of the Languages austronésiennes.

The sultanate of Sulu

Sulu is always the seat of a sultanate. Formerly, he was suzerain of current the Sabah in Malaysia. The royal house is recognized by the majority of the Moslems of the archipelago of Sulu. Although it is not an entity recognized internationally like that of Brunei, the sultanate enjoys an autonomy, a capacity and an influence important. It is respected with the Filipino , in particular within the important Muslim population of the country. The seat of the sultanate is Astana Putih, the “White Palate” in language tausug, located at 2 kilometers in the south-west of Jolo, the provincial capital on the island of Jolo.

History

Well before Miguel Lopez de Legazpi does not occupy Cebu, of the foreign merchants water of Sulu attended. Whereas Manila was yet only one small establishment, Jolo was already the city, most important of Philippines, and its trade with the Chinese merchants was flourishing. The archipelago of Sulu is indeed on a sea route which goes from China to the Moluques.

There is close to Jolo, the capital of Sulu, a Moslem tomb stone year 710 of the Hégire, that is to say 1310 after J. - C. which marks the burial of some Tuhan (" seigneur") Maqbalu.

According to the tradition, Islam would have arrived at XIVe century by three men: Makdum, Rajah Baginda and Abu Bakar. The principality of Sulu then takes its rise under its first sovereign, Rajah Baginda. Its successor is Abu Bakar, which imposes Islam and introduces reforms.

The presence with Sulu of foreign forces leads to many conflicts which end up causing the fall of the first organized State of the Histoire of Philippines. From XVIe century and during three centuries, people of Sulu must fight all the foreigners who will try to dominate them.

The first armed conflict of people of Sulu is against the Spaniards in 1578, when Esteban de Figueroa carries out a forwarding against the Moslems. " Moros, " as call them the Spaniards, retort by plundering the coastal towns of Visayas and Luzon, controlled by the Spaniards.

The Spanish government will send at least five punitive forwardings against Jolo. With 4th, carried out by the Corcuera governor-general in 1638, results in the first Spanish occupation of Jolo. The combat, which will last three months and half, forces people of Sulu to flee their capital. Corcuera occupies the city, rebuilds its fortifications and leaves a garrison. In 1646, this garrison is recalled to Manila and Sulu is abandoned.

In 1703 (1658 according to other sources), as a sign of recognition for the assistance which Sulu had brought to him to fight a rebellion, the sultan of Brunei gives to the sultanate of Sulu a territory in the north of Borneo, which constitutes the current State of Sabah in Malaysia (this historical episode will be called upon by Philippines in their claim on Sabah at the time of the Confrontation Indonesia-Malaysia of 1962 to 1966). The same year, Sulu gives the island of Palawan to the sultan Qudarat de Maguindanao, who had married a princess of Sulu. Maguindanao forms an alliance with Sulu. Qudarat will yield finally Palawan to the Spaniards in 1705.

At the beginning of the XIXe century, the Napoleonean wars involve a recession of the activity of Europeans in Southeast Asia. It allows the Moslem merchants, Malais of the strait of Malacca and the coasts of Borneo and inhabitants of Sulu and Mindanao, to develop an active trade again. With the end of the Napoleonean wars, Europeans find their ambitions in the area. Antagonism is inevitable with the Moslem trade. This period gave rise to the image of the " pirate malais" whose novels of Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) will be still made the echo at the end of the XIXe century.

In the years 1840, the interest of the colonial powers for Sulu increases. In 1842, the American Charles Wilkes signs a peace treaty and a trade agreement with the sultan. In 1845, France occupies the island of Basilan then withdraws its troops. The Spanish colonial government occupies Jolo in 1851 and built there a rampart. The sultan takes refuge on another island of the archipelago and carries out resistance. In 1877, it gives its possessions of Borneo in lease to British North Borneo Chartered Company. Finally, the sultan of Sulu agrees to become vassal of Spain in 1878.

During the war between Spain and the United States, the latter conquer Philippines. Spain evacuates Sulu in 1899 while returning the direction of the businesses to people of Sulu. Resistance continues against the Americans with Sulu and in the island close to Mindanao. Finally in 1915, the sultan of Sulu accepts American sovereignty. Sultanate is annexed in Philippines like " province of Sulu". The sultanate is abolished in 1940. The Japanese attack and occupy Philippines in 1941. The Americans unload and release the archipelago in 1944. They grant independence to Philippines in 1946.

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