Brief Summary
This video explores the history of the Sulu Sea Raiders, focusing on their maritime skills, weaponry, and resistance against Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. It examines their perspective as defenders of their way of life against foreign oppression, highlighting key battles, figures, and the eventual decline of their power due to technological advancements and shifts in economic structures.
- The Raiders were skilled fighters and expert sailors who built formidable vessels of war.
- The Spanish referred to the slave Raiders as morals after the Muslim fighters they encountered on Spanish soil.
- The battles between the slave Raiders in the Spanish were clashes of ideology.
Introduction to the Sulu Sea Raiders
In the 18th-century Philippines, coastal inhabitants faced attacks from the Sulu Sea Raiders, also known as Illinoisan. These Raiders captured people, piercing their palms to string them together. Feared for their fearlessness in battle, they challenged technologically superior colonial forces. While Western colonists viewed them as barbaric pirates, some speculate they were indigenous people defending their way of life against foreign oppressors. The Raiders were skilled fighters, swordsmen, sailors, and shipbuilders, forming a well-organized force that posed a significant challenge to Western colonial powers.
The Battle for Fort Pilar
On December 8, 1720, Zamboanga City in the Spanish-occupied Philippines faced a major threat. Fort Pilar, defended by 600 Spanish soldiers, was targeted by 3,000 battle-hardened Raiders aboard hundreds of ships. This attack, led by the Maguindanao King Raja Dalasi, aimed to seize the fort, a structure designed to withstand cannonballs and defended by Spanish artillery. Despite superior defenses, the Spanish soldiers were outnumbered five to one.
Raja Dalasi's Attack on Zamboanga
Raja Dalasi, the king of Maguindanao, planned an attack on Zamboanga City with the joint forces of the Sulu Sultanate. They burned the town, cut off provisions for the Spaniards, and initiated war against the fort's soldiers. Despite the fort's strong defenses and artillery, the Spanish were greatly outnumbered. Raja Dalasi's militia aggressively engaged in battle, facing cannon and firearm fire. The Raiders relentlessly attacked, eventually reaching the outer wards, prompting Spanish soldiers to use desperate measures like throwing rocks and boiling water.
Motivations Behind the Raids
The Raiders fought to remove the Spanish from Zamboanga, viewing Fort Pilar as a base to check on slave raiding. Slavery, though practiced in some tribes before Western powers, escalated with the arrival of the Spanish and their trade dominance. The southern Sultanate defied Spanish rule by targeting Christian communities in the north. The Spanish labeled the slave Raiders as "Moros," drawing from their encounters with Muslim fighters in Spain.
The Three Tribes of Raiders
The Raiders consisted of three tribes: the Balangingi, the Iranun, and the Tausug. The Sama-Balangingi occupied islands between Basilan and Sulu, while the Iranun were significant in piracy history. The Tausug, controlling the Sulu Sultanate, were known for their fierce warriors and political power, often joining forces with the other tribes. Retaliatory attacks were conducted by these groups, but historians debate whether they should be labeled as pirates, questioning if their motives were for personal gain or serving political masters.
Religious and Economic Conflicts
The raids were acts of retaliation against Spanish occupation, sanctioned by the Sultanate in the name of Islam. Islam had spread in the southern Philippines since 1380 but faced resistance from Christianity, brought by the Spanish. The Spanish aimed to prevent Islam's spread to the Christianized north. The Spanish presence undermined the commercial interests of the southern Sultanate, leading to a power struggle where both sides used religious ideologies to expand influence. Eradicating the Spanish presence in Zamboanga was a priority for the Muslim Sultanate.
Ancient Maritime Skills and Shipbuilding
In Butuan, evidence of an ancient maritime civilization dating back to the 4th century was discovered. These ancient mariners traversed the seas long before Western colonists. The slave Raiders inherited maritime skills from these early seafarers, building a trade in sea bounty. By the mid-1700s, ships evolved into sturdier crafts, and the demand for slaves intensified raiding expeditions, expanding beyond Philippine seas to the Straits of Malacca.
The Warships of the Raiders
The Iranun slave Raiders in the Straits of Malacca were skilled warriors sailing formidable ships. They used compasses, cannons, and many rowers. The Iranun built long-range vessels like the Lanong, equipped with a wide keel, three large cloth sails, and sturdy masts. These ships, 24 to 27 meters long with 6-meter wide hulls, had cannons mounted at the bow and 34 oars on each side, powered by captured slaves. By 1830, smaller, faster boats called Garay replaced the Lanong, built from bamboo wood and nipa palm, carrying over 100 sailors.
Raiding Tactics and Spanish Limitations
Raiding fleets included auxiliary vessels called Salisipan for coastal raids. They would collect manpower and ships from friendly bases, creating a formidable sea force. Raiders often disguised themselves as fishermen before attacking. Captured people had holes bored through their palms to be strung together. Spanish galleons were slow and unable to chase raiding craft into shallow waters. The Spanish sought to control trade with the Orient, leading to conflict with the Raiders.
Trade and Cultural Exchange Before Colonization
Ancient Filipino mariners engaged in trade, with artifacts from China found as proof. Families from the Sulu Sultanate visited China for commerce, indicating flourishing international trade before Western powers. Europeans sought spices, woods, tin, and pepper, entering existing trade patterns but aiming to control them, leading to conflicts with the people in the south.
The Legacy of the Sulu Sultanate
As the Spanish seized control of the Philippines, the influence of the Muslim South waned. Today, Jolo, once the seat of power for the Sulu Sultanate, is a shadow of its former self. Descendants of the seafaring warriors still live there, preserving their heritage. Halman Abubakar, a descendant of Tausug rulers and a city councillor, champions the cause of Muslim communities in Mindanao, advocating for freedom from oppression and preserving their identity.
Weapons and Warfare
Halman Abubakar possesses ancient Tausug weapons, including the Barong, a sword used to cut off firearms. The Kris, a weapon of warfare and ceremony, was carried by slave Raiders and nobles. The Kampilan, a heavy sword primarily used by the Iranun, was adorned with hair and grooves indicating lives claimed. Wealthier Raiders wore armor made from caribou horn or steel plates, offering protection against swords but not firearms.
Clash of Ideologies and the Fall of the Raiders
The battles between the slave Raiders and the Spanish were clashes of ideology, pitting Islam against Christianity and indigenous ways against enforced values. Spanish muskets had limitations in accuracy and reload time, giving sword-wielding Raiders opportunities. In 1720, Raja Dalasi led 3,000 warriors against 600 Spanish soldiers at Fort Pilar, but the attack was poorly conceived. The introduction of steamships by the Spanish marked a turning point, allowing them to bombard forts and outmaneuver the Raiders.
The End of an Era
Spanish steamships, faster and better-built, ended the Sultanate's naval power. The Raiders faced hopelessness, with some choosing subjugation and others resistance. The Spanish destroyed Balangingi forts and ships, granting clemency to captured individuals. Panglima Tapan surrendered after his family was captured. Slave raiding dwindled, and the Spanish used steamships to deliver a final blow.
American Colonial Rule and Lasting Conflicts
The Spanish-American War led to American control of the Philippines, inheriting problems with the Raiders. American forces hunted down Raiders like Jekiri, viewing them as pirates. The slave trade's decline in the late 19th century caused a marked decline in the Tausug economy. The Sultanate lost political and economic power, gradually being assimilated into the Philippine government. Conflicts persist in the region, but individuals like Halman Abubakar strive to change the situation and reclaim what was lost.
Conclusion: Raiders of the Sulu Sea
Whether viewed as pirates, bandits, or freedom fighters, the Sulu Sea Raiders were excellent mariners, shipbuilders, fearless warriors, and skilled fighters. They earned their place in history as the Raiders of the Sulu Sea.
