Sultan Marah Laut: Sianjur Mula-mula Segala Limbong, Silindung, Bakkara and Barus (5)

Sultan Ibrahimsyah is known as the sultan who able to unite Pasaribu land, Silindung, Bakkara and Barus in one leadership, while Sultan Marah Laut is the one who able to unite Sianjur Mula-mula Sagala Limbong and states of economis routes to Barus in one leadership.

If Sultan Ibrahimsyah is the one responsible in foundation of Raja Na Opat (Raja Berempat) institution in Silindung and a mosque in Bakkara, while Sultan Marah Laut is responsible in foundation Jonggi Manoar (Munawwar) and Raja Bunga-bunga institutes in Sianjur Mula-mula Limbong Sagala or Sagala Limbong.

Sultan Marah Laut: Sianjur Mula-mula Segala Limbong, Silindung, Bakkara and Barus (2)

For some time Sultan Marah Laut remained there ruling over all of Toba Segala Limbong. After some years he decided to go back to Barus. He relized that his political journey to his ancestor land, Segala Limbong, has achieved its result. All his people has extent their support to Sultan Marah Laut side. This support was very important in regard of power competition between the two ruling families, hulu and hilir, in Barus.

He then made provision for a subtitute authority to rule in his place; The Jonggi Manoar and Raja Bunga-Bunga institutions. This appointment is significant since it reveals a further instance of duality in government and indicates the continued elaboration a reference world in which duality is acceptable. The duality in leadership was also means to maintain balance of power since check and balance will be imposed between the two institutions. In the latest political development, The Jonggi Manoar Institute, representing Segala Limbong population of Tatea Bulan branch, transforms in to the check power for Sumba ruler, Sisingamangaraja I in Bakkara, in control over all Batak populations around Batakland.

Sultan Marah Laut, then, left a dual rajaship to act for him in Luat Sagala Limbong. This was the agreement at that time. In one year the two rajas will bring tribute of a horse. But when the two rajas bring bring the horse in tribute, then they must also bring one large male goat to give to Tuanku Mudik (Sultan of Hulu Barus).

Barus and Limbong are thus linked by each possessing two rulers. The depiction of duality in Limbong reflects the situation in Barus. The Hilir price, Sultan Marah Laut or Bagonjong reflected the spirit of harmonious duality by considering the positioon of the Tuanku Mudik and orderinf tribute for him.

Sultan Marah Laut: Sianjur Mula-mula Segala Limbong, Silindung, Bakkara and Barus (4)

Soon after the death of his brother, Marah Sultan, Sultan Marah Laut suceeded him as a sole ruler in Barus Hilir. With support of a powerful and discipline army, Sultan Marah Laut also known as Sultan Bagonjong raises the dignity of Barus as an independent state.

When Dutch company, VOC attacked by Minang Army in Padang, VOC has no way to run except to seek protection under Sultan Marah Laut power. VOC formally seeks help from Sultan Marah Laut and the Sultan, in the name of humanitarian efforts, lead a force himself to counters Minang army.

Sultan Marah Laut lead a group of Barus navy to Padang and left his brother’s son in law Sultan Marah Pangkat, also the Hulu Sultan, acting as his representative. The navy of Sultanate of Barus succesfully restores peace in Padang and on his way back to Barus, VOC officials, who happen to be in Sultan’s ship, makes a conspiration to kill Sultan.

It seem that VOC was affraid of the growing power of Barus, and tried to reduce Barus as a powerful kingdom in the region. With the help of a “madam” of Europe, Sultan was poisoned in the ship and only his body return home with his navy.

His body was buried in Barus with all the ceremony befitting a ruler. The burial ceremony resemble those used when Ibrahimsyah’s head was buried. After Sultan has been buried, Sultan Tuanku Marah Pangkat, The Hulu Sultan of Barus, succeeded his father in laws as a sole Sultan in Barus.

Sultan Marah Laut: Sianjur Mula-mula Segala Limbong, Silindung, Bakkara and Barus (1)

One day Sultan Marah Laut also known as Sultan Bagonjong left Barus after a political turbulace in the state palace of Barus. Barus Sultanate was jointly ruled by his brother, Marah Sultan and the Raja di Hulu.

He travel toward Sianjur Mula-mula or also known as Segala Limbong, the place of his ancestor. Before arriving in Segala Limbong, he stay in Dolok (Sanggul?). There he married and had a son, after which he continued the journey to Segala Limbong and there he was praised by people and assigned as a ruler of Batak population based in Segala Limbong. His people, the Batak of Segala Limbong, knelt in homage below his highness and they raised him become their Raja.

The events symbolised the recognition of the power and authority of Sultan Marah Laut’s ancestor, Sultan Ibrahimsyah, as a ruler of Batak Pasaribu, Silindung and Bakkara. Like Sultan Marah Laut, Sultan Ibrahimsyah was the possessor of considerable prestige. Ibrahimsyah’s, in his era, was widely recognized as sole ruler who has sovereignty over Segala Limbong, Bakkara, Pasaribu land and Silindung before he took control of some part of Barus.

Raja Alang Pardosi: The Forgotten Powerful King (7)

Tuan Kadir’s son and successor was Tuan Mualif and his reign Lobu Tua is attacked by Gergasi. The inhabitants of Lobu Tua fled across the Aek Si Rahar river and created two newly settlement in Kuala Barus; one was called Kampung Barus and the other Kota Bariang.

After some time the Gergasi died, peace was restored to the negeri, The Sultan of Barus, Tuan Mualif was succeeded by his son, Tuan Marah Pangsu (in 700’s Hijriyah) and it was in Tuan Marah Pangsu’s reign that a group with a king from Tarusan, Sultan Ibrahimsyah, a Malay of Batak descendant, arrived in Barus after a long political journey from Tarusan, Batu Mundam, Silindung and Bakkara. Sultan Ibrahimsyah is a founder of Raja Berempat or Raja Na Opat institution in Silindung during his journey, and a founder of the first mosque in Bakkara. Later Sultan Marah Pangsu is known as Sultan of Barus Hulu and Sultan Ibrahimsyah is The Sultan of Barus Hilir

In Bakkara, Ibrahimsyah left his local wife along with a child who later known as a ruler of Bakkara, Sisingamangara I, the founder of the Sisingamangaraja dynasty (ruled between 1540-1550 AD). A son of the one Sisingamangaraja’s son, Si Raja Hita, is known as Guru Patimpus, a famous ulema and the founder of Sultanate of Hamparan Perak and also Medan City (1590 AD), the capital of North Sumatera Province. Meanwhile the last Sisingamangaraja or the XII, is a national hero in Indonesia againts the repressive Dutch colonial rule.

Sultan Marah Laut: Sianjur Mula-mula Segala Limbong, Silindung, Bakkara and Barus (3)

After the Batak had formalized their agreement with Sultan Marah Laut by making solemn oath, he left them to return home. Some time later the Bataks fulfilled their agreement by sending tribute to him at Barus.

Sultan Marah Laur returns and finds Barus Sultanate at war with Acehnese forces, and he intervene succesfully in the conflict. The Acehnese were strong, and Kampung Simugari was on the defensive. When Sultan Marah Laut arrived, he intervene in the fighting and asked the Acehnese to stop their attack. The Acehnese however defied him.

After hearing the argument, Sultan Marah Laut, and his followers, was extremely angry to hear the feeback and he attack the Acehnese forces, who took fright and fled. After they had gone, The Sultan went to Kampung Simugari, where he found that all women had fled and had been taken to Kampung Si Antomas (Manduamas?) by Tuanku Raja Bongsu.

After peace had been restored, Sultan Marah Laut decided to leave and to find a place to make a kampung and a negeri of his own. He found an excellent place called Sawah Lagundi and settled there. Sawah Lagundi, developed in to a big city along with aoutonomous governmentship under the leadership of Sultan Marah Laut. Sultan Marah Laut created his poweful forces, and the city governed by appointed ministers. Sultan Marah Laut is a supreme ruler of Sawah Lagunde only next to his brother Sultan Barus Hili, Marah Sultan and the Sultan of Barus Hulu, Sultan Marah Bongsu.

Raja Alang Pardosi: The Forgotten Powerful King (5)

Alang Pardosi is thus portrayed as having achieved authority over Rambe and its border with Tukka Dolok and put himself in a position where he could control all movement between the two. Historians belived that the movement which mattered was the passage of champor and benzoin which, as already seen, had to be brough through Rambe and Tukka on its way down to the coast.

Alang Pardosi succesfully restored order and economy in the state by his policies to institute arrangements for market to be held (onan) and agreement which instituted “bongbong” or taxes. In political sphere, Alang Pardosi again restored his power over Rambe, the stronghold of Simamora’s immigrants. In cultural term, Alang Pardosi is the king who responsible in the progress of Batak megaliths arts. In more recent works Jean Paul Barbier, in The Megalith of The Toba-Batak Country, describe “pangulubalang” built by Alang Pardosi as “magical statues” and discusses their origin and purpose, including the possibilities that they are considered as ancestor effigies or involve human sacrifice.

Many states laws and regulations made by Alang Pardosi are still existed till now as a part of adat or cultural norms which always preserved by Batak people. The form of tribute paid by Si Namora, the heads of all animals and fish captured, according to Ypes, such forms were still used in the first part of the twentieth century in many Batak areas in recognition of land rights. The Onan institutions also become an unseparated part of Batak culture and formally adopted by later rulers of Batak such as inland Batak ruler of Singamangaraja I in Bakkara till Singamangaraja XII.

Raja Alang Pardosi: The Forgotten Powerful King (7)

Meanwhile, in the upper state Raja Tutung succeeded his father, King Pucaro Duan. Unfortunately, the Raja Tutung once again involved in a further dispute with the Simamora line whom granted permission to stay in a resettlement in Rambe land by the late Alang Pardosi after peace agreement achieved.

The leader of Simamora immigrants led by Si Purba son refuse to extend their loyalty to the new king Raja Tutung in Tukka. Raja Tutung therefore traveled to the coast in order to enlist the help of his cousin, Raja Lobu Tua, or Tuan Namora Raja. Together the allied forces of the two kings marched to Tukka and confronted by rebel army in Rambe. The Allied force of Raja Tutung and Tuan Namora Raja succesfully overcome the revolt. Henceforth, the immigrants of Simamora clans agreed to follow the old agreement made between the two sides.

Tuan Namora Raja and his army returned to Lobu Tua. After Tuan Namora Raja died, his son replace him. After several centuries, the succession changed many times before the state accepted Islam.

The first king become the sultan or the ruler in this Islamic Sultanate is Tuan Kadir, the Sultan of Lobu Tua, after conversion of the state to Islam. Many aspect of Islam and Malay adopted side by side with Batak culture.

Raja Alang Pardosi: The Forgotten Powerful King (6)

The King’s position at the intersection of important pathways gave Raja Alang Pardosi great authority and become the greatest of all the Rajas in the Batak lands.

Raja Alang Pardosi is thus established as the founder of a line which broke away from the heartland of Toba and began an expansion in to frontier land. The process continued after his death, when his two sons, Pucaro Duan and Guru Marsakot, separated and formed newly states.

Pucaro Duan become the king in the upper state centered in Tukka which was an important center for collecting supplies of camphor and benzoin. Guru Marsakot moved down to the coast itself, and become the king in Fansur Kingdom centered in Kampung Air Busuk. Guru Marsakot is a famous king in the state which populated by many foreigners such as Indian, Persian, Arab, Acehnese, Malay, Chinese and so on. As an international state, the counstry is ruled by Marsakot according to international norms, standards and regulations; a combination of Tamil adat and Batak adat with the adat of Aceh and Melayu.

Soon the capital was replaced; from Kampung Air Busuk to Lobu Tua. After building and developing the state with harmony and progress, Marsakkot died and succeeded by his son Tuan Namora Raja.

Raja Alang Pardosi: The Forgotten Powerful King (4)

According to Si Purba’s government adviser, a dukun, the famine come about because of Si Purba treachery toward Alang Pardosi. As a remedy, Alang Pardosi was invited to return. But he declined.

He said that he did not want to return to the capital, but that he would go back if Si Purba build a palace, a house for him, in the road at Gotting, Tukka now in Kecamatan Pakkat. This palace symbolised the power of Alang Pardosi over Si Purba and his followers and some people who supported them.

The house was to be in the middle of that road so that all people will have to travel under this house. The house was duly built and Alang Pardosi moved back to Tundang with all his people. On his way he established “pengulubelang” in several of the districts trough which he passed.

According to Ypes, twentieth century etnographic account, the “pengulubelang” was stone images which were indeed erected in Tukka Dolok and Tukka Holbung. Such images were regarded with awe, and only a datuk could approach them. Supplication was made to them for succesful harvests, and they were also used for aggressive purposes to mark out territory.

Raja Alang Pardosi: The Forgotten Powerful King (3)

After several years of development, a civil war occurred when Si Purba Uluan, a son in law of Alang Pardosi from his Acehnese wife, and a son of an immigrant, Sinamora of Simamora clan, from Dolok Sanggul, revolts and challenges the tribute obligations imposed to the immigrant family of Simamora as per the state rule.

Si Purba and his army, consisted from immigrants from Toba and aggressors from Dolok Sanggul, attacked the king, Alang Pardosi, after a political turbulance, and forced him to exile in a jungle which later developed as a city, a newly founded capital for the state named Si Pigembar. A governtment in exile in created by Alang Pardosi to maintain his power and influence over the state.
Si Purba, however, continued his war by resorted to treachery in order to attack this new capital. A war broke out and Alang Pardosi, who yet never relize the important to build a powerful army, moved once more, traveling further westwards, with his people. He, then, settled at a spot called Huta Ginjang.

This left Si Purba in control of Kampung Tundang, and he claimed to be a sole Raja there. But Si Purba failed to manage the economy of the state when retribution followed under his leadeship. The capital, Kampung Tundang, was struck by famine.

Raja Alang Pardosi: The Forgotten Powerful King (2)

Alang Pardosi become the king (Raja) and rule the state with wisdom and harmony. The first step he made was to fix the state borders. The area of the territory under his control was large. It stretched from the capital, Kampung Tundang in Rambe, where the center of the state, west to Singkel, east to the borders of Pasaribu, and downstream to the sea shore. It include, therefore, the area now known as Barus and much of its hinterland, main areas of Kabupaten Humbang Hasundutan excluded Dolok Sanggul, and also much part of Kabupaten Pakpak Barat and Dairi till main part of Aceh Singkel.

The descendants of Alang Pardosi becomes sultans in many kingdoms and sultanates, after the spreading of Islam, such as Sultan of Barus (hulu) in Sultanate of Barus and also Sultan of Trumon, in Singkel which also known as Teuku Raja Batak in Acehnese term. Many sultanate in westcoast of North Sumatera also connected to Sultanate of Barus such as Sultanate of Natal and so on.

According to a cronicle, Asal Sejarah Raja-raja Barus, the authority of King Alang Pardosi was extensive, because none of this land was yet settled. It was all still jungle. After sometime several settlement were developed which strectched to Dairi and other places.

Raja Alang Pardosi: The Forgotten Powerful King (1)

Alang Pardosi is a fifth son of Raja Kesaktian from Parsoluhan, somewhere in Balige of Toba. The family clan is Pohan. Alang Pardosi left his family and home after a quarrel with his father, which came about because Raja Kesaktian had asked him to travel to Asahan to obtain oil for feast (Puasa).

Raja Kesaktian however completed the feast before Alang Pardosi returns. This so angered Alang Pardosi that he left and traveled with his wife and followers toward the west.

Alang Pardosi journeyed until he reached a place which later called Rambe, now on Rambe name is known as Pakkat of Kabupaten Humbang Hasundutan. There he stopped and founded a place called Kampung Tundang.

After some time the kampung developed and become a popular state (negeri) because many people come there from Toba and settled there and become the citizen of the state.

Opat Pusoran, Pasaribu: Between Malay and Batak

Pasaribu families possess extended genealogies which trace the relationship with Sultan Ibrahim. Pasaribu itself is a Batak family name. The nature of the relationship between the Malay, Sultan Ibrahim, and earlier generations of the Pasaribu family will be examined below. Today the Pasaribu family in Barus hold great pride in their family’s past and have a considerable interest in local history.

The Tarusan (somewhere in Minangkabau) origins of Hilir family are mentioned in VOC sorces from 1668, although there was no specific reference to Sultan Ibrahim. Ibrahim is, however, a name which the Hilir family used frequently in seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. A pair of decorated gravestones in Si Gambo-Gambo near modern Barus are believed, locally, to mark the graves of Sultan Ibrahim and his wife.

The larger stones is uninscribed, but the other bears an inscription which indicates that its is the grave of a woman called Tuan Amarsura who died in Safar 972 or AD 1565.

In Batak legends, it said that Sultan Ibrahim is a descendant of a Batak army who migrated to Tarusan from Barus, as a result of the conflict between the ruler of Minang (Raja Mughal) and a member his families who ruled Aceh as a center of power in Sumatera. His ancestor is Erha Ni Sang Maima, someone who migrated to Barus from Sianjur Mula-mula, the ancient village of Batak.

Malay Influences in Batak Cultural System

The use of terms Hulu and Hilir to refer different parts of a state is common in Malay world, where the importance of riverine communications lead naturally to the use of geographic expressions such as “upstream” and “downstreams”. Similar term occur in Batak Languages, for instance “dolok” refers to hilly area, “holbung” refers to low lying.

Malay word also assimilated in Batak Language to the name of clans, such as Tobing refers to “toward the river” and “dolok” indicates the opposites direction. “Julo” which is similar to Malay word “hulu” suggestsinland while “jae” indicates a coastal direction.

These words are often used in conjunction with ordinary place names where an area contains different types of landscape; for instance in the Barus hinterland are Tukka Holbung and Tukka Dolok, also the name of clans such as Pasaribu Dolok and Pasaribu Tobing.

A list of geographical terms and their definitions may be found on a map published by C.M. Pleyte, “Schetskaart der reisrouten ter ontdekking van het Toba-Meer,” in conjunction with his article “De Verkenning der Bataklanden,” TAG 12 (1895): 71-96 and 727-40.