The Laksamana (Jawi: لقسامان) is a position within the armed forces, similar to the position of admiral in Malay sultanates and in present-day countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. Since South East Asia was part of Indosphere of Greater India since earlier, during and after the Hinduised Srivijaya empire, Hindu titles based on Sanskrit were used. The word Laksamana originated from Lakshmana , a figure in the Hindu epic of Ramayana.
The Laksamana in the Malacca Sultanate was a key figure responsible for safeguarding the Sultanate’s maritime security, particularly along the vital China-India trade route in the Straits of Malacca, which was the lifeline of the empire. As the commander of the Malaccan fleet, the Laksamana held significant authority, outranked only by the Bendahara (prime minister) and the Sultan. In addition to his naval duties, the Laksamana also served in roles akin to a modern-day head of diplomatic affairs and vice minister of war. [1] [2]
The legendary Hikayat Hang Tuah records Laksamana Hang Tuah being sent on numerous diplomatic missions to destinations such as the Vijayanagara Empire in South India, China, Thailand, and even the Ottoman Empire. Similarly, the Rekidai Hoan , an official record from the Ryukyu Kingdom, mentions a Malaccan diplomatic envoy led by "Lezoumana" or "Lo-hsi-ma-na", reflecting the Laksamana’s international significance. [3]
Historical sources, including the Suma Oriental and the Malay Annals , identify only three named Laksamana during the Sultanate's history. Hang Tuah served under Sultan Mansur Shah, followed by Khoja Hussain and Hang Nadim, who served under Sultan Mahmud Shah. [4]
In modern times, the word refers to a rank in Brunei (by the Royal Brunei Navy [5] ), in Indonesia (by the Indonesian Navy [6] and Indonesian Maritime Security Agency [7] ) and in Malaysia (by the Royal Malaysian Navy [8] and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency [9] ).
The common grades for "Laksamana" title are:
Rank | Laksamana armada or Laksamana besar | Laksamana | Laksamana madya | Laksamana muda | Laksamana pertama |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Admiral of the Fleet | Admiral | Vice Admiral | Rear admiral | Commodore | |
Royal Brunei Navy [10] | |||||
Indonesian Navy [6] [11] | |||||
Indonesian Maritime Security Agency [7] | |||||
Royal Malaysian Navy [8] [12] | |||||
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency [9] |
In Brunei, Laksamana College of Business (Malay : Kolej Perniagaan Laksamana) is an accredited private university college established in 2003. The college also acted as a subsidiary college of the Kensington College of Business.
In Indonesia, Laksamana mengamuk is a drink from Riau. This drink is made from mango mixed with coconut milk and sugar. Usually served during Ramadan.
In Malaysia, Laksamana class is a class of small missile corvettes comprising four ships in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy. As of 2024 [update] , All four ships of the Laksamana class are serving in the 24th Corvette Squadron of the Royal Malaysian Navy.
In Philippines, Laksamana, along with its Hispanicized forms Lacsamana and Laxamana, is a family name among the Pampangan people of the Philippines and their descendants. [13]
The Malacca Sultanate was a Malay sultanate based in the modern-day state of Malacca, Malaysia. Conventional historical thesis marks c. 1400 as the founding year of the sultanate by King of Singapura, Parameswara, also known as Iskandar Shah, although earlier dates for its founding have been proposed. At the height of the sultanate's power in the 15th century, its capital grew into one of the most important transshipment ports of its time, with territory covering much of the Malay Peninsula, the Riau Islands and a significant portion of the northern coast of Sumatra in present-day Indonesia.
Hang Tuah, according to the semi-historical Malay Annals, was a warrior and Laksamana who lived in Malacca during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah in the 15th century. However, there is limited historical evidence for his existence. He was supposedly a great laksamana, or admiral, a diplomat and a silat master. Hang Tuah is the most illustrious warrior figure in Malay literature. He is however, a somewhat controversial figure and there is much in dispute about the factual basis of Hang Tuah's story.
Hang Jebat was the closest companion of the legendary Malaccan hero Hang Tuah. Regarded in Malaysia as one of the greatest silat exponents in history, he is well known for his vengeful rebellion against the Malacca Sultan and final duel with Hang Tuah, who he swore to avenge after he was wrongfully punished by the Sultan. Juxtaposed with Tuah's undying loyalty to the sultanate, Jebat is most remembered for his fierce defiance against unjust authority.
The Royal Malaysian Navy is the naval arm of the Malaysian Armed Forces. RMN is the main agency responsible for the country's maritime surveillance and defence operations. RMN's area of operation consists of 603,210 square kilometers covering the country's coastal areas and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ). RMN also bears the responsibility of controlling the country's main Sea Lines of Communications (SLOC) such as the Straits of Malacca and the Straits of Singapore and also monitors national interests in areas with overlapping claims such as in Spratly.
The Malay Annals, originally titled Sulalatus Salatin, is a literary work that gives a romanticised history of the origin, evolution and destruction of the Malacca Sultanate. The work, composed in the 17th century by court historians, draws from earlier accounts prior to that century, is considered one of the finest literary and historical works in the Malay language.
An admiral of the fleet or shortened to fleet admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, usually equivalent to Field marshal and Marshal of the air force. An admiral of the fleet is typically senior to an admiral.
Taming Sari is a famous kris in Malay folklore. It is believed to have been wielded by the legendary Malaccan warrior Hang Tuah, and is fabled to grant physical invulnerability to its wielder.
Puteri Gunung Ledang is a 2004 Malaysian Malay-language epic period fantasy romance film directed by Saw Teong Hin. The film is based on the Malay legend of the Gunung Ledang princess, who is said to have lived on top of Gunung Ledang, and a Malaccan sultan's effort to court her. The film stars Tiara Jacquelina, M. Nasir and Adlin Aman Ramlie.
The Johor Sultanate was founded by Sultan of Malacca Mahmud Shah's son, Alauddin Riayat Shah II in 1528.
Bendahara was an administrative position within classical Malay kingdoms comparable to a vizier before the intervention of European powers during the 19th century. A bendahara was appointed by a sultan and was a hereditary post. The bendahara and the sultan shared the same lineage.
Hang Nadim was a warrior of the Johor-Riau during the Portuguese occupation of Melaka. Nadim was appointed laksamana (admiral) of Sultan Mahmud Shah's forces that harassed the Portuguese trade colonies from 1511 to 1526. He also appears as a legendary figure in a chapter of the Sejarah Melayu.
The Lekiu-class frigates are a class of frigates of the Royal Malaysian Navy. They are the largest and most modern surface combatants of the Royal Malaysian Navy, until the Maharaja Lela-class frigates are completed. The class comprises two vessels, KD Jebat and KD Lekiu. The class is named after the second ship of the class which was launched before Jebat.
Puteri Gunung Ledang is a Malaysian musical directed by Zahim Albakri, co-directed by Adlin Aman Ramlie, book by Adlin Aman Ramlie, Saw Teong Hin and Zahim Al-Bakri and music composed by Dick Lee. The musical is based on the 2004 Puteri Gunung Ledang film. The original production was staged at the Istana Budaya in February 2006, this was followed by two more productions and an upcoming third in February 2009. Tiara Jacquelina and Stephen Rahman-Hughes starred as Gusti Putri and Hang Tuah in all the productions to date. Other members of the production team are music director Roslan Aziz, choreographer Pat Ibrahim and production designer Raja Malek. The musical was staged in poetic Malay and Javanese-accented Malay, but English subtitles were provided.
The Lantaka also known as rentaka was a type of bronze portable cannon or swivel gun, sometimes mounted on merchant vessels and warships in Maritime Southeast Asia. It was commonly equipped by native seafaring vessels from the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia. Lela and rentaka are known by the Malays as meriam kecil, the difference is that rentaka is smaller in length and bore than a lela. and Lantakas are often called Kanyon in Filipino.
Puteri Gunong Ledang is a 1961 Singaporean Malay-language black-and-white period romantic drama film directed by S. Roomai Noor and based on the Legend of Puteri Gunung Ledang. The film introduces actress Elaine Edley in her first film role.
Hang Tuah is a 1956 Singaporean Malay-language historical drama film directed by Phani Majumdar. It is the first Malay film to be fully shot in Eastman colour film. It was released in Singapore by Shaw Organisation on 28 January 1956. The film was based on the legendary Admiral Hang Tuah of Malacca and his 4 sworn brothers; Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu. This film received the award for 'Best Musical Score' at the 3rd Asian Film Festival in Hong Kong in 1956 and an official screening at 7th Berlin International Film Festival in 1957, where it was nominated for the Golden Bear.
Hulubalang were the military nobility of the classical Malay kingdoms in Southeast Asia. In western sources, "Hulubalang" is roughly translated as "warlord", "commander", "general" or simply "warrior". An early literary reference to the word Hulubalang appears in the Malay Annals. It is mentioned in the text that among four senior nobles of Kingdom of Singapura (1299–1398), there was a position called Hulubalang Besar, first held by Tun Tempurung, that equivalent to chief of staff of the army, who commands several other Hulubalangs. The legendary strongman of Singapura, Badang, was among the notable Hulubalang of the kingdom, promoted to the rank during the reign of Sri Rana Wikrama.
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Mendam Berahi was a legendary royal galley said to have been used by the Malacca Sultanate in the early 16th century. This ship is fictional, recorded in the epic Hikayat Hang Tuah, and that type of ship, the ghali, did not exist until after the 1530s.