Raiders of the Sulu Sea

Acesushii2 minutes read

Coastal inhabitants of the Philippines faced brutal attacks by the ruthless Illinoisan Raiders, who captured people by boring a hole through their palm and stringing them together. The Raiders, viewed as barbaric outlaws, were skilled fighters and sailors that were eventually defeated by Western colonists and American forces, marking the end of their era in the Philippines.

Insights

  • The Illinoisan Raiders of the Sulu Sea were known for their brutal tactics, such as capturing individuals by piercing their palms and stringing them together, leading to fear and resistance from coastal communities.
  • The decline of the Raiders' power came with the introduction of steamships by the Spaniards, marking the end of their once formidable navies, and ultimately, the Americans' ruthless pursuit and defeat of the Raiders ended the era of raiding in the Philippines.

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Recent questions

  • Who were the Illinoisan Raiders of the Sulu Sea?

    Ruthless attackers capturing coastal inhabitants.

  • What was the significance of Zamboanga City in 1720?

    Faced a massive attack by 3,000 Raiders.

  • What weapons did the Raiders use in battle?

    Swords like Kris, Barong, and Campilan.

  • How did the Spanish defend against the Raiders?

    With slow galleons and muskets in clashes.

  • What led to the end of the era of raiding in the Philippines?

    Americans ruthlessly hunted and defeated the Raiders.

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Summary

00:00

Illinoisan Raiders: Ruthless Attacks in the Philippines

  • Coastal inhabitants of the Philippines faced attacks by the ruthless Illinoisan Raiders of the Sulu Sea, who captured people by boring a hole through their palm and stringing them together.
  • The Raiders, skilled fighters and sailors, were viewed as barbaric outlaws by Western colonists and were hunted down.
  • In 1720, Zamboanga City in the Philippines faced a massive attack by 3,000 Raiders, outnumbering the 600 Spanish soldiers defending Fort Pillar.
  • Zamboanga City, strategically located, was colonized by the Catholic Spaniards who built forts like Fort Pillar to deter invaders.
  • The attack on Zamboanga City in 1720 was led by the Maguindanao King Raja Lautasi, with forces from the Sulu and Maguindanao Sultanates.
  • Despite Spanish superior defenses, the Raiders, armed with swords, relentlessly attacked until reaching the fort's outer wards.
  • The Raiders, from three different tribes, targeted Christian communities in the north, defying Spanish dominance in the region.
  • The Raiders, skilled seafarers, built formidable vessels like the jangha, equipped with cannons, compasses, and sails powered by slaves.
  • The Raiders' fast attack boats, called garay, were faster and more maneuverable, replacing the jangha by 1830.
  • The Spanish, with slow galleons, were unable to match the Raiders' speed and maneuverability, leading to clashes over trade control and dominance in the region.

25:02

Preserving Tausug heritage through martial arts.

  • Halman Abubakar, a direct descendant of Tausug rulers, practices the martial art of silat to preserve his people's heritage.
  • Halman, a city councilor in Holland, advocates for the Muslim communities of Mindanao in the Philippines with diplomacy.
  • Halman treasures ancient Tausug weapons like the Barong, a deadly sword used in close combat against Spanish firearms.
  • The Kris or Kalis, a sword with a double-edged blade, was wielded by slave Raiders and high-ranking officials in battle.
  • The Campilan, a heavy single-edged sword adorned with hair, was used by Raiders primarily for intimidation.
  • Raiders protected themselves with heavy armor made from caribou horn or steel plates, deflecting sword blows but ineffective against firearms.
  • Spanish muskets, though limited in accuracy and reload speed, faced off against Raiders in clashes of ideology and power.
  • The introduction of steamships by the Spaniards marked the end of the once feared navies of the Sultanate, leading to a decline in slave raiding activities.
  • The Americans, inheriting the problems with Raiders from the Spaniards, ruthlessly hunted and defeated them, ending the era of raiding in the Philippines.
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