Sambaliung Sultanate

1. The History

Gunung Tabur was part of Berau Kingdom. The origin of disunity dates back to the seventeenth century, when the Ducth colonialists penetrated to the Berau Kingdom and passed off as trader of VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie). In 1810 C.E., the Dutch colonialist implemented “devide et empera” system (political disunity) that brought Berau Kingdom into pieces. The rupture of this kingdom was in line with the coming of Islam to Berau brought by Imam Sambuayan. The center of Islamic spreading was located on Sukan village, Berau district, East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. 

The first Sultan who ruled the Sambaliung Sultanate was Raja Alam with his title “Alimuddin” (1830-1836 C.E.). Before the founding of this sultanate, Raja Alam was actually the first sultan of Batu Putih Sultanate that founded in 1830 C.E. By 1834/1836 C.E., the name of Batu Putih had turned into Tanjung, and finally in 1849 C.E. changed for the second time into Sambaliung. Even though the historical founding of the sultanate was beginning in 1830 C.E.

In the ninth generation of Berau Sultanate (no written records can be founded), Aji Dilayas had two sons with different mothers; the first son was recognized as Pangeran Tua and the second son was known as Pangeran Dipati. Since that time, Berau Sultanate had been ruled in succeeding by the Pangeran Tua and Pangeran Dipati‘s descendants. In history, these facts were sources of different opinions that, some times, filliped into dispute. Based on that genealogy, Raja Alam was grandson of Sultan Hasanuddin and great-grandson of Pangeran Tua, or the thirteenth generation of Aji Surya Nata Kesuma (the first King of Berau Kingdom).

Raja Alam was acknowledged as the fighter of the sultan toward Dutch colonialists. In September, 1834 C.E., he led his troops to fight against the Dutch colonialists at sea nearby Batu Putih. The Dutch claimed that Raja Alam was an accessory with the sailors of Bugis and Sulu from South Mindanao which was brought to instability of Makkasar strait. As a result, during years 1834 to 1837 C.E., he had been captured and exiled to Makassar. Under his alienation, the authority of  Tanjung (Batu Putih) Sultanate was given to Sultan Gunung Tabur by the Dutch, and the executor of the sultanate was Pangeran Muda from Kutai, a family member of Raja Alam‘s wife. On September 15, 1836, Raja Alam came back to Berau, after the demanding of Aji Kuning Gunung Tabur had approved by Dutch.

After returning from the alienation, Raja Alam still had an ambition to fight against the Dutch colonialists. In fact, the Dutch had been persuading him for seven years to change his mind and stop his struggling against colonialism, but the persistency of Raja Alam was strongly enough. The Dutch then backed down. In 1844 C.E., the Dutch acknowledged the existence of Tanjung Sultnate. However, Raja Alam refused this declaration. According to him, the acceptance of Dutch‘s declaration signed that the sultanate was ready to be controlled by the Dutch colonialists. He believed that Islamic jurisprudence had prohibited to appoint the infidels (Dutch Government Colonialism) as his leader.

As an honor of his struggle and meritorious service,  Raja Alam‘s name was used as Battalion‘s name of 613 that located on Tarakan city. Through presidential decree No.007/TK/1999 of Augustus 13, 1999, the Indonesian president determined him as national‘s prominent figure who had right to achieve award “bintang jasa” of Indonesian  government. But, his award as national hero is still hard-fought by the local government of East Kalimantan in order to be approved soon by the central government. 

The written records could prove the existence of the sultanate and the castle of Sambaliung which was located on the edge of Kelay River, Sambaliung sub-district, East Kalimantan Province. This palace is now becoming a museum which recognized as one of the interested tourism places in East Kalimantan. This museum recorded historical heritages of Sambaliung Sultanate. There was also unique collection: two poles of ulin carved by original letter of Bugis tribe that placed in front of the yard of museum. This collection was believed as heritage of the followers of Raja Alam who came from the Bugis Wajo descendants. The letter that written on the wooden pole was the rules of the people when they passed through the palace.

2. The Kings of the Kingdom

In succeeding years, the list of Sambaliung Sultans, even thought the data of their rules were not completed yet, read as follows:

1. Raja Alam (1830-1836 C.E.)
2. Bungkoh (18...-18...C.E)
3. Muhammad Jalaluddin bin Alam (18...-1849 C.E.) 
4. Muhammad Hasyik Sharifuddin bin Alam (1849-1869 C.E.) 
5. Muhammad Adil Jalaluddin bin Muhammad Jalaluddin (1869-1881 C.E.) 
6. Abdullah Muhammad Khalifatullah (1881 C.E.-...) 
7. Bayanuddin bin Muhammad Jalaluddin (1881 C.E.-...)
8. Datuk Ranik (...-1921 C.E.) 
9. Muhammad Aminuddin (= Datuk Ranik) (1921-1960 C.E.) 

3. The Kingdom Period

The authority of Sambaliung Sultanate was founded since 1830 to 1960 C.E. It means that the sultanate had been established for nearly one and half centuries. In 1960 C.E., the Sambaliung Sultanate, together with Gunung Tabur Sultanate, was obliterated by Indonesian parliamentary decision. After that, the Sambaliung Sultanate turned into Sambaliung sub-district, Berau district, East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. The ruling system of Gunung Tabur was not based on the sultanate models, but changed into Indonesian governmental system.

4. The Kingdom Territory

Before being part of Berau district, the authority of Sambaliung Sultanate territories covered the districts that are now known as Sambaliung sub-district.  

5. The Kingdom Structure

(In the process of data collecting).

6. The Socio-Cultural Life

When Raja Alam controlled the sultanate, the social life of Sambaliung Sultante was peaceful, secure, and there were no social conflicts triggered by tribes, ethnics, and races. Since that time, actually, the Sambaliung society consisted of various tribes such as Banuwa (Berau), Basap, Bajau, and Bugis. Raja Alam had succeeded to unify these tribes. In addition, all tribes that settled in Sambaliung, including Dayak Kenyah, Modang, and Punan in Kelay River, had united and fought to defend their territory from Dutch‘s attack.

According to the census of  population 2005, the population of Sambaliung sub-district was 22.279 people. Every year, the population of Sambaliung increased 1,4 percent in average. The 40 percents of these population were new comers, while the rest of them were the inhabitants of Sambaliung. The large number of new comers was caused by the plenitude of natural resources such as mine coal, agriculture, plantation, fishery, and forestry harvests. Therefore, some of Sambaliung population occupied those livelihoods to this time.

(TN/trj/24/10-07)

References :

• www.depdagri.co.id.
• www.kaltimpost.web.id.
• www.korantempo.com.
• www.worldstatesmen.org.

Credit photo : asrani.berau@gmail.com

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Comment of "sambaliung sultanate"

19 May 2012. rusli kalo bisa fhoto peninggalan sejarah yg ada di museum di in put kan juga

09 Okt 2016. Aji adi purnama Mohon di jelaskan posisi datu aji kuning Dri kerajaan sambaliung.. Karena setahu saya datu aji kuning bin aji kuning bin sultan salehuddin bin sultan Hadi Jalaluddin bin sultan alimudin bergelar raja alam.. Untuk informasi sewaktu raja alam di buang ke Makassar posisi kerajaan di duduki oleh anaknya sendiri bernama sultan Kaharuddin ( si bungkuk)saudara kandung Dri Hadi Jalaluddin

09 Okt 2016. Aji adi purnama Mau kirim foto silsilah gimana ini caranya

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