Confederation of Madya-as

Madya-as
1200s–1569 →
Capital	Aklan
Language(s)	Bisaya, Aklanon, Illongo, Hiligaynon
Religion	Animism and Shamanism syncretized with Taoism[citation needed]
Government	Confederation
History
- Established	1200s
- Conquest by Spain	1569

The Confederation of Madya-as was a pre-Hispanic Philippine state within the Visayas island region. It was established in the 13th century by rebel datus (chiefs), led by Datu Puti, who had fled from Rajah Makatunao of Borneo. The semi-democratic confederation reached its peak during the 15th century under the leadership of Datu Padojinog when it warred against the Chinese Empire, the Rajahnate of Butuan, and the sultanates of Sulu and Maguindanao. It was also feared by the people of the Kingdom of Maynila and Tondo.^[1] It was conquered after the Spanish conquest in 1569 by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and his grandson Juan de Salcedo.

History according to folklore

According to local oral legends and the book entitled Maragtas,^[2] early in the 13th century, the datus: Sumakwel, Bangkaya, Paiburong, Paduhinog, Dumangsol, Dumangsil, Dumaluglog, Balkasusa, and Lubay who were led by Datu Puti and their followers, fled to the sea on their barangays and sailed north to flee from the oppressive rule of Rajah Makatunaw, of Borneo and the destruction of the Srivijayan Empire. Until they reached Panay island .They immediately settled in Antique and made a trade treaty with the Negrito hero named, Marikudo and his wife Maniwantiwan, from whom they wanted to purchase the land. A golden salakot and long pearl necklace (called Manangyad) was given in exchange of the plains of Panay. The Negritos relocated to the mountains while the newcomers occupy the coasts. Datu Bangkaya then established a settlement at Madyanos, while Datu Paiburog established his village at Irong-irong (Which is now the city of Iloilo) while Datu Sumakwel and his people crossed over the Madyaas mountain range into Hamtik and established their village at Malandong.^[3]

Datu Puti, left them for explorations, northwards, after ensuring his people's safety. He designated, Datu Sumakwel, being the eldest, as the commander-in-chief of Panay before he left.

By 1213, Datu Sumakwel invoked a council of datus to plan for common defense and a system of government. Six articles were adopted and promulgated, which came to be known as Articles of Confederation of Madya-as. Historians would later refer to these Articles as the first written constitution of the Philippines.^{[citation needed]}

The confederation created the three sakups (Sovereign territories) as the main political divisions, and they defined the system of government, plus establishing rights of individuals while providing for a justice system.

AS a result of the council, Datu Paiburong was formally installed as commander-in-chief of Irong-irong at Kamunsil, Sumakwel of Hamtik at Malandog, and Bangkaya of Aklan at Madyanos .

Bangkaya ruled his sakup from Madyanos according to local customs and the Confederation of Madyaas' articles. The first capital of Aklan was Madyanos. Commander-in-chief, Datu Bangkaya then sent expeditions throughout his sakup and established settlements in strategic locales while giving justice to this people.^[4]

After his election as commander-in-chief of Aklan, Bangkaya, transferred his capital to Madyanos for strategic and economic reasons and renamed it to Laguinbanwa.

Bangkaya used his two sons as officers in the government of his sakup. He appointed Balengkaka in charge of Aklan, and Balangiga for Ilayan. Balangiga had twin sons, Buean and Adlaw , from which Capiz (Kapid) was originally named, before the Spaniards came.

The center of government of the Confederation was Aklan, when Sumakwel expired and Bangkaya succeeded him as leader of Panay. Bangkaya was then replaced by Paiburong. Aklan returned to become the center of Confederation again, when Paiburong expired and was replaced by Balengkaka.

Two Centuries later, after the barter of Panay, the capital of Aklan became Batan and of all Panay, when Datu Kalantiaw became the leader of Aklan.

Antedating the ascent of Kalantiaw as leader of Aklan, there were numerous datus that became petty rulers in their own fiefdoms, and each claimed to be commander-in-chief of Aklan. One of them was datu Daguob, who moved the capital to Capiz. Daguob was replaced by Hagnaya, who relocated to Mambusao the new capital. Dingandan then became chief and he moved the government back to Batan.

Kalantiaw in 1399, invaded and captured Batan from Dingandan. Then, Kalantiaw raped Dacaylay, Dinagandan's daughter. Datu Bolinawan, the legitimate successor of Dinagandan, led a people's revolt against Kalantiaw. Kalantiaw was killed, but Bolinawan failed to regain control of confederation. However, Kalantiaw II and Kalantiaw III, children of the original Kalantiaw in his first marriage took over. The eighteen commands now known as the code of Kalantiaw was issued by datu Kalantiaw III, on December 8, 1433. Commands some historians consider a hoax.

Shortly after the proclamation of the tyrannic Code of Kalantiaw, Kalantiaw III was killed in a sword duel with Datu Manduyog, the successor of Dinagandan, who relocated capital back to Bakan in 1437.^[5]

Chinese accounts

To the Chinese, the people of Confederation of Madyaas were known as the Pisheya.^[6] This is a transliteration of the general geographical location of the Confederation of Madyaas, the Visayas islands. In 1612, the Chuan-chou gazeeter specifically reported that the Pisheya consistently made raids against Imperial commerce ^[7]

Integration of parts of the Confederation to the Spanish Empire

When the Spaniards landed at Batan. In 1565, the Datu Kabnayag, relocated the capital to Guadalupe. Afterwards, however, the datus were overpowered by the Spaniards. Following the Spanish conquest, the locals became Christians. Father Andres baptized thousands of Aklanis in 1565, and consequently the settlements of Madyanos was renamed Kalibo.

Conquistador, Legaspi then parceled Aklan to his men. Antonio Flores became encomiendero for all settlements along the Aklan River and he was also appointed in charge of pacification and religious instruction. Pedro Sarmiento; was appointed for Batan, Francisco de Rivera; for Mambusao, Gaspar Ruiz de Morales; and for Panay town, Pedro Guillen de Lievana.

In 1716, the old Sakup (Sovereign Territory) of Aklan became Spanish politico-military province under the name of Capiz. And so it remained for the next 240 years. ^[5]

The Datus of Madyaas

Commander-In-Chief	Capital	From	Until
Datu Puti	Aklan	13th century	1212
Datu Sumakwel	Malandong ( in Antique )	1213	?
Datu Bangkaya	Aklan	?	?
Datu Paiburong	Irong-Irong	?	?
Datu Balengkaka	Aklan	?	?
Datu Kalantiaw	Batan	1365	1437
Datu Manduyog	Batkcan	1437	?
Datu Padojinog	Irong-Irong now Iloilo	?	?
Datu Kabnayag	Kalibo	?	1565

References

1. ^ Prehispanic Source Materials Page 74 by William Henry Scott (NEW DAY PUBLISHERS INC.)
2. ^ Maragtas by Pedro Alcantara Monteclaro
3. ^ http://akeanon.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=2
4. ^ Akeanon Online (Aklan History Part 3 - Confederation of Madyaas - )
5. ^ ^{a b} Akeanon Online (Aklan History Part 4 - from Madyanos to Kalibo - 1213-1565)
6. ^ Prehispanic Source Materials by William Henry Scott, Chapter 3, Page 74, Paragraph 2
7. ^ Chuan-chou Fu-chi (Ch.10) Year 1612