The name Moro Lands is given to the southern islands of the Philippines (Mindanao,
Palawan, Sulu, etc.) inhabited by Islamic communities, styled Moro (= Moors) by the
Spanish since the 16th century.
(In the period of U.S. rule Moroland was also commonly used)
See also PHILIPPINES
THE MORO LANDS 1871 - 1899
In 1576 the Spanish launched a first campaign to conquer the Islamic states in the
southern Philippines, hereby initiating a period of wars that would last more than
300 years.
The Moro however opposed a fierce resistance and for nearly 250 years real Spanish
presence was confined to isolated coastal strongholds like Zamboanga on Minandao
(established in 1635, abandoned in 1663, recontructed in 1718), which became the
centre of their activities in the region.
It was only in the second part of the 19th century - when the use of steamships gave
them naval superiority - that they were able to gradually extend their authority,
even submitting the powerfull Sulu Sultanate in 1876.
But even now Spanish control remained largely contested and by 1898 most Moro lands
still were outside effective Spanish rule.
THE MORO LANDS 1899 - 1935 : THE U.S. PERIOD
The Moro lands were formally transferred to the U.S. in 1898 (Treaty of Paris) as
part of the Philippines and actually occupied by U.S. forces in 1899. (1)Chronology of the U.S. administration in Moroland
1899 : Instoration of a separate U.S. military administration for the Moro lands
and signature of the so-called Bates-Kiram Treaty that provided for
a regime of indirect rule, the Americans being only concerned with the
maintainance of order and peace.
The treaty didn't however prevent frictions and soon revolts broke out.
They would last until 1905 in Mindanao and until 1913 in Sulu.
1903 : Creation of a separate Moro Province as a first step towards direct rule and
full integration into the Philippines. The Bates-Kiram Treaty now no longer
had any signification and was abolished the following year.
1912: The Moro Lands were opened to Christian colonization
1914 : The province of Moro was abolished and replaced by the provinces of Agusan,
Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao, Jolo, Surigao and Zamboanga forming a Department
of Mindanao and Sulu, with mainly co-ordinating tasks.
1920 : The Department of Mindanao and Sulu was abolished and responsability for the
Moro lands was transferred to the Philippino Department of the Interior. (2)(1) In the period preceding the arrival of the Americans forces, both
the Moro and the Philippino nationalists terminated Spanish presence
in many places.
Among these actions was the seizure of the city of Zamboanga by a
Philippino revolutionary army and the ensuing proclamation of the
Republic of Zamboanga, claiming to rule all of the southern regions.
President of the Revolutionary Government of Zamboanga
1899 Gen. Vicente Alvarez
The republic lasted six months (may 18 - nov 16 1899) and ended when
U.S. troops - supported by some members of the government - toke the
city.
(2) This transfer was opposed by the Moro, demanding the continuation of
a separate U.S. administration.
In 1926 a major revolt of the Alangkat headed by Datu Mampurok (1...
- 1927) broke out, but it was quelled the following year.
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U.S. ADMINISTRATORS
Commanders of the Military District of Mindanao, Jolo and Palawan
(subordinated to the U.S. military commanders in the Philippines)
1899 - 1900 MajGen. John Coalter Bates 1842 - 1919
1900 MajGen. William August Kobbe 1841 - 1932
Commanders of the Military Department of Mindanao and Jolo
(subordinated to the U.S. military commanders in the Philippines)
1900 - 1902 MajGen. William August Kobbe s.a.
1902 BrigGen. George Davis
Commanders of the Military Department of Mindanao
(subordinated to the U.S. military commanders in the Philippines)
1902 - 1903 BrigGen. Samuel Sumner
1903 MajGen. Leonard Wood 1860 - 1927
Governors of the Moro Province
(subordinated to the U.S. Governors/Governors General of the Philippines)
1903 - 1906 MajGen. Leonard Wood s.a.
1906 - 1909 BrigGen. Tasker Howard Bliss 1853 - 1930
1909 Col. Ralph W. Hoyt
1909 Capt. Charles Hagedon
1909 - 1913 BrigGen. John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing 1860 - 1948
1913 - 1914 Frank C. Carpenter
Governor of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu
(subordinated to the U.S. Governors General of the Philippines)
1914 - 1920 Frank C. Carpenter s.a.
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PHILIPPINO ADMINISTRATOR
Director of the Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes
(Subordinated to the Philippino Department of the Interior
1920 - 1936 Teopisto Guingona Sr.
THE MORO LANDS 1935 - 1945 : THE PHILIPPINO PERIOD
In 1935 - despite strong Moro protest culminating into the 1935 so-called Dansalan
Declaration - the Moro Lands were included into the newly created Commonwealth of
the Philippines without any form of selfgovernment. (3)
(3) A separate administration for the southern lands continued however to
exist until 1950
Commissioners for Mindanao and Sulu
1936 - 19.. Teopisto Guingona Sr. s.a.
1944 - 19.. Gen. Paulino Santos
The integration into the Philippines was followed by several revolts,
the most important being that of Haji Abd ul-hamid Bongabong lasting
from 1936 to 1941
THE MORO SULTANATES
Most of the Moro states - of which some 34 were styled sultanate - only had a local
importance. Two of them - the Sultanates of Magindanao and of Sulu - however were
real regional sea-powers, dominating the surrounding seas and sometimes intervening
in the affairs of other Malayan states like Brunei, Johore or Pahang. (4)
(4) A third state, the Kingdom of Buayan on Mindanao briefly gained (or
rather regained, as it had already been a leading state some centuries
earlier, before being eclipsed by Magindanao) in importance in the
second part of the 19th century.
Its last ruler (or Rajah Mudra) was Dato Ali (1... - 1905, r. 1899 -
1905) who became de de facto leader of the Moro resistance to U.S.
occupation in Mindanao.
After his death the state ceased to exist.
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The Sultanate of Magindanao (also Maguindanao and Magindanaw) was probably founded
in the early 16th century (1515?). Its territory covered the south western coastal
areas of Mindanao.
Its power was at its highest in the 17th century, but later it declined and became
no more than a confederation of semi-independent sub-sultanates, loosing much of its
power to neighbouring sultanates like Buayan. Despite this it resisted all Spanish
attempts to fully conquer it between 1578 and 1898.
In 1899 Magindanao came under U.S. rule, later becoming part of the Philippines and
continuing its nominal existence until the present days.
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HEADS OF STATE
Sultans
1857 - 1883 Muhammad Makakwa bin Datu Intirinu
1883 - 1888 Muhammad Jalal ud-Din Pablu (Pablo) bin
Muhammad Makakwa, son 1... - 1888
1888 - 1906 interregnum
Regent
1888 - 1906 Rajah Putri°
1906 - 1926 Muhammad Mangigin bin Datu
1926 - 1938 Iskandar Hijaban Mastura
1938 - 1991 Tato Ismael bin Kalug
The Sultanate of Sulu was founded in the 15th century (1450?). At the height of its
power, it exercised sovereignty over the Sulu Ararchipelago, over other islands like
Basilan, Palawan and Tawi-Tawi and over part of Sabah in North Borneo.
Sulu resisted all Spanish attempts to conquer it until 1876. That year its capital
Jolo was occupied and after some resistance the sultan was forced to accept Spanish
rule in 1878. (5)
In 1899 the Sultanate came under U.S. rule, later becoming part of the Philippines
and continuing its nominal existence until the present days, despite the fact that
it was formally abolished in 1940.
(5) Actual Spanish rule remained however confined to Jolo and some other
minor places conquered in the course of the following years.
Spanish Governors of Sulu
1876 Capt. Pascual Cervera y Topete 1839 - 1909
1876 - 1877 Brig. Jose Paulin
1877 - 1880 Col. Carlos Martinez
1880 - 1881 Col. Rafael de Rivera
1881 - 1882 Col. Isidro G. Soto
1882 Col. Eduardo Bremon
1882 - 1884 Col. Julian Parrrado
1884 - 1886 Col. Francisco Castilla
1886 - 1893 Col. Juan Arolas
1893 Col. Caesar Mattos
1893 - 1899 Gen. Venancio Hernandez
1896 - 1899 Col. Luis Huerta, surrendered to the
Americans
In 1878, in a last attempt to gain foreign (= British) support the
reigning sultan leased his possessions in Sabah to two Europeans -
Alfred Dent (18.. -1...) and Gustavus Baron von Overbeck (1831 -
1...) - in exchange for a yearly tribute (Sulu maintaining a formal
suzerainty over the concerned territories until our days).
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HEADS OF STATE
Sultans
(Since the so-called Carpenter-Kiram Treaty of 1915, the Sultans no longer had any
political powers, now only being recognized as the spiritual leaders of all Muslims
of the Philippines)
1862 - 1881 Muhammad Jamal ul-Azam ibni Sultan
Muhammad Fazlul Kahir 1... - 1881
1881 - 1884 Muhammad Badrud-Din (II) ibni Sultan
Muhammad Jamal ul-Azam, son 1... - 1884
1884 - 1886 Succession contested between :
- Haji Muhammad Jamal ad-Din Kiram
(II) "Amirul Kiram" ibni Sultan
Muhammad Jamal ul-Azam , son of
Sultan Muhammad Jamal ul)Azam (s.a.) 18.. - 1936
- Ali ud-Din (II) ibni Datu Israil,
continued as pretender until 1887
1886 - 1893 Muhammad Harun ur-Rashid ibni Datu
Dakula, imposed by the Spanish,
abdicated (6) 1... - 1899
1894 - 1936 al-Haj Muhammad Jamal ad-Din Kiram
(II) "Amirul Kiram" ibni Sultan
Muhammad Jamal ul-Azam , pretender
since 1886 (2x)
1936 Muwallil Wasit (II) ibni Sultan
Muhammad Jamal ul-Azam, son of
Sultan Muhammad Jamal ul-Azam (s.a.) 1... - 1936
1936 - 195. Succession contested between :
- Zain ul-Abidin ibni Datu Uyung 1880 - 195.
- Amir ul-Umara (II) 1... - 1967
(6) After his abdication Muhammad Harun ur-Rashid ibni Datu Dakula moved
to the - now Spanish - island of Palawan where he was allowed by the
Spanish to rule as "Sultan Jubilado de Palawan" until his death in 1899.
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