The disputed succession to the panglimaship of the XXVI Mukims was a political crisis in the XXVI Mukims of Great Acheh during the reign of Ibrahim Manso Shah (1858–70), which resulted in the unprecedented creation of a double panglimaship. The episode is described by C. Snouck Hurgronje in The Achehnese in his account of the chiefs of the three sagis, and is illustrative of the chronic weakness of the Sultan’s authority and of the role of popular adat in deciding questions of succession.
Background
The panglima of the XXVI Mukims had long been a person of small importance, as may be gathered from the sequel. The panglima sagi was the nominal head of one of the three territorial divisions (sagis) of Great Acheh, but the real power in each sagi lay with its principal uleebalangs. In the sagi of the XXVI Mukims the chief potentates were Teuku Ateue’ (chief of the IV Mukims Ateue’) and Teuku Imeum Tungkob; in the sagi of the XXII Mukims, Teuku Ba’et (chief of the VII Mukims Ba’et) and Teuku Waki Chi’ Gampong Baroh; in the sagi of the XXV Mukims, the two Ne’s — Teuku Ne’ Peureuba Wangsa and Teuku Ne’ Raja Muda Seutia — and Teuku Nanta Seutia. The panglimaship itself had become largely a titular dignity.
The Dispute
When the holder of the title died during the reign of Ibrahim Manso Shah (1858–70), one Teuku Muda Lampaseh was, according to the adat, the proper successor. He was accordingly, after reporting himself in the Dalam, solemnly recognized by the Sultan as panglima. Even before he had quitted the Dalam, however, the firing of guns was heard from the direction of the XXVI Mukims; and it appeared on enquiry that the people of that district, who objected to Teuku Muda Lampaseh on the ground that he was an opium-smoker, had installed a younger brother of the deceased panglima as the latter’s successor. This was Teuku Chut Lamreueng, father of the present panglima Teuku Nya’ Banta, who is also called Teuku Lamreueng.
The Sultan knew no better way out of the difficulty than to recognize the second aspirant as well, so that there were then two panglimas in the XXVI Mukims — a remarkable testimony to the impotence of the central authority in matters of chiefly succession.
Aftermath
At the commencement of the war both chiefs fled to Keumala. Teuku Lamreueng in the end re-established himself in his territory and tendered his submission to the Dutch Government. For this he was murdered in Pidie, whither he had gone to fetch his family, by the adherents of Teuku Lampaseh. His infant son escaped the same fate through the help of a faithful servant. This son was afterwards recognized by the Government as Panglima of the XXVI Mukims — the Teuku Nya’ Banta whose portrait is reproduced by Hurgronje — while after the death of Teuku Muda Lampaseh, the latter’s son Teuku Juhan was appointed panglima at Keumala.
The double panglimaship thus continued to exist, but in fact Teuku Juhan was not able to pose as a rival of Teuku Nya’ Banta, who held the actual power in the sagi. The dispute is a characteristic instance of the way in which the adat of popular election, the prestige of the Sultan’s recognition, and the force of arms combined to produce in Acheh results that no party to the original question had anticipated.
See Also
- XXVI Mukims
- Teuku Nya’ Banta
- Teuku Muda Lampaseh
- Teuku Chut Lamreueng
- Teuku Juhan
- Panglima Sagi
- Ibrahim Manso Shah
- Dutch War in Acheh
Source
The Achehnese, Vol. I, by Dr. C. Snouck Hurgronje, translated by A.W.S. O’Sullivan, indexed by R.J. Wilkinson. Leyden: E.J. Brill, 1906.