Laksamana

The Laksamana (Jawi: لقسامان) is a position within the armed forces, similar to the position of admiral in Malay sultanates and in present-day countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. Since South East Asia was part of Indosphere of Greater India since earlier, during and after the Hinduised Srivijaya empire, Hindu titles based on Sanskrit were used. The word Laksamana originated from Lakshmana, a figure in the Hindu epic of Ramayana.

Malacca Sultanate

The Laksamana in the Malacca Sultanate was in charge for the sea security of the Sultanate, and most importantly, the China-India trade route within the Straits of Malacca. That trade route was the lifeline of the Empire. He was in full command of the Malaccan fleet, outranked only by the Bendahara and the Sultan.[1][2]

Malacca's most famous Laksamana is Hang Tuah.[2]

Modern-day usage

Military

In modern times, the word refers to a rank in Indonesia (by the Indonesian Navy[3] and Indonesian Maritime Security Agency[4]) and in Malaysia (by the Royal Malaysian Navy[5] and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency[6]).

The common grades for "Laksamana" title are:

  1. Laksamana Pertama (lit. "First Admiral", a one-star rank, Rear Admiral or Commodore)
  2. Laksamana Muda (lit. "Young Admiral", "Rear Admiral", a two-star rank)
  3. Laksamana Madya (lit. "Middle Admiral", "Vice Admiral", a three-star rank)
  4. Laksamana ("Admiral", a four-star rank)
  5. Laksamana Armada (lit."Fleet Admiral", a five-star rank used by Royal Malaysian Navy)
  6. Laksamana Besar (lit. "Grand Admiral"), a five-star rank used by Indonesian Navy)

Surname

Laksamana, along with its Hispanicized forms Lacsamana and Laxamana, is a family name among the Pampangan people of the Philippines and their descendants.

Reference
  1. Miksic, John N. (2009). Southeast Asian Ceramics: New Light on Old Pottery. Editions Didier Millet. p. 81. ISBN 9789814260138.
  2. "The Sri Bija Diraja is Entrusted Overlordship of Singapura". HistorySG. 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  3. "Peraturan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia Nomor 39 Tahun 2010 Tentang Administrasi Prajurit Tentara Nasional Indonesia" [Government Regulation No 39 Year 2010 Regarding Administration of Armed Forces Personnel].  No. 39 of 2010 (PDF) (in Indonesian). Government of Indonesia.
  4. Akbar, Norvan (31 January 2019). "Hilangkan Ego Sektoral, Bakamla Terapkan Sistem Kepangkatan dan Seragam Baru". JPP (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  5. "Pangkat" (in Malay). Malaysian Armed Forces HQ. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  6. "Pangkat Maritim" (in Malay). Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency. Retrieved 9 April 2020.

See also
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