Liurai is a ruler's title on
Timor
Timor (, , ) is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, in the north of the Timor Sea. The island is Indonesia–Timor-Leste border, divided between the sovereign states of Timor-Leste in the eastern part and Indonesia in the ...
. The word is
Tetun and literally means "surpassing the earth". It was originally associated with
Wehali
Wehali (''Wehale'', ''Waihali'', ''Veale'') is the name of a traditional kingdom at the southern coast of Central Timor, now in Indonesia and East Timor. It is often mentioned together with its neighbouring sister kingdom, as Wewiku-Wehali (Waiwik ...
, a ritually central kingdom situated at the south coast of central Timor (now included in
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
). The sacral lord of Wehali, the
Maromak Oan ("son of God") enjoyed a ritually passive role, and he kept the liurai as the executive ruler of the land. In the same way, the rulers of two other important princedoms,
Sonbai
Sonbai (also spelt ''Sonnebay'', ''Sonba'i'', or ''Sonbait'') was an Indonesian princely dynasty that reigned over various parts of West Timor from at least the 17th century until the 1950s. It was known as the most prestigious princedom of the At ...
in
West Timor
West Timor () is an area covering the western part of the island of Timor, except for the district of Oecussi-Ambeno (an East Timorese exclave). Administratively, West Timor is part of East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. The capital as well ...
and
Likusaen (
Liquica) in
East Timor
Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the coastal exclave of Oecusse in the island's northwest, and ...
, were often referred as liurais, which indicated a symbolic tripartition of the island. In later history, especially in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the term ''liurai'' underwent a process of inflation. By this time it denoted any ruler in the Portuguese part of Timor, great or small. In the Dutch part in
West Timor
West Timor () is an area covering the western part of the island of Timor, except for the district of Oecussi-Ambeno (an East Timorese exclave). Administratively, West Timor is part of East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. The capital as well ...
the title appears to have been restricted to the Sonbai and Wehali rulers. The rulers in the west were known by the Malay term ''raja'', while there were internally used terms such as ''usif'' (lord) among the
Dawan-speaking groups, and ''loro'' (sun) among the
Tetun speakers.
The role of the liurais underwent changes after the great
Boaventura Rebellion which was suppressed by the Portuguese authorities in 1912. Up to then they were by and large traditional rulers in whose realms the colonial authorities seldom interfered. However, after this date the liurai was often appointed because of his loyal stance and connections with the colonial center in
Dili
Dili (Portuguese language, Portuguese and Tetum language, Tetum: ''Díli'') is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Timor-Leste. It lies on the northern coast of the island of Timor, in a small area of flat land hemmed in by mountai ...
. The liurai families have kept a certain role in Timorese society until recent times, and a few scions have enjoyed nationwide political roles. The liurais do not have any official rank any more, but still tend to command a degree of local respect.
[Gunn (2011) p. 120.]
See also
*
List of rulers of Timor
*
History of East Timor
Timor-Leste, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. The country comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor and the nearby islands of Atauro Island, Atauro and Jaco. The first inha ...
References
{{Reflist
Bibliography
* Castro, Affonso de (1867), ''As possesões Portuguezas na Oceania''. Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional.
* Geoffrey C. Gunn (2011), ''Historical dictionary of East Timor''. Lanham: Scarecrow Press.
* S. Müller (1857), ''Reizen en onderzoekingen in den Indischen Archipel'', Vol. II. Amsterdam: Muller.
* H. G. Schulte Nordholt (1971), ''The Political System of the Atoni of Timor''. The Hague: M. Nijhoff.
* Tom Therik (2004), ''Wehali, the Female Land: Traditions of a Timorese Ritual Centre''. ANU: Pandanus Books.
History of Timor-Leste