Sugbu chiefs

Who he is

Title

Chiefs of the Cebu-Mactan channel (the later Sugbu)

Since

not pinned

Born

not known

Family

not known

Confidence

low

No source names the chief of this place for 1200. The word datu (and barangay) is recorded by the Spanish from the 1560s; the Copperplate of 900 uses Sanskrit-Malay titles instead. Everything about 1200 is inference from archaeology and later accounts.

What it holds

• The channel anchorage and the beach market
• Boljoon and the south coast graves (Chinese wares among the burials)

Allies and rivals

Tied to its neighbours by marriage, debt, feud and raid; nothing above it.

How things stand that morning

Not described for 1200.

Wealth

Imported ceramics, gold, forest goods; no figures.

Military

War boats and raiding parties in the later record; no numbers.

Threats

• Raiders from the next coast
• Typhoon and flood
• A change in the Chinese trade

Places of note

• Sugbu channel: Sheltered channel between Cebu and Mactan.
• Mactan: Island across the channel.
• Boljoon: South Cebu burial and settlement site with imported wares.

Where the sources disagree

• Sri Lumay and the Cebu rajahnate of the thirteenth century are not evidence for 1200 (brief: Cebu rajahnates are later or invented).

Evidence: The campaign board entry reports Song ceramics; no text.

"The campaign board" is OMNIA's working map. These notes record where its earlier claims were checked against the sources.

On the map: A river mouth community's near land, drawn as a seeded block.