Port · Self-governing peoples of Island Southeast Asia · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Batanes

The last islands before Taiwan: a hard windy country of terraced fields and stone walls (board).

Taiwanese jade was worked here for centuries before 1200, so the channel has been crossed for a very long time (board). The stone-walled hilltop refuges (idjang) of the Ivatan are of uncertain date and we give none for 1200. From July to October the typhoons make it one of the worst waters in Asia. The Batanes are mine to draw and are marked peoples.

Who holds it

Title
Headmen of the place (no one named)
Since
not pinned
Born
not known
Family
not known
Confidence
low

No source names anyone who holds this place for 1200.

Lord in 1200

No chief is named for 1200; the villages govern themselves.

What the town holds

  • The island villages
  • The channel crossing

Allies and rivals

Nothing is recorded; neighbours are the villages and ports along the same coast.

How things stand that morning

Not described for 1200.

Wealth

Terraced fields and fishing; Taiwanese jade came in over the centuries before 1200 (board). No other trade is shown.

Threats

  • Typhoons
  • Raiding across the channel (none dated)

Council

No council or court is recorded; headmen and elders decide (inference).

Fairs and markets

Not known; the trade follows the monsoons.

Militia

Not known. No numbers.

Walls and castle

No wall or fort is recorded.

Trade and crafts

Terraced fields and fishing; Taiwanese jade came in over the centuries before 1200 (board). No other trade is shown.

Places of note

  • Basco: Chief town of Batan (a later name).
  • Itbayat: Northern island of the group (tests as isa).
  • Sabtang: Southern island of the group.

Where the sources disagree

  • The idjang fortress dates are not pinned and the later Ivatan names are not read back.

Evidence: Geography and the campaign board only. The campaign board marks it 'likely'.

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

On the map: A place marker; the ground round it, if any, is drawn in the lord and province records.

Sources and studies

  1. The OMNIA board (September 2026) note for this place: a lead only, not a source
  2. Background knowledge of Southeast Asian history (Wolters; Hall; Bellwood; Scott; Junker; Reid), recalled and not re-read in this pass

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.