Royalty of Savu & Rai Jua

Savunese Royal Family ca.1880

Du Ae (Kings), Beni Ae (Queens) and Fettor (Governors)
of Savu and Rai Jua

Rai Jua Principality

At the end of the 19th century, Rai Jua was home to 25 tribes; including Oedjoe D'ima, Kolo Hab'a, Lede Talo, Koro (Koroh), to name a few. The Dutch called the island Randjoea and also Bendjoar. At that time it had 1.300 inhabitants, among which many were Christians.

1) Lomi Tulu (died 1794).
2) Raja Tulu (brother 1794 - ?) There is also mention of a J'ara Lay in this same year (1794), so perhaps the two brothers were actually Fettors/vice-rulers.
3) B'aku Ruha was the first King recognized by the Dutch.
4) (Ama Mehe) Tarie..... (Messe Tari) (1830-1868).
5) (Ama Loni) Kudji.....(1868-death 7/4/1915).
6) (Ama Med'a) Lay..... (son; 1915-19 the first Christian King, taking after baptism the extra name of Paulus, born 1865; until 16/6/1918 last independent King).
7) Pia Lay (died 1954).
8) Jeremias Huru (Heremia Huru; installed 1956; when rule of Savu-area became more together, he became also gov. fettor; 2nd one; born ca. 1901; died 18/4/1990; his son is Ama Kudji, if he is King now is not known).
9) Herminus Radja Kudji (first Gov/Fettor; probably not of royal lineage.
10) Bu Weler was a principality ruler; but probably not of royal lineage; f.i. in 1986; because Rai Jua was not easy to reach, was made seperate sub-district) (cq) traditional ruler. "Bu" is used to address an adult (male) as in "Your Excelency".
11) In 1905-1907, Radja...(Ama Dj'aga) was Fettor, or vice-Regal of Rai Jua. His contract with the Dutch was recognized 3/6/1885. Supposedly that the Fettors of Savu also had to sign a contract, so that their status could be confirmed by the Dutch.
12) Lay Nj'eb'e (Nyeb'e) (mentioned in 1767)

Heb'a (Seba) Principality

1) Kore Rohi was the 1st King recognized by Portugese.
2) J'ami Kore.
3) Hab'a J'ami.
4) Lay Hab'a.
5) Bire Lay.
6) Riwu Bire.
7) Lomi Riwu.
8) Ina Tenga (her Savunese Loving Name), (Beni Ae/Queen) died in 1684. Her first Savunese name is not known. Succeded by her nephew, a son of her brother Lay Lomi.
9) J'ara Lomi (a succesor before 1694, brother of Lay Lomi and Ina Tenga).
10) Wadu Lay (mentioned between 1710 and 1731, son of Lay Lomi, nephew of Dj'ara Lomi and Ina Tenga).
11) J'ara Wadu (son of Wadu Lay, mentioned: 1746 or '47-1761 or '67).
12) Lomi J'ara (known also as Ama Doko: his Savunese loving name. He is known from the Visit of Captain Cook in 1770 and died in November 1778. He is a son of J'ara Wadu (Dj'ara Wadu).
13) Doko Lomi (eldest son of Lomi Dj'ara 1790-1794). Some information mentioned that Doko Lomi succeded his father about ten years earlier which was from 1778.

A certain Meha Mano (Mesa Mano) was made fettor of Heb'a (Seba) after his deceased father in the year 1790. Meha is subtitute for Mesak or Mesach.

14) Riwu Doko (son;until 18..)??
15) Bire Doko (brother; until 1830)??
15) Dj'ara..... (Ama Loni)(different lineage; 1830-1859).
16) Talo Dj'ara (Ama D'ima)(son; 1859-1863).
17) (Ama Nia) Dj'awa..... (son of 16; 1863-186 .
18) Kaho Dj'awa (Ama Doko) (son; first Christian King; also named Sjarle Kaho Dj'awa; 1868-1881; died).
19) Lazarus Rohi Dj'awa (Rosi Dj'awa) (1881 - his death 12/2/1890; brother).
20) Alexander Rihi Dj'awa (1890 - his death 1901; brother).
21) Elias Ludji Radja Pono (1901 - his death 2/11/1906; brother).

The brother of 20 until 23 was King (Ama Ludji) Dimu..... of Melolo/Sumba, who ruled there f.i. in 1890.

24) Samuel Thomas Dj'awa (Logo Rihi); son of 22; 1906 ruled until his death 28/9/1935; born 16/4/1885; from 1914-1918 he was made by Dutch the chief of a sort federation of the 5 principalities of the Savu Islands.
25) Paulus Charles Dj'awa (Rohi Rihi; brother; 1935 - his death in 1963).
26) David D. Bire Ludji (of different lineage; 1963-19../died 1992).
He was also the last ruler of the Seba pricipality.

Pawe Rake was f.i. between 1905-1907 Fettor of Heb'a (Seba). His contract as such was recognized by the Dutch on 3/6/1885.

Dimu (Timu) Principality

1) Talo ....(1672).
2) Ama Rohi ....(Ama Rosi) (1676).
3) Ludji ....(1696).
4) Rohi Rano (Rosi Rano) (by 1710 until March 1731).

This Rohi Rano (Rosi Rano) ruled until March 1731 when two of his temukungs, Ama Rati ..... and Leba..... ?, rebelled, since he wished to hand over his throne to his daughter's son Hili (Sili). Ama Rati thought he had the right to become Du Ae (King). The rebels were supported by Heb'a (Seba) and Liae but Hili (Sili) slipped away to Kupang on 11 March 1731. The Dutch intervened and succeeded to bring about a successful solution. Rohi Rano (Rosi Rano) declared that he was unable to rule any more, being quite old. Therefore his daughter's son Hili (Sili) (born 1705) succeeded. Hili Hab'a ( Sili Sab'a) then governed from 1731 until his death in 1798, being succeeded by his son Elias J'ara Hili (Elias Dj'ara Sili) (1798-after 1805). In other words, he ruled an astonishing 67 years - must be something of a record in documented Indonesian history! During his reign he was known as the upper regent (hoofd-regent) of Savu. His son, Elias J'ara Hili (Elias Dj'ara Sili) who was alive 1798-1806.

5) Hili Hab'a (Sili Sab'a) (1731 until his death in 1798).
6) Elias J'ara (Dj'ara) Hili (Sili) (1798-after 1805).
6) Rewa D'aga (in 1832).
7) (Ama Hili) Hab'a.....(Sili Sab'a) ruled before 1851-18 ??.
8) Ama Lai (Lay) D'aga..... (1858-186 ??).
9) Eduard Dj'ara Ludji.
10) (Ama Piga) Dj'ara..... (1868 until his death in 1911).

Royal dynasty then extinct in direct line. Then the Fettor-lineage began to rule.

11) Saul Wé Tanja (Tanya) Ludji (Fettor of Dimu (Timu) from 1908/Fettor, ruler of Dimu (Timu) from 1911; Fettor of the Sawu-"federation" from 1918. Born ca.1890. Died:???)
12) Tanja Ludji was temporary-Fettor (1905 died 1908)
13) Radja Tanja (chief dynasty; son).
14) Ludji Wé Tanya; nephew (was known to be the last nominated fettor, but never once ruled). Died early 1990s. By the 1980s the fettors could no longer play their role and fettors' decendants could no longer be nominated to rule as fettors and are thus now commoners.

Menia (of Heb'a/Seba) Principality

1) Tero Weo was the first King recognized by the Dutch).
2) (Ama Gaja) Bengu Tagi (father of Gaja Bengu and Rehi Bengu, ruled 1760 until at least 1790).
3) Gaja Bengu (ruled until 1794, died the very year).
3) Rehi Bengu (in 1794 -...). A certain (Ama Piga) Tagi..... was named as King in 1832.
4) Tagi Rehi (Ama Gaja ); son. 1842 until 1868.
5) (Ama Lena) Rihi.....(Risi) (1868-1873. Deposed because of his excessively temparental character. In 1874 officially merged with Heb'a (Seba). The end of Menia as a principality.)

Kore Rohi of Menia (fettor?) who was succeeded by his son Dimu Kore.

Mehara (Mesara) Principality

1) Wele J'ami (Wele is a Savu variation of Willem or William and Welhemus or Wilhemus. First by the Dutch recognized King of Mehara (Mesara). For instance before 1717-1721)
2) Kore Wele (f.i. in 1752; son).
3) Dimu Kore (Ama Loni), son; before 1756-1760).
4) Rugi Dimu King from 1760; son. Not sure if he is the same as King B'uki Dimu (see 6).
5) J'aga Riwu (Fettor from 1760 & King from before 1767 until 1781).
6) B'uki Dimu (1781 (probably the sameone as mentioned in no.3) - after 1794).
7) Uli B'uki (B'oeki) (known also as Ama B'ehi (Besi); son. Probably the same as Ama Behi, who was mentioned as King in 1832. (Ruled before 1832- 186-).
9) Dju Uli (Ama Leb'e); son. 1868-1893).
10) Doko Dju (known also as (Ama Tenga) alias Dominggoes B'oeki. 1893 ruled until his death on 25/6/1914. After his death Mehara/Mesara merged with the Sawu Federation under the King of Heb'a (Seba), but retained its own rulers with a Fettor title. The crownprince, Jakob Willem B'oeki didn't want to succeed him; son of 9.).
11) B'ole Kore (nephew) A local source becomes a certain B'ore Kole alias Benjamin B'oeki as Fettor of Mehara (Mesara) in 1940. (not certain where his place is is in the dinasty lineage).
12) Wela B'oeki (nephew).
13) Wele D'ima (2nd cousin. Was an assistant of sub-district chief) of West Savu 1968-after 197- .

The Kings (with title Fettors since 1914) becomes Fettors only after a time. The first Fettor of all Sawu becomes Fettor of Mehara (Mesara).

Liae Principality

1) Kale L'odo was the 1st King recognized by The Netherlands.
2) Riwu Manu (2nd idem).
3) J'ami Riwu Manu (son 3, ruled f.i. in 1721).
4) Mone Bengu (1726-?).
5) Mone Bengu (f.i. in 174?).
6) Kore Rohi (f.i. between 1752-1756).
7) Kore Lone (King or Fettor; ruled f.i. between 1758-1760).
8) Manu Kore (before 1767 until at least 1794).

King Manu Kore of Liae ruled between 1767-1794. He was named as a minor ruler; in 1758 (as a minor, his ruling period were unknown).

9) (Ama Moye) Keloa..... (f.i. in 1832).
10) (Ama Iye) Yote.....(before 1852-1859).
11) (Ama B'aki) B'ela..... (1859-1868).

King (Ama B'aki) B'ela.... died of smallpox. In the following year, there was a smallpox epidimic, which decimated the population of the Savu Islands.

12) Hendrik Ratu Manu (Ama Amoe) Manoe..... before baptism in ca. 1874. Last King of Savu-island to become Christian. 1868-1918 as independent ruler. Date of death is unknown. When his son died, King dynasty extinct in direct line. Then Fettor-age began to rule).
13)........Riwu Ratu (19..-19..; son of 11).

Riwu Ratu was still ruling in 1936, but under the title of Fettor, because all the principalities were united by the Dutch between 1914 -1918 under Paramount-rule of King of Heb'a (Seba). Each former principality kept his own ruler. In 1905 the Fettor (vice-King) was Fettor Radja Hab'a, whose contract with the Dutch was recognized in 1894.

14) Rohi Radja Hab'a (son of the former Fettor of Liae, when Liae was still officially seperated principality, became later ruler of Liae. In 1940 he was already Fettor. Not certain if his son is now the present ruler of Liae.


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NB: Savunese names and words which contain the letter "S" are substituted with the letter "H" in Savunese. e.g: "Sawoe" is spelt and pronounced "Hawoe".

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