Latest / The Srivijaya Empire: Southeast Asia's Forgotten Maritime Superpower — Fexingo History
The Kadatuan: How Srivijaya's Mandala Politics Actually Worked
Srivijaya is often called an empire, but it was really a mandala: a fluid network of tributary port-kingdoms bound by oaths, trade, and shared Buddhism. This episode unpacks the term kadatuan (the ruler's domain) and how Srivijayan kings like Balaputradewa and Dharmasetu maintained control without a standing army or fixed borders. We discuss the role of the datu (local chieftains), the swearing of oaths with sacred water, and the 7th-century Telaga Batu inscription, which lists curses against rebels. Lucas and Luna explore how this decentralized structure allowed Srivijaya to dominate…
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