CHAPTER 2

La Maddukelleng and Civil War

in South Sulawesi

Kathryn Wellen

Introduction

U

nderstanding local or village warfare in Southeast Asia requires
the examination of numerous case studies, the more detailed
the better. A drawn-out conflict fought in the Bugis land of
Wajoq in South Sulawesi, Indonesia (see Figure 2.1) and culminating
in the so-called Pénéki War of 1762 provides an exceptionally rich and
well-documented case study. Through it, we can begin to discern not
only what warfare was like on the ground for the participants but also its
use and usefulness as a political tool. The conflict also provides insights
into the nature of Bugis statecraft.
The Bugis are the largest ethnic group in the province of South
Sulawesi, located on the southwestern peninsula of the spider-shaped
island between Borneo and the Moluccas. Bugis society is divided into a
plethora of small communities. Extremely hierarchical, these communi-
ties are formed on the basis chains of loyalty between individuals. Bugis
communities have coalesced into numerous polities, the largest of which
include Luwuq, Boné, Wajoq, Soppéng, Ajjatapparang, and Sidénréng.
Each of these have their own customs and legal systems but the societies
are closely related and have often cooperated for political and military
aims. Traditionally, the majority of the Bugis population has been rice
agriculturalists but highly-visible minorities have worked as mercenar-
ies and traders. The people of Wajoq in particular are known for their
overseas commerce which was facilitated not only by the navigability of
the Cenrana River to the south of Wajoq but also by Wajorese legal and