In the 11th century, the Linge Kingdom was established by the Gayo people[3] during the reign of Sultan Makhdum Johan Berdaulat Mahmud Syah from the Perlak Sultanate, as it was told by two rulers who were ruling during the Dutch East Indies era; namely Raja Uyem and his son Raja Ranta, who is Raja Cik Bebesen, and also Zainuddin from the rulers of Kejurun Bukit. Raja Linge I is said to have four children. The eldest was his daughter, Empu Beru or Datu Beru, and the remaining are Sebayak Lingga (Ali Syah), Meurah Johan (Johan Syah) and Meurah Lingga (Malamsyah). Sebayak Lingga wandered off to Karo land and founded a country there and he was known as Raja Lingga Sibayak. Meurah Johan ventured on to Aceh Besar and established his kingdom by the name of Lam Krak or Lam Oeii or also known as Lamuri or Lamuri Sultanate. This would mean that the Lamuri Sultanate was founded by Meurah Johan, while Meurah Lingga who was living in Linge, Gayo and the rest became kings of Linge for generations. Meurah Silu migrated to Pasai and became an officer to the Pasai Sultanate there. Meurah Mege himself was buried with Ni Rayang at the slopes of Keramil Paluh in Linge, Central Aceh, which until today it can still be found and are considered sacred by the locals. The cause of migrating was unknown. However, according to history, Raja Linge favoured his youngest son, Meurah Mege, causing the rest of his children to prefer to wander away.[4]
No documentation were recorded on the rulers of Sebayak Lingga Karo. During the era of Dutch East Indies, the monarchy was appointed again but for two eras only.
After initial Dutch resistance, where many Gayonese and Dutch were killed, the Dutch occupied the area during 1904–1942.[5] During this time, the Gayonese developed a thriving cash crop economy in vegetables and coffee. Since the Dutch colonization, the Gayonese have gained access to higher levels of education, and participated to some degree in the Islamization and modernization of their homeland.[6]
Although it is not the practice of majority of Gayo society to have their surnames included, however there are a small group of them that still have their surnames attached to their given name especially those that are from Bebesen region.[7] The purpose of the surname is only for them be identify and to be able to trace the individual's family lineage, thus it is not regarded as of great importance for the Gayo people.[8]
The Gayonese are Sunni Muslims but practise a local form of Islam. Traces of ancient pre-Islamic traditions are still extant. In ancient times, the Gayonese believed in good and bad spirits and in holy men, both dead and alive. They would regularly give ritual offerings and sacrifices to the spirits, to holy men, and to their ancestors.[6]
Conversion to Islam among the Gayo took multiple routes. According to local traditions, the Gayo attribute their conversion to the missionary activities of a Acehnese religious scholar during the early 17th century.[9] From West Sumatra, Muslim merchants spread the religion to the highlands.[10] From Aceh, the Aceh Sultanate expanded their influence to the region which also contributed to the eventual conversion of the Gayo.[9]
^Aris Ananta; Evi Nurvidya Arifin; M Sairi Hasbullah; Nur Budi Handayani; Agus Pramono (2015). Demography of Indonesia's Ethnicity. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 120. ISBN978-981-4519-87-8.
^Muhammad Junus Melalatoa (2006). Memahami Aceh Sebuah Perspektif Budaya dalam Aceh. Aceh Kembali ke Masa Depan anthology, IKJ Press. p. 14. ISBN979-3778-27-X.
^Fitria Ratnawati, S.Pd., Gr. (2021). Gayo Sang Pemikat. Guepedia. p. 10. ISBN978-6-2330-9344-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Arndt Graf; Susanne Schroter; Edwin Wieringa (2010). Aceh: History, Politics and Culture. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN978-981-4279-12-3.
^Darby Greenfield (1976). Indonesia: Java and Sumatra. Oleander Press. ISBN978-0-902675-46-9.
^ abJohn Richard Bowen (1993). Muslims Through Discourse: Religion and Ritual in Gayo Society. Princeton University Press. ISBN0-691-02870-2.
^M. Affan Hasan, Thantawy R. & Kamaluddin M. (1980). Kesenian Gayo dan perkembangannya. Balai Pustaka. OCLC7410608.
^Margaret J. Kartomi (2012). Musical Journeys in Sumatra. University of Illinois Press. ISBN978-0-252-03671-2.
^ abDomenyk Eades (2005). A Grammar of Gayo: A Language of Aceh, Sumatra. Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University. ISBN0-85883-553-3.
Indonesia (Aceh)
