As we all know, in the history of all peoples of the world, they had differences among each other and were not always in friendship with each other.

That was also the case in the west part of the island of Timor.

The area, which is most known among many people is the city of Kupang, which has the same name as the district of Kupang. But there are of course more areas, that are interesting to know about. But let us begin with Kupang, in the extreme west of West-Timor.

The district of Kupang is an area in the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur, which for instance contains the former federal principality of Kupang.

The present eligible person to be installed as such is HRH Usif Leopold Isu (Isu means Wise Person in the local language of Atoni) Nisnoni of Sonbai Kecil. Because his position is now unchallenged as the future Raja of Kupang, he is in general described in the media, research books and the like, as the Raja of Kupang.

This monarch was living from 1948-1956 in Holland, because the Dutch East India Government thought, that it would be wise to let him undertake European study to be well prepared for the future role of him as Raja of Kupang in a changed time, which contained more political problems.

As a boy of 12 years he went to Holland and went to high school there; controlled by strict Dutch government officials.

He also learned there that the Dutch are well known for their discipline (he had some jobs there) and the Dutch/European mind in general. That would give him later positive qualities in his life. After 2 more years on a Dutch high school in Indonesie after his time in Holland, he returned back to Kupang.

He would later become the director of the State printing Company of the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur and because of that he could be in contact with many crown princes, princes and Rajas from many places of the province, whom also represented their area in the provincial parliament for instance.

Because of his Dutch experience in the past, he has many contacts in Holland and via that he became well known as a guide for international scholars, who wanted to do researches in the province, which had to do with the dynasties as well. So his contacts with the dynasties became reinforced by that function also.

Also he is related to many rajas on Timor. His closest relative as colleague-Raja is Raja Robert Koroh of nearby Amarasi. But also Raja Alfons Kono of more to the eastern part of West-Timor lying Miomaffo is family of him.

The co-members of the member states of the Kupang federal principality are also mostly related dynasties: especially the Tanof dynasty of TaEbenu and the Foenay dynasty of Foenay. Both have in the new federal structure of Kupang principality the title of Fettor (means vice-raja).

Another member; the dynasty of Amabi; are more indirectly related to the Nisnoni's. But the present Fettor of Amabi: Fettor Gideon Amabi (a sincere Christian) is his closest companion in the efforts of the raja in the process of revival of the "Identity-rajas" of Timor.

The Rajas of the Helong people (the so-called former rajas of the Kupang area and paramount rajas of the West-part of West-Timor in the past) are now not a challenging force, but companions in his projects. The present dynasty chief: Prince/Raja Muda Salmon Bislissin, still remembers of the good old time, when Raja Alfonsus Nisnoni (the father of Raja Leopold) was ruling with wisdom and good heart. This also creates a strong bond between the 2 royals.

Raja Robert Manoh of Amfoan is coming from an area, which lies a little isolated, but also belongs to the district of Kupang.The raja has a house in Kupang and communicates regularly with Raja Kupang about the position of the Rajas in modern West-Timor and also about the ways to help their countrymen.

Raja Leopold Nisnoni also works much together with more to the eastern part of West-Timor lying Insana.This dynasty(actually belonging to a sub-raja family,but chosen in 1917 by the Dutch and the people to govern Insana, because the Raja,or Atupas of Insana(or Keser/Kesel=Emperor ca.) had no experience to really rule and could not take his mind away from his position as a ritual/symbolic raja. With an interval of 8 years the Rajas of Insana were ruling as rajas.The present raja of Insana is Raja Drs. Theodorus (Olis)Taolin. He is chief of the Dewan Usif Timor(Council of Timor Rajas(in fact of W.-Timor)and because of that cooperates very much with the present Raja of Kupang.

Raja Theodorus was that already for some time, but in recent times, since some years back the Raja of Kupang was asked to become chief of the Council of Rajas of Timor,but he declined that position, because he found himself to old and the fact tjat Raja Theodorus had more experience on the political level.

But very significantly, that Raja Leopold Nisnoni was the first Raja and first Christian Raja to come into the network of about 300 Indonesian imperial, royal and princely dynasties of Indonesia. In 2002, because of his international and national (royal)contacts, he was invited by Sultan H.A.M. Salehuddin II of Kutai and Bupati Prof. Dr. Syaukani to be their guest at the 3rd Indonesian Royal festival in Tenggarong(East-Kalimantan).

He found there many colleague-monarchs and felt later the need also to try to invite other NTT rajas to join him during other events of this biannual Royal project. Don’t forget, that since 1999 there was an introduction of local autonomy laws in Indonesia and the local politicians found it necessary to invite the local monarchs and dynasty chiefs to enter for them the political arena.

Sometimes Timor is known as one of the last real Indonesian areas. The rajas on Timor still had some functions in their areas.

Also because in the old Dutch time and a bit later the Rajas were all members of a Council of ruling rajas of Timor (with residence in Kupang), all rajas know each other also because of that.

With other rajas Raja Leopold has less contact, but not none contact.Raja Gustaf Banunaek of Amanatun is in an isolated area, but knows about the Kupang raja, met him before;talked the good things and also invited the Raja to become memer of the new Council of Rajas of Timor.

The Raja of Amanuban is also indirectly related to the Raja of Kupang.This Raja Nesi Nope is sometimes called the Raja of Tourism of Timor, because he and his dynasty know how to entertain tourists and are in international tourist programmes.He is descended from a person from the nearby island of Rote, who could take the power in  Amanuban. But that is the reality of politics.This raja is known as the most influential as raja (and not as politician) of Timor.

The last big traditional living raja is Keser Johanis Tnesi Us Boko of Biboki;the only ritual raja of West Timor,he could maintain his position. When a new local Bupati must be installed,his blessing is a need.

This raja has little contact with the Raja of Kupang, because the raja of Biboki lives in seclusion, but representatives of the Biboki monarch have regular contacts with the Dewan Usif Timor.

Also indirect related with another raja he is: with Raja Edison OEmatan (middle W.-Timor).This raja is descent of a raja,who was in fact functioning in the princely household of the Fettor of Netpala;one of the 3 stateletss of Mollo and also the paramount force more or less in that area.So actually the present Raja of Mollo isn't from princely descent, but because this family was well educated and were strong rulers and also for a part of their time good rulers,they were accepted  in the later time as real rajas  by the OEmatan dynasty.The present raja branch has some Chinese blood in their veins.

Liurai Luis Sanaka Terek Seran of Malakka(S-Belu)is the best known Belu raja in the modern time,but died in 2003.His position was  a bit challenged and the succesion is now still not settled.

By the way:the Timorese tend to write the names written in European way,or general Indonesian names in their own way:so some know this Liurai(in West-Timor that means sub-emperor,or little Emperor)as Liurai Lois Saunaka Tei Seran.

In Belu;the most traditional area of West-Timor;is the area from which the Paramount rajas,or Maromak Oan;the Paramount-rajas of total Timor in historical perspective comes.The position of Paramount-Raja of total Timor is now only a historical thing; of total W.-Timor more a binding force;but all main rajas are now separate principalities(compared with the German Empire).

In Haitimuk and Laran there are the 2 pretenders of this position: respectively:Augustinus Nahak Seran and Agustin Klau.

The position of Maromak Oan was in the past a bit related to his also religious function:a sort of half-god. So when the last ruling Maromak Oan abdicated: Maromak Oan Hendricus Seran Nahak(ruled 1925-1930;died 1970);because of his new religion(Roman Catholic)the people there had problems to select a new Maromak Oan.

They are now very busy to select new persons for the position of Paramount-district rajas, rajas and sub-rajas in Belu.For one reason,or another all these postions had a vacancy(nearly all).

Only a few names are known to the public:Loro(districtparamount raja)Sipri Ulu iof Dirma,Raja Humbertus Manek of Silawang(f.s. in 2003),Raja Ignatius Nasukoli from Lamaknen(probably from 2003;indigeneous title:Bein Hot(the respected sun),etc.

We hope to know the installation of the rajas of this fertile part of Timor soon.