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{{Short description|Position of admiral within the armed forces in Malay and Indonesia areas}}
The '''Laksamana''' ([[Jawi script|Jawi]]: {{lang|ms-arab|{{Script|Arab|لقسامان}}}}) is a position within the armed forces, similar to the position of [[admiral]] in [[Malay people|Malay]] sultanates and in present-day countries like [[Indonesian Navy|Indonesia]] and [[Royal Malaysian Navy|Malaysia]]. Since South East Asia was part of [[Indosphere]] of [[Greater India]] since earlier, during and after the Hinduised [[Srivijaya]] empire, Hindu titles based on Sanskrit were used. The word Laksamana originated from ''[[Lakshmana]]'', a figure in the Hindu epic of [[Ramayana]].

==Malacca Sultanate==
The Laksamana in the [[Malacca Sultanate]] was in charge for the sea security of the Sultanate, and most importantly, the China-India trade route within the [[Straits of Malacca]]. That trade route was the lifeline of the Empire. He was in full command of the Malaccan fleet, outranked only by the [[Bendahara]] and the Sultan.<ref>{{cite book|title=Southeast Asian Ceramics: New Light on Old Pottery|publisher=Editions Didier Millet|year=2009|isbn=9789814260138|first=John N.|author1-link=John N. Miksic|last=Miksic|page=81|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XGme93dnK5oC&pg=PT81}}</ref><ref name="SG">{{cite web|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/51b9588d-b598-40ce-84e3-a917f3c9a88c|access-date=9 April 2020|year=2014|title=The Sri Bija Diraja is Entrusted Overlordship of Singapura|publisher=HistorySG}}</ref>

According to the ''[[Suma Oriental]]'' and the ''[[Malay Annals]]'', there are only three named Laksamana attested namely, [[Hang Tuah]] under [[Mansur Shah of Malacca|Mansur Shah]], followed by [[Khoja Hussain]] and [[Hang Nadim]] under [[Mahmud Shah of Malacca|Mahmud Shah]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=WAIN |first=ALEXANDER |date=2018-07-06 |title=Is Hang Tuah for real? {{!}} New Straits Times |url=https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2018/07/387855/hang-tuah-real |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=NST Online |language=en}}</ref>

==Modern-day usage==
===Navy and coast guard===
In modern times, the word refers to a rank in [[Brunei]] (by the [[Royal Brunei Navy]]<ref>{{cite web |title=CN Remarks |url=https://navy.mindef.gov.bn/Site%20Pages/CN%20Remarks.aspx |website=navy.mindef.gov.bn |access-date=16 October 2022 |language=ms}}</ref>), in [[Indonesia]] (by the [[Indonesian Navy]]<ref name="pangkat">{{cite act |type= |index= 39|date=2010 |article= |article-type= |legislature=Government of Indonesia |title=Peraturan Pemerintah Republik  Indonesia Nomor 39 Tahun 2010 Tentang Administrasi Prajurit Tentara Nasional Indonesia |trans-title= Government Regulation No 39 Year 2010 Regarding Administration of Armed Forces Personnel |page= |url=http://www.bphn.go.id/data/documents/10pp039.pdf |lang=id}}</ref> and [[Indonesian Maritime Security Agency]]<ref name="bakamla">{{cite web|url=https://today.line.me/id/pc/article/Hilangkan+Ego+Sektoral+Bakamla+Terapkan+Sistem+Kepangkatan+dan+Seragam+Baru-kGyaqJ|title=Hilangkan Ego Sektoral, Bakamla Terapkan Sistem Kepangkatan dan Seragam Baru|first=Norvan|last=Akbar|work=JPP|language=id|date=31 January 2019|access-date=13 April 2020}}</ref>) and in [[Malaysia]] (by the [[Royal Malaysian Navy]]<ref name="mpangkat">{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil.my/index.php/component/k2/item/5043-pangkat-pegawai|title=Pangkat Pegawai dan Laksamana|access-date=24 November 2021|publisher=Malaysian Navy|language=ms}}</ref> and [[Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency]]<ref name="mmea">{{cite web|url=https://www.mmea.gov.my/index.php/en/orang-awam-latest/62-pangkat-maritim|title=Pangkat Maritim|access-date=9 April 2020|publisher=Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency|language=ms}}</ref>).

The common grades for "Laksamana" title are:
# {{lang|ms|Laksamana armada}} ({{literally|[[Fleet admiral]]}}, a five-star rank used by [[Royal Malaysian Navy]])
# {{lang|id|Laksamana besar}} ({{literally|[[Grand admiral]]}}, a five-star rank used by [[Indonesian Navy]])
# {{lang|ms|Laksamana}} ({{literally|[[Admiral]]}}, a four-star rank)
# {{lang|ms|Laksamana madya}} ({{literally|Middle admiral}}, "[[Vice Admiral]]", a three-star rank)
# {{lang|ms|Laksamana muda}} ({{literally|Young/junior admiral}}, "[[Rear Admiral]]", a two-star rank)
# {{lang|ms|Laksamana pertama}} ({{literally|First admiral}}, a one-star rank, [[Rear Admiral]] or [[Commodore (rank)|Commodore]])

{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC; text-align:center;"
! Rank || {{lang|ms|Laksamana armada}} or<br />{{lang|ms|Laksamana besar}} || {{lang|ms|Laksamana}} || {{lang|ms|Laksamana madya}} || {{lang|ms|Laksamana muda}} || {{lang|ms|Laksamana pertama}}
|- style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;"
| || Admiral of the Fleet || Admiral || Vice Admiral || Rear admiral || Commodore
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''{{naval|Brunei}}'''<ref name="Brunei_Navy">{{cite web |title=Admiralty Ranks |url=https://navy.mindef.gov.bn/Site%20Pages/Admiralty%20Ranks.aspx |website=navy.mindef.gov.bn |publisher=Royal Brunei Navy |access-date=1 September 2021}}</ref>
| {{nowrap|[[File:19.RBrN-FM.svg|50px]][[File:Generic-Navy-13.svg|50px]]}}
| {{nowrap|[[File:18.RBrN-GEN.svg|50px]][[File:Generic-Navy-12.svg|50px]]}}
| {{nowrap|[[File:17.RBrN-LG.svg|50px]][[File:Generic-Navy-11.svg|50px]]}}
| {{nowrap|[[File:16.RBrN-MG.svg|50px]][[File:Generic-Navy-10.svg|50px]]}}
| {{nowrap|[[File:15.RBrN-BG.svg|50px]][[File:Generic-Navy-9.svg|50px]]}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''{{navy|Indonesia}}'''<ref name="pangkat"/><ref name="Indonesia">{{cite web |title=Pangkat Harian |url=https://www.tni.mil.id/pages-39-pangkat-harian.html |website=tni.mil.id |access-date=4 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124202839/https://www.tni.mil.id/pages-39-pangkat-harian.html |publisher=Indonesian National Armed Forces |archive-date=24 November 2020 |language=id}}</ref>
| [[File:Pdu laksamanabesartni.png|50px]]
| {{nowrap|[[File:Pdu laksamanatni komando.png|50px]][[File:Indonesian-Navy-Sleeve-ADM.svg|50px]]}}
| {{nowrap|[[File:Pdu laksdyatni komando.png|50px]][[File:Indonesian-Navy-Sleeve-VADM.svg|50px]]}}
| {{nowrap|[[File:Pdu laksdatni komando.png|50px]][[File:Indonesian-Navy-Sleeve-RADM.svg|50px]]}}
| {{nowrap|[[File:Pdu laksmatni komando.png|50px]][[File:Indonesian-Navy-Sleeve-FADM.svg|50px]]}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''{{flagicon image|LogoBakamla.png}} [[Indonesian Maritime Security Agency]]'''<ref name="bakamla"/>
| 
| 
| [[File:Laksdya maritim.png|50px]]
| [[File:Laksma maritim.png|50px]]
| [[File:Laksda maritim.png|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''{{naval|Malaysia}}'''<ref name="mpangkat"/><ref name="Malaysia_Officer">{{cite web |title=Pangkat |url=http://www.mafhq.mil.my/index.php/my/mengenai-kami/kerjaya/pangkat |website=mafhq.mil.my |publisher=Malaysian Armed Forces |access-date=4 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429231449/http://www.mafhq.mil.my/index.php/my/mengenai-kami/kerjaya/pangkat |archive-date=29 April 2020 |language=ms}}</ref>
| {{nowrap|[[File:Malaysia-Navy-OF-10 New.svg|125x125px]][[File:Generic-Navy-13.svg|103x103px]]}}
| {{nowrap|[[File:Malaysia-Navy-OF-9 New.svg|125x125px]][[File:Generic-Navy-12.svg|103x103px]]}}
| {{nowrap|[[File:Malaysia-Navy-OF-8 New.svg|125x125px]][[File:Generic-Navy-11.svg|103x103px]]}}
| {{nowrap|[[File:Malaysia-Navy-OF-7 New.svg|125x125px]][[File:Generic-Navy-10.svg|103x103px]]}}
|  {{nowrap|[[File:Malaysia-Navy-OF-6 New.svg|125x125px]][[File:Generic-Navy-9.svg|103x103px]]}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''{{flagicon image|Flag of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.svg}} [[Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency]]'''<ref name="mmea"/>
| 
| [[File:1apmm.PNG|50px]]
| [[File:2apmm.PNG|50px]]
| [[File:APMM Laksda.png|50px]]
| [[File:APMM Laksma.png|50px]]
|}

==Usage other than as military title==

In Brunei, [[Laksamana College of Business]] ({{langx|ms|Kolej Perniagaan Laksamana}}) is an accredited private university college established in 2003. The college also acted as a subsidiary college of the [[Kensington College of Business]].

In Indonesia, [[Laksamana mengamuk]] is a drink from [[Riau]]. This drink is made from [[mango]] mixed with [[coconut milk]] and [[sugar]]. Usually served during [[Ramadan]].

In Malaysia, [[Laksamana-class corvette|Laksamana class]] is a class of small [[missile]] [[corvette]]s comprising four ships in service with the [[Royal Malaysian Navy]]. {{As of|2024}}, All four ships of the Laksamana class are serving in the 24th Corvette Squadron of the Royal Malaysian Navy.

In Philippines, ''Laksamana'', along with its [[Hispanization|Hispanicized]] forms ''Lacsamana'' and ''Laxamana'', is a [[family name]] among the [[Pampangan people]] of the [[Philippines]] and their descendants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://punto.com.ph/ing-kasalesayan-ning-kapampangan-the-history-of-pampanga-2/|title=Ing kasalesayan ning Kapampangan (The history of Pampanga)|access-date=2023-02-07|date=2020-01-23|first=Fr. Edilberto|last=Santos|website=punto.com.ph}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Bendahara]]
* [[Syahbandar]]
* [[Temenggung]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:History of Pampanga]]
[[Category:Indonesian Navy]]
[[Category:Military history of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Malay culture]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Indonesia]]

{{SEAsia-hist-stub}}

[[ms:Laksamana]]