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The Laksamana (Jawi: لقسامان) is a position within the armed forces, similar to the position of admiral in Malay sultanates and in present-day countries like Indonesia and 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.
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.[1][2]
According to the Suma Oriental and the Malay Annals, there are only three named Laksamana attested namely, Hang Tuah under Mansur Shah, followed by Khoja Hussain and Hang Nadim under Mahmud Shah.[3]
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Navy and coast guard
In modern times, the word refers to a rank in Brunei (by the Royal Brunei Navy[4]), in Indonesia (by the Indonesian Navy[5] and Indonesian Maritime Security Agency[6]) and in Malaysia (by the Royal Malaysian Navy[7] and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency[8]).
The common grades for "Laksamana" title are:
- Laksamana armada (lit. 'Fleet admiral', a five-star rank used by Royal Malaysian Navy)
- Laksamana besar (lit. 'Grand admiral', a five-star rank used by Indonesian Navy)
- Laksamana (lit. 'Admiral', a four-star rank)
- Laksamana madya (lit. 'Middle admiral', "Vice Admiral", a three-star rank)
- Laksamana muda (lit. 'Young/junior admiral', "Rear Admiral", a two-star rank)
- Laksamana pertama (lit. 'First admiral', a one-star rank, Rear Admiral or Commodore)
| Rank | Laksamana armada or Laksamana besar | Laksamana | Laksamana madya | Laksamana muda | Laksamana pertama |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admiral of the Fleet | Admiral | Vice Admiral | Rear admiral | Commodore | |
 Royal Brunei Navy[9] |
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 Indonesian Navy[5][10] |
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 Indonesian Maritime Security Agency[6] |
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 Royal Malaysian Navy[7][11] |
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 Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency[8] |
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In Brunei, Laksamana College of Business (Malay: 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 is a class of small missile corvettes comprising four ships in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy. As of 2024[update], 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 Hispanicized forms Lacsamana and Laxamana, is a family name among the Pampangan people of the Philippines and their descendants.[12]
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