Sumenep Sultanate (Indonesia)

Indonesian Princely State

Last modified: 2026-10-31 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: sumenep | naga | pegasus |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

2:3 image by Željko Heimer, 2 Jan 1996

• Sumenep
• Sultan´s Standard Variants
• Sultan´s Streamer
• Battalion Colour
• District Chief Flag
• Religious Fla
• General´s Flag

See also:

• List of princely states
• Indonesia
• Indonesia - Index of all pages

Sumenep

The core territory of Sumenep was located on the eastern part of the island of Madura and extended to the islands lying to the east.

Sultan´s Standard Variants

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026

One flag was yellow with black inscription "S:P:S:" (see left image above), probably referring to Sultan Paku Nataningrat (1811–1854)
The other flag was yellow with black inscription "P:N:S:" (see right image above, probably referring to Natakusuma (1854–1879)
Source: Anonymus 1865 Flag Chart
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026

Sultan´s Streamer

It was a swallow tailed streamer, horizontally parted of red-white-blue.
Source: Anonymus 1865 Flag Chart
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026

Battalion Colour

There is a battalion colour belonging to the colonial auxiliary troops of Sumenep, which were incorporated into the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army, manufactured between 1812 and 1825 during the reign of the local ruler Natakasumo II. His title had been "Panembahan". The battalion participated, among other conflicts, in the Padri War of 1837. The flag is made of yellow silk and features the ruler´s coat of arms embroidered in flannel. Regarding the battalion colour, Dirk Rühl adds that it is a "very old flag of the Sultan of Madura" The subsequent text clarifies that this must refer to Sumenep.
Due to minor differences, we must assume that the flag in question was merely one very similar to the battalion flag. The flag was made of yellow silk and featured a coat of arms consisting of a blue shield with a narrow gold border, overlaid with a gold saltire (diagonal cross) of the same width as the border. In the upper quadrant, there was a crescent moon lying horizontally with its points facing upward, flanked by three saltires, all in gold. The heraldic left quadrant displayed several small gold houses, while the lower quadrant showed a green tree. The entire design was overlaid with a suit of steel armour from which an arm emerged, holding a sword upright in the right hand; all elements were gold. The shield was surmounted by a princely crown. The shield supporters consisted of a winged and crowned serpent (Naga) on the right and a silver winged horse (Pegasus) on the left. The supporters rested upon a red ribbon tied into a bow. Flowers were arranged between the base of the shield and the bow, and palm fronds encircled the shield.
The battalion colour differed in several details. Specifically, the shield was parted per saltire into red and yellow quarters. The houses were red; the border and saltire were blue. The Pegasus was green; the serpent was red. The bow was blue with a golden inscription: "Z:H: DE/ SUMANAP/PANEMBAHAN / NOTOKOESOEMO". Blue conches with gold ornamentation appeared at both upper edges of the shield.
Explaining the coat of arms, Dirk Rühl writes: "The moon, accompanied by seven small saltires representing seven stars, symbolises Sumenep, while the stars represent the seven rulers of the same lineage who governed the land. The buildings represent the palace, and the tree is a fig tree (Indonesian: waringin). The blue steel-armour on the battalion colour is a symbol of strength. The saber is pointed at the face of the serpent. The crown symbolises princely dignity. According to legend, the Pegasus served as the mount of the fabled ruler Djobo Tolè of Sumenep, also known as Kyai Kudhe Panulè. He is said to have ridden this creature in the war against Dempo Awang, a prince from India, who possessed a flying ship as his mount. Kyai Kudhe Panulè emerged victorious from this conflict. The winged serpent is actually a winged iguana. Here, the horse represents the worker, who obeys the orders of his superiors, while the iguana embodies the defender, who bites and carries venom in its mouth.
Sources:
1. Rühl 1952, pp.139-140
2. Wereldmuseum (department Leiden) filing card archive no.370-796
3. photo shot in Leiden August 2013 by Klaus-Michael Schneider
4. Klaus-Michael Schneider: "Flaggen über dem Archipel - Fahnen und Wimpel indonesischer Regionen und autonomer Staaten vor dessen Unabhängigkeit"
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Oct 2026

District Chief Flag

Religious Flag

Made of red cotton, it is covered with white magical prayer symbols. It belonged to an Islamic cleric. Arranged from the hoist outwards these are:
a hexagram representing the Seal of King Solomon
an Arabic "M"
a rectangle
and the Arabic letters "H" and "W"
This seal is frequently used in Arabic magic and mysticism. The flag was in use before 1883
Sources:
1. Wereldmuseum (department Leiden) filing card archive no.370-803
2. photo shot in Leiden August 2013 by Klaus-Michael Schneider
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Oct 2026

General´s Flag

It was a horizontal red-white-blue swallow tail pennant. Over all was a white saltire. Beneath was an additional red-white-blue swallow tail streamer.
Source: Anonymus 1865 Flag Chart
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026

back Indonesia Princely States index page click here