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The ''Timawa'' (Spanish spelling: ''Timagua'') were the feudal warrior class of the ancient Visayan societies of the Philippines. They were regarded as higher than the ''uripon'' (commoners, serfs, and slaves) but below the ''Tumao'' (royal nobility) in the Visayan social hierarchy. They were roughly similar to the Tagalog ''maharlika'' caste The term later lost its military and nobility connotations and was demoted to mean "freemen" during the Spanish conquest of the Philippines. During which, the word was also introduced to the Tagalogs, who incorrectly used the term to refer to freed ''uripon'' (more correctly the ''matitimawa'' or ''tinimawa'' in Visayan) and commoners in general (''tuhay'' or ''mamahay'' in Visayan). Eventually, the meaning of ''timawa'' in modern Visayan languages was reduced to an adjective for "impoverished". ==History== The ''Timawa'' were the privileged intermediate class of ancient Visayan society, in between the ''uripon'' (commoners, serfs, and slaves) and the ''tumao'' (royal nobility). They were originally descendants or illegitimate children of the ''datu'' by commoner wives or ''uripon'' concubines, or the illegitimate children of the ''binokot'' princesses. These ''Timawa'' were referred to with the title ''Ginoo'' upon the death of their fathers. A few known as ''Matitimawa'' or ''Tinimawa'', originated from ''uripon'' who bought their freedom or were set free by their masters. These were usually distinguished from freeborn ''timawa''. Like the Tagalog ''Maharlika'' class, the ''Timawa'' were primarily a feudal warrior class, required to provide military service to the ''datu'' in hunts, land wars (''Mangubat'' or ''Managayau''), and sea raids (''Mangahat'' or ''Magahat''). They also paid tribute or taxes to the ''datu'' known as ''buhis'' or ''handug'' and were required to provide agricultural labor as needed. They enjoyed certain freedoms, like the right to own their own land and ''uripon'', the right to lend and borrow money, and the right to enter into business partnerships.〔 Unlike the ''maharlika'', however, they can change allegiances freely and had no intrinsic right to the spoils of war beyond what is granted them by the ''datu''.〔 Though the class itself was hereditary, their wealth were only inherited by their children with the approval of the ''datu''.〔 A ''timawa'' may also be demoted to the ''uripon'' status (temporarily or permanently) in cases of debt, and any children born during the period will likewise be an ''uripon''.〔 However this does not apply to the higher ranks of the ''timawa'', the personal vassals of the ''datu''. These in turn were exempt from taxes and labor obligations. Though still obligated to render military service, they had rights to the share of the war loot, were included in praises of war exploits (including acquiring tattoos of ranks and accomplishments), and were often retainers and confidantes of the ''datu''. The ''datu'' himself was required to defend or avenge these ''timawa'' even at the risk of his own life. The most trusted among these ''timawa'' are traditionally tasked with carrying out diplomatic missions, marriage negotiations, and mourning rites in case of the death of the ''datu''. As such, the Boxer Codex likened them to "knights and hidalgos".〔〔 Though ''timawa'' were powerful and influential members of the community, they were seldom wealthy. Wealthy ''timawa'' who overstep their class and act like ''tumao'' were derided as ''timindok'' ("big banana").〔 Some members of the ''uripon'' class known as the ''horo-han'' or ''horohan'' also served their masters as warriors, but unlike the ''timawa'', they were not part of the nobility. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Timawa」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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