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Concept
Maharlika
Summary
The maharlika (meaning freeman or freedman) were the feudal warrior class in ancient Tagalog society in Luzon, the Philippines. They belonged to the lower nobility class similar to the timawa of the Visayan people. In modern Filipino, however, the word has come to refer to aristocrats or to royal nobility, which was actually restricted to the hereditary maginoo class.
Barangay state and History of the Philippines (900-1565)
The maharlika were a martial class of freemen. Like the timawa, they were free vassals of their datu who were exempt from taxes and tribute but were required to provide military service. In times of war, the maharlika were obligated to provide and prepare weapons at their own expense and answer the summons of the datu, wherever and whenever that might be, in exchange for a share in the war spoils (ganima). They accompanied their ruler in battles as comrades-at-arms and were always given a share. 1/5 of the spoils goes to the Ginoo and the 4/5 will be shared among the Maharlikans who participated, who in turn will subdivide their shares to their own warriors. The maharlika may also occasionally be obligated to work on the lands of the datu and assist in projects and other events in the community.
Unlike the timawa, however, the maharlika were more militarily-oriented than the timawa nobility of the Visayas. While the maharlika could change allegiances by marriage or by emigration like the timawa, they were required to host a feast in honor of their current datu and paid a sum ranging from six to eighteen pieces of gold before they could be freed from their obligations. In contrast, the timawa were free to change allegiances at any time, as exemplified by the action of Rajah Humabon upon the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan.
The earliest appearance of the term is manlica mentioned in the Boxer Codex with the meaning of "freeman". The only other contemporary account of the maharlika class was by the Franciscan friar Juan de Plasencia in the 16th century.
Official source
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