Lademar Rekuwajalin

Lademar Rekuwajalin
Rekuwajalin depicted in an 1826 portrait by Lanang Aram
1st President of Kajera
In office August 7 1825 – November 19 1830
Preceded by	Position Established
Succeeded by	Simiram Akapito
1st General of the Army of the Kobatarinae
In office August 7 1825 – May 23 1840
Preceded by	Position Established
Succeeded by	Asou Eradrik
Personal details
Born	(1769-09-13)September 13, 1769 Laere-iinit, Kaamarmeji
Died	April 28, 1862(1862-04-28) (aged 92) Ebadon House, Palinmul, Kajera
Resting place	Ebadon House, Palinmul
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Livani Ngatminah Setiwayat (m. 1823)
Parents	Terlaje Rekuwajalin (father) Tana Libetru Rekuwajalin (mother)
Relatives	Rekuwajalin family
Occupation	Military leader politician statesman
Military service
Branch/service	Iuwaan Militia Army of the Islands Kajeran Army
Years of service	1803–1814 (Iuwaan Militia) 1815-1825 (Army of the Islands) 1825–1840 (Kajeran Army)
Rank	Kapen (Iuwaan Militia) General and Commander in Chief (Army of the Islands) General of the Army (Kajeran Army)
Commands	Anenkio Irregulars Army of the Islands Kajeran Army
Battles/wars	Interisland Wars Battle of Ailingia Battle of Utirik Kajeran Reunification Rimae campaign Battle of Jema Battle of Takinja Battle of Taongi Siege of Aur

Atiniui Lademar Rekuwajalin (September 13, 1769 - April 28, 1862), better known with his second name as Lademar Rekuwajalin, was a Kajeran military officer, statesman, and scholar who served as the first president of Kajera from 1825 to 1830. Selected by the Konkomman to command the Army of the Islands, Rekuwajalin led the army to victory in the Kajeran Reunification and oversaw the Council of the Dawn in 1825, which created and ratified the Consitution of Kajera and the Kajeran government. For his role in the nation's founding Rekuwajalin has been called the 'Father of the Republic.'

Rekuwajalin's first public office was as inspector of ships for the island of Kaamarmeji. Following a period of study which included a residency in Latium, he received his first military training and commanded the Anenkio Irregulars during the Interisland Wars. He was later approached by the Jeman Assembly to oversee the creation of a new legislature, subsequently being appointed Commander in Chief of the Army of the Islands which he led to victory in the Reunification after defeating dissident forces at the Battle of Taongi, securing unity for the new republic.

Rekuwajalin played a vital role in outlining and rectifying the Constitution of Kajera, which replaced the earlier Tiimajan Charter and Rijerba Accords and has remained mostly unchanged to this day. He was elected president by the Konkomman unanimously and implemented strong economic protections while balancing competing interests within his cabinet. He prioritized positive relations with Daobac and Pulau Keramat and endeavored to combat remaining Belisarian colonial interests in the Kayatman. His retirement at the end of his term set an enduring precedent for the length of Kajeran presidential office.

Rekuwajalin has been memorialized by monuments, a holiday, various depictions in media, geographic locations, and currency. Many scholars and ordinary Kajerans rank him among the greatest Kajeran presidents.

Early life (1769-1790)

Further information: Rekuwajalin family

The Rekuwajalin family was a shipwright family with roots tracing back to the Tahamaja Empire. Rekuwajalin's grandfather Tekawa Rekuwajalin moved in 1724 to Kaamarmeji from Rimae and founded a repair business with sailmaker Lantai Antekana. Rekuwajalin was born on September 13, 1769, in the village of Laere-iinit, and was the second of eight children of Terlaje and Tana Libetru Rekuwajalin. His father was a naval supplier and a prominent figure on the island with ties to Pulaui trade interests. In 1772 the family moved to Buakaanj.

Rekuwajalin did not receive any formal education in his childhood, but was tutored by a cousin of his mother's, naval officer Lamanoku Jamir. He learned mathematics, piloting, navigation, and basic rhetoric. His writing was described by peers as "lacking in poise" though he was well-regarded in the community for his honesty. He was rarely humorous in correspondence.

Rekuwajalin travelled frequently to other islands within the Kayatman with his elder brother Lateitan Rekuwajalin. In 1785 he spent four months on the island of Oneeke repairing vessels that had been damaged in a tropical cyclone, where he first met Rawe Uma, whom would later become admiral of the Kajeran Navy. The return trip to Kaamarmeji was delayed by a sudden unseasonal storm that partially wrecked Lateitan's ship and severely injured Rekuwajalin. He remarked in his memoirs that this incident instilled him with mild astraphobia, which he would not fully overcome for many years.

Militia career (1803-1814)

Interisland Wars

Main article: Interisland Wars

Commander in chief (1815-1825)

Further information: Kajeran Reunification

Rimae campaign

Main article: Rimae campaign

Western battles

Main articles: Battle of Jema, Battle of Takinja, and Battle of Taongi

Council of the Dawn

Main article: Council of the Dawn

Presidency (1825-1830)

Further information: Presidency of Lademar Rekuwajalin

Personal life

Rekuwajalin was famously taciturn, and while admired for a strong presence was never well-regarded for impromptu speeches. This habit was noted by poet and friend Asou, who posited in jest that "[Rekuwajalin] is of rural stock and would chew off his tongue if he mangled our language to any great degree." A large man, he stood between 6 ft 1.5 in (1.87 m) to 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and weighed upwards of 215–225 pounds (98–102 kg).

He had deep blue eyes and dark hair that greyed in places prematurely. Rekuwajalin's hair, uncommonly for Kajerans at the time, was kept short, an affectation which spread to much of the military after him. It is believed that this was picked up from his encounters with Latin students and dignitaries. From the 1910s onward a similar taper-cut hairstyle has been infrequently referred to in Kajera as a 'Reku' in honor.

Rekuwajalin was a talented sailor, though his most favored recreational pastime was riding. Contemporaries described his enjoyment for equestrianism as "rather insatiable," and he was known to ride even on islands with mostly unsuitable ground. His private herd of Fahrani thoroughbreds was expanded in later life to include Onekawan drafts and Arthuristan cobs. Descendants of Rekuwajalin's original warhorses continue to populate modern Kajeran stables.

Marriage and family

At the age of nineteen Rekuwajalin was briefly engaged to the youngest daughter of Egin chief Nang Kamere, Taari, but the engagement was broken off after two months with Rekuwajalin's entry into his studies.

Regarded beforehand as a perpetual bachelor, in 1823 Rekuwajalin, at 53, married Livani Setiwayat, the 51-year-old half-Pulaui widow of his brother Lajarno. Livani had long held affection for Rekuwajalin, a fact which she noted in her memoirs, but did not act upon it out of loyalty to her first husband. Their marriage was as much a matter of necessity as personal desire, with Rekuwajalin requiring a firmer base of finance and respect amongst the burgeoning free Kajeran political class. Owing to their union Rekuwajalin became the legal father to her four adult children, his nieces and nephews; Liryn, Lajian, Jinah, and Centin.

Historical reputation and legacy

Further information: Legacy of Lademar Rekuwajalin, Cultural depictions of Lademar Rekuwajalin, and Historical rankings of presidents of Kajera

Memorials

Further information: List of memorials to Lademar Rekuwajalin