Over its long history the lungsod had direct trading relationships with the ancient civilizations of China, Champa, Đại Việt, Pon-i (Brunei), Srivijaya, Majapahit, Kambuja, and even Persia as well as areas now comprised in Thailand.

One possible indication of this is a rhinoceros ivory seal with a design carved in ancient Javanese or early Kawi script (used around the 10th century CE), which, according to a Dutch scholar, was deciphered as But-wan.

[12]: 62  However, Fernando Almeda (1993) claims that Butuan's control spanned all the way to Davao Oriental, but further specified that:“It must be assumed, however, that the raiaship during those days were nothing but petty kingdoms claiming over vast tracts of land, of which the ruler only has loose control, and at best, limited to pockets of coastal villages.”[13]: 39 The hinterlands and the ethnic groups within it, such as the Manobos, Mandayas and other tribes, are also excluded from Butuan's sphere of influence and were often at war with them.

Yuan annal Song Shih recorded the first appearance of a Butuan tributary mission (Lijehan 李竾罕 and Jiaminan) at the Chinese Imperial Court on March 17, 1001, AD.

[19] Rajah Kiling's request for diplomatic equality in protocol towards his kingdom was later denied by the Chinese Imperial Court, mainly because of favoritism over the Champa civilization.

[20] Furthermore, a genetic study of the current Manobo people which inhabit Agusan and Caraga region where Butuan is at show that the ethnic group has 30% South Asian ancestry.

Likanhsieh shocked the Emperor Zhenzong by presenting a memorial engraved on a gold tablet, some white dragon (bailong 白龍) camphor, Moluccan cloves, and a South Sea slave on the eve of an important ceremonial state sacrifice.

Later, in the 1300s, the Chinese annal Nanhai Zhi reported that Brunei invaded or administered the Philippine kingdoms of Butuan, Sulu, and Ma-i (Mindoro), which would regain their independence at a later date.

[31] Some of these jars have been dated as follows: Artifacts have been recovered from within the vicinities of the Ambangan Archeological Site in Libertad that attest to the historical accounts that Butuan traded with India,[33] Japan, Han Chinese, and Southeast Asian countries during these periods.

[34]: 393  However, by the time of Antonio Pigafetta, the Spaniards discovered that Butuan was undergoing an Islamization phase, with its natives worshipping ‘Abba’ (Allah), but regardless ate pork.

He had a covering of silk on his head, and wore two large golden earrings fastened in his ears ... At his side hung a dagger, the haft of which was somewhat long and all of gold, and its scabbard of carved wood.

[39] Ancient Butuan used gold in religious images and royal items like crowns, headbands, necklaces, sashes, waistbands, ear ornaments, and bracelets.