Being the primary power in the upper Cotabato valley, it had access to an abundance of fertile land as well as raw materials, transforming into an agricultural powerhouse in contrast to Maguindanao.

In addition, despite its status as an interior sultanate, Buayan was able to conduct maritime trade and diplomacy either through the Pulangi River mouth, or its port in Sarangani.

[1][2][3] Buayan was also well known for its long rivalry with Maguindanao, often using its alliance with Spain to weaken its rival and usurp the throne in Cotabato, as well as to monopolize on the trade, influence, and tribute from its weaker subjects over mainland Mindanao.

The American colonial administration was able to assert its authority with the aid of Datu Piang, the assumed ruler of Cotabato.

According to the Tarsila, an Islamic genealogical document about the ruling clans of Mindanao, Datu Mamu was the first recorded ruler of Buayan.

[2][3][6][10] After the arrival of Rajah Baguinda Ali from Basilan to Mindanao, Maguindanao, Lanao, and Buayan all converted to Islam.

[2][11] In 1599, Rajah Silongan, accompanied by 3000 Buayan Moros, joined forces with Datu Salikula of Maguindanao and assaulted the coast communities of Cebu, Negros, and Panay, inflicting many atrocities.

Eventually, Kapitan Laut Buisan of Cotabato would distance himself from Rajah Silongan and establish his own community on the coast.

[9] After the ascension of Rajah Baratamay in 1648, succeeding Datu Maputi, Buayan was heavily influenced by Maguindanao under Sultan Muhammad Kudarat.

Moreover, Datu Uto was able to establish an alliance with the Sultan of Sulu, which became important due to their need for firearms to continue the resistance.

This left Datu Ali, the ruler of Tinungkup and eventually Buayan, as the only formidable opponent that was able to form a resistance against American forces in Mindanao.

He became the Rajah of Buayan, emerging as the supreme ruler of the Upper Cotabato Valley and was able to form an alliance to resist American attempts of subjugating the interior datus into their administration.

In 1905, Buayan fully lost its independence after Datu Ali of Tinungkup, stricken with malaria at the time, was killed by American forces in the Battle of the Malala River during the Moro Rebellion.

With the help of Datu Piang and several datus, the American authorities were quickly able to assert their military and eventually, civilian form of government in Moro territory, thereby either incorporating datus into the civil government, or reducing their royal titles into the status of a mere traditional leader.

They hunted for slaves by sending pirates through the mouth of the Pulangi River but had to pay a toll fee to the Sultanate of Maguindanao to be given access.

Buayan created a highway system through the flatlands of Tupi and Polomolok, which were said to be uninhabited and a safe place to traverse.

[2] The Spanish occupation also brought an end to Moro piracy in Luzon and Visayas, and therefore a significant decrease in the acquisition of slaves.

During the reign of Datu Uto, slaves were mainly acquired from the mountains through forceful means, especially through the kidnapping or wars against pagan tribes in the region.