The Maguindanao people are an Austronesian ethnic group from the Philippines. The Maguindanaon are part of wider political identity of Muslims of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan known as Moro, who constitute the third largest ethnic group of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan. The Maguindanaons are constitute the sixth largest Filipino ethnic group and are known for their distinguished in the realm of visual art. Historically, they have been renowned as metalworkers, producing the wavy-bladed keris ceremonial swords and other weapons, as well as gongs. The Maguindanaos historically had an independent Sultanate known as Sultanate of Maguindanao which comprises Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region and Soccsksargen.The name "Maguindanao" itself was corrupted by Spanish sources into "Mindanao", which became the name for the entire island of Mindanao. Etymology The word Maguindanao or Magindanaw means "people of the flood plains", from the word Magi'inged means "people or citizen" and danaw means "lake or marsh". Thus Maguindanao or Magindanaw can also be translated as "people of the lake", identical to their close neighbors, the Maranao and Iranun. These three groups speak related languages belonging to the Danao language family. History Prehistory Origins and relationships Legend of Mamalu and Tabunaway Before the arrivals of the first Muslim missionaries, the ancestors of both Maguindanaon and Teduray peoples lived as one in the Cotabato lowlands, among them the brothers Mamalu and Tabunaway. When the first missionary, Sharif Kabungsuwan, came to preach Islam, the younger Tabunaway embraced the faith while the elder Mamalu refused, holding to old beliefs. To maintain peace between the conflicting faiths, the brothers formed a pact for Mamalu to settle in the mountains and Tabunaway to remain in the lowlands along the Pulangi, both with their respective followers. Thus, after separating, over time the lowland muslims led by Tabunaway became the Maguindanaon and the highland animists of Mamalu the Tiruray. Both groups have since maintained a largely peaceful relationship through history. Maguindanao Sultanate In the early 16th century, Sharif Muhammad Kabungsuan, an Arab-Malay preacher from the Royal House of Malacca, arrived in what is now Malabang, introduced Islamic faith and customs, settled down with a local princess, and founded a Sultanate whose capital was Cotabato. The other center of power in the area, Sultanate of Buayan, which is now modern General Santos, has an even longer history dating back to early Arab missionaries, who, although not able to implant the