Visayan "datu" were loosely bound to each other in a federation (a chiefdom). Members of a chiefdom had a leading "datu" who had authority over other "datu", usually simply referred to as the "pangulo" ("head" or "ruler"), "kaponoan" ("most sovereign", from the Visayan word for "root" or "origin", "puno"), or "makaporos nga datu" (unifying chief). The "pangulo" of seaports with frequent foreign traffic may sometimes take on Malay or Sanskrit titles like "Rajah" ("ruler"), "Batara" ("noble lord"), "Sarripada" (from Sanskrit "Sri Paduka", "His Highness"; variants include "Salip", "Sipad", "Paduka", and "Salipada"). However, they were not kings in the European sense. Their authority usually stems from favorable trade positions, military prowess, lineage, and wealth ("bahandi") rather than royal rule. While they had limited power over other member "datu" of the chiefdom based on their renown, they had no direct control over the subjects or lands of the other "datu".