1. The History
Historically, the early years of Kedah Sultanate are difficult to be traced back. Despite their vast territory and long existence, very few written records about the Kedah Sultanate have been discovered. Most of what we know about them today comes from the information telling us that the Kedah Sultanate (Kesultanan Kedah) was the continuation of Kedah State (Negeri Kedah). If there is description about the beginning of the Sultanate, it is only an assumption. Therefore, the history of Kedah state will be presented first, followed by the establishment of Kedah Sultanate.
1. 1. The period of Kedah State`s Establishment
The construction of the harbor in the fifth century marked the early history of Kedah State, which later on took different political institution: the Sultanate. As the harbor increasingly developed and flourished, the region extended and transformed into the most visited place by many foreigners for either business or other things. The geographically strategic location of the harbor made it even more promising for the traders. Surrounded by India, and Arabic countries in the West and China in the East, the harbor possessed the power to attract numbers of merchants from those neighboring countries, and even from other areas such as Persia and Europe.
In the region, there are some prehistoric evidences, such as cavernous hill, confirming that the Kedah State had ever been there. Those hills, used as settling place by the prehistoric ancestors, can be found in Kubang Pasu, Kota Star, and Baling. In addition, there is a beautiful mount located in the coast, which can be seen by the sailors happened to come across the Indian Ocean.
The early establishment of Kedah State was largely influenced by the surrounding countries such as Funan State and non-neighboring Kingdoms such as Crivijaya. Its political institution and administration originated from the Hinduism and Buddhism of India. Both religions played important role in the shaping of Kedah`s commoners who embraced them.
The coming of Islam to the Kedah State, at last, brought about the political institution and administration. At the societal level, the conversion to Islam was a commonplace since the first Hijriyah. This historical fact is strengthened by the coming of Arabic merchant to the region. By the ninth and tenth centuries, some Chinese Muslims, accused of rebellion against the regime, had fled to the Kedah State, looking for the asylum. The rebellion, in 878 A.D, also involved many Arabian merchantmen. Another historical evidence is the tombstone in Tanjung Inggris, Langgar, which was found in 1962 A.D. The name of Sheikh Abdul Kadir Ibn Husin Shah Alam (sect), on the 29th of Hijriyah (651 A.D.) or 290 A.H. (920 A.D.) was carved on the tombstone.
The Islamization of several kings in the Kedah State had transpired since the coming of Islam to the country. Many writers recorded the Islamization of the first king in the Kedah State as an important event signed the new era of the state. Two versions of who was the first King Islamized are recounted. According to al-Tarikh Salasilah Negeri Kedah, the first king in the Kedah State, Seri Paduka Maharaja Durbar Raja, was Islamized by Sheikh Abdullah bin Sheikh Ahmad al-Qaumiri in 531 A.H. (1136 A.D.). He was named with different name afterwards, Sultan Muzaffar Shah. Since then, The Kedah State was known as Darul Aman. Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa narrates different story. Sheikh Abdullah al-Yamani had ever been commanded by his teacher, Sheikh Abdullah Baghdad, to Islamize the king of Kedah, Raja Phra Ong Mahwangsa. Based on the story of Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa, Sheikh Abdullah al-Yamani had ever been fixated by a devil during his journey to the Kedah State. The devil tempted the King Phra Ong Mahwangsa to take wine and drink it. However, Sheikh Abdullah al-Yamani could overcome the devil`s temptation. All of sudden, he was in front of the King Phra Ong Mahwangsa and directly asked him to convert to Islam. Phra Ong Mahwangsa changed his name to Sultan Muzaffar Shah after embracing Islam.
1. 2. The Period of Kedah Sultanate Establishment
There is no comprehensible evidence to depict the early establishment of Kedah Sultanate. Based on the traditional history of Kedah State, written in the period of Islam, the sultanate was formed as cultural acculturation of the outsiders` influences. Two big cultures, Arabic-Islam and Malay, were major dominant cultures. The palace`s writers intended to break the relationship with the Hinduism-Buddhism cultures of India, and opened the window to the Arabian-Islam cultures to enter the Kedah State. However, the cultural influences of Buddhism-Hinduism were still evident in the formation of Kedah State.
The references of the traditional history narrate us the existence of “Manusia Agung” (Great Man), who initiated the Kedah Sultanate. He was considered as the founding father and his successors were the legitimate heir to the state. However, many conflicts and civil wars, for various factors, transpired throughout the succession of rulers.
There are two main references supplying the information on the ancestors of the Sultan of Kedah: a 1928 compiled al-Tarikh Salasilah Negeri Kedan (ASNK) and Hikayat Merong Mahwangsa (HMM). Dato` Wan Shamsudin Mohammad Yusof (www.mykedah2.com) said, ASNK is the only reliable historical reference providing an insight into the origin of the Kedah rulers. Another reason for it is that ASNK was written by a native Malay namely Muhammad Hasan bin Dato` Kerani Muhammad Arshad. According to Dato` Wan Shamsudin Mohammad Yusof, HMM could not be accounted as the main reference of the genealogy of the Kedah Sultanate for several reasons. The main reason is that HMM is a “historiography” which has identical characteristics with the other literatures such as Hikayat Raja-raja Pasai, Sulalatus-Salatin or Sejarah Melayu (the History of Malay). The exact time and date, the factual evidences, and the logical timeline are not the focus of such literatures. Despite the differences, the history of Sultan`s ancestors will be explained in the next part.
Firstly, based on the Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa, the genealogy of Kedah`s Sultans are linked to the Rom`s ancestors. The founding father of the sultanate was Merong Mahawangsa who had ever defeated Maharaja Rom, and he then got married with Puteri Maharaja from China. Merong Mahawangsa, together with his entourage, had ever been ambushed by some pirates in the water areas of Kedah, making him drifted ashore. In the following time, he was appointed by the Kedah people as the king of Kedah.
Secondly, based on the al-Tarikh Salasilah Negeri Kedah, the Kedah Sultanate originated from the Persian Kingdom, Gumarun. The founding father of Kedah Sultanate was Maharaja Durbar Raja who had ever escaped from Gumarun. They fled through the sea to the Kedah. The people of Kedah then appointed Maharaja Durbar as their king.
Besides the two versions mentioned earlier, there is another version that try to shed some light on the phenomenon of the “Manusia Agung”. It is Mustafa Tam (1962) who links the establishment of Kedah to the Dynasty of Maurya in India. Howewer, he doesn`t explain in detail about the origin of both countries.
2. The Sultans
Prior to listing the Sultans of Kedah, this section will reveal first the rulers of Kedah State, the seed of the Kedah Sultanate.
2. 1. The Kings of the Kedah State
The following part will explain the kings who had ever ruled the Kedah State, despite the insufficient data telling their tenures. Two books, al-Tarikh Salasilah Negeri Kedah and Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa, are the main references.
A. Based on the al-Tarikh Salasilah Negeri Kedah, the kings of the Kedah State are below:
- Maharaja Durbar Raja
- Maharaja Druja Raja
- Maharaja Maha Dewa
- Maharaja Kerna Durja
- Seri Paduka Maharaja Kerna
- Seri Paduka Maharaja Dewa
- Seri Paduka Maharaja Derma Raja
- Seri Paduka Maharaja Maha Jiwa
- Seri Paduka Maharaja Durbar Raja
B. Based on the Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa, the kings of the Kedah State are below:
- Raja Merong Mahawangsa
- Raja Merong Mahapudisat
- Raja Seri Mahawangsa
- Raja Seri Maha Inderawangsa
- Raja Ong Maha Perita Deria
- Raja Phra Ong Mahaputisat
- Raja Phra Ong Mahawangsa
2. 2. The Sultans of the Kedah Sultanate
Like the Kings of Kedah State, there is a dissent on the Sultans. However, the difference lies only in the number. The number of Sultans ruling the Kedah Sultanate, according to Tuanku Fariddin Haji bin Tungku Mansor (1957), is 27 Sultans in total. According to Dato` Wan Shamsudin Mohd. Yusuf, there were 28 Sultans in total who had ever been crowned, including Tunku Dhiauddin Raja Muda Kayang as the Sultan, who was regarded as Pemangku Raja by Tuanku Fariddin Haji bin Tungku Mansor). The following are the 28 Sultans of Kedah:
- The First Sultan al-Mudzaffar Shah (1136-1179 A.D.)
- Sultan Mu`adzam Shah (1179-1201 A.D.)
- Sultan Muhammad Shah (1204-1236 A.D.)
- Sultan Mazzil Shah (1236-1280 A.D.)
- The First Sultan Mahmud Shah (1280-1321 A.D.)
- Sultan Ibrahim Shah (1321-1373 A.D.)
- The First Sultan Sulaiman Shah (1373-1422 A.D.)
- The First Sultan Ataullah Muhammad Shah (1422-1472 A.D.)
- The First Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Azilin (1472-1506 A.D.)
- The Second Sultan Mahmud Shah (1506-1546 A.D.)
- The Second Sultan Mudzaffar Shah (1546-1602 A.D.)
- The Second Sultan Sulaiman Shah (1602-1625 A.D.)
- Sultan Rijaluddin Muhammad Shah (1625-1651 A.D.)
- Sultan Muhyiddin Mansor Shah (1651-1661 A.D.)
- Sultan Dziauddin Mukarram Shah (1661-1687 A.D.)
- The Second Sultan Ataullah Muhammad Shah (1687-1687 A.D.)
- The First Sultan Abdullah al-Mu`adzam Shah (1698-1706 A.D.)
- The First Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Halim Shah. He was the treasurer of the sultanate or the Pemangku Sultan (1706-1709 A.D.)
- The Second Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Azilin Mu`adzam Shah (1710-1778 A.D.)
- The Second Sultan Abdullah Mukarran Shah (1778-1797 A.D.)
- Sultan Dziauddin (1797-1803 A.D.)
- The Second Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Halim Shah (1803-1843 A.D.)
- Sultan Zainal Rashid al-Mu`adzam Shah (1843-1854 A.D.)
- Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Mukarram Shah (1854-1879 A.D.)
- Sultan Zainal Rashid al-Mu`adzam Shah (1879-1881 A.D.)
- Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah (1881-1943 A.D.)
- Sultan Badlishah (1943-1958 A.D.)
- Sultan Abdul Halim Mu`adzam Shah (1958-present)
3. The Sultanate Period
The Sultanate of Kedah has established since 1136 A.D. and still exists up to now, making it lasted for about nine centuries. The period of Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Mukarram (1854-1879 A.D.) was very concerned on expanding the economic growth and infrastructure development, which still can be seen until now. One of Kedah`s Sultans, Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah (1881-1943 A.D), made a unique approach to the development of Kedah. In the beginning of his rule, he made visits to some countries such as Thailand, India, Burma, and European countries. He argued, by knowing other political institutions and having insight into their economic system would help him understand the applicable system to build and strengthen his country at best.
4. The Sultanate Territory
Unlike the data on the contemporary era, only meager proportion of information tells us about the territory under the old Kedah Sultanate. The territory of contemporary Kedah Sultanate is 9,425 km2 , divided into eleven districts: Baling (1529 km2), Bandar Bahru (269 km2), Kota Setar (665 km2), Kuala Muda (923 km2), Kubang Pasu (948 km2), Kulim (765 km2), Langkawi (467 km2), Padang Terap (1357 km2), Pendang (626 km2), Sik (1635 km2), and Yan (242 km2).
5. The Sultanate Structure
The political institution of Kedah Sultanate provided the Sultan with the absolute power and authority to run the government, with Adat Temenggung (customary law) and Shariah (Islamic Jurisprudence) as its basic references. Besides, four kanun (regulations) are adopted for the Sultan`s guideline. R.O Winstedt collected the manuscripts of the four kanun and named them respectively as Undang-undang Pelabuhan 1650, Kanun Tambera Dato` Paduka Tuan, Hukum Kanun Dato Kota Star, and kanun on palace. The last kanun specifically discusses about the way of the Sultan was crowned and how to ask for marriage.
Being responsible for the Sultanate administration, the Sultan was assisted by Pembesar Tradisional (literally means customary noblemen). They led the central and district territories. The second place after the Sultan was Raja Muda, who should not necessarily come from Sultan`s offspring. His position was the same as the contemporary vice president, responsible for the whole administration which had direct structure under the Sultan.
In the central government, the Pembesar Tradisional assumed important position such as treasurer, pembesar empat, pembesar lapan, pembesar enam belas, and pahlawan hulubalang (the commander in chief). The pembesar empat were Tumenggung (who was responsible for the domestic affairs), laksamana (who has responsible for the security in the water territory), penghulu bendahari (responsible for the financial affairs), and syahbandar (responsible for the security of harbor). In the period of the third Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin (1853-1879 A.D.), some positions were downsized to give much focus on the central position. In the period of Sultan Abdul Hamis, the position of the treasurer, minister, temenggung, and others were dismissed.
In the local government, the Sultan appointed some Pembesar Daerah (local noblemen) monitoring the administration of Lembah Sungai region. They were given mandate to run their regions by different systems, assisted by some local officials including community leaders. In 1905 A.D, the local government officials, later on known as pembesar jajahan and then pegawai negeri (civil servant), were modernized.
6. The Socio-Cultural Life
As the insufficient data on the old social structure and life of Kedah, only the contemporary socio-cultural life is presented below.
Kedah is densely populated by the Malayans, making it as the largest race settling in Kedah. The rest is placed by Chinese and Indian people. The census of population in 2003 revealed the inhabitants of Kedah: Malay (1,336,352), Chinese (252,987), Indian (122,911), non-citizens (35,293), and the others (27,532). Agricultural sector, industries, and civil servants are the main livelihoods of the majority of Kedah citizens.
(HQ/ter/ 99/03-08)
References:
- Mohd. Isa Othman, “Kesultanan Kedah: Salasilah dan Pemerintahannya”, in Prosiding Seminar Antarbangsa Kesultanan Melayu Nusantara: Sejarah dan Warisan, Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, 8-11 of May, 2005.
- www.kedah.gov.my.
- www.mykedah2.com.
- www.ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sejarah_Kedah.
No comments:
Post a Comment