Sultanate of Sulu

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The Sultanate of Sulu (Tausūg: Kasultanan

sin Sūg, Jawi: ‫ﮐﺴﻠﻄﺎﻧﻦ ﺳﻮﻟﻮ دار اﻹﺳﻼم‬, Malay:
Kesultanan Sulu, Arabic: ‫ )ﺳﻠﻄﻨﺔ ﺳﻮﻟﻚ‬was a
Muslim state[note 1] that ruled the islands in
the Sulu Archipelago, parts of Mindanao,
certain portions of Palawan and north-
eastern Borneo (present-day the certain
parts of Sabah and North Kalimantan).
 Sultanate of Sulu
‫ﮐﺴﻠﻄﺎﻧﻦ ﺳﻮﻟﻮ دار اﻹﺳﻼم‬
Kasultanan sin Sūg
Kesultanan Sulu
1405–1915
1962–1986

Flag

Map showing the extent of the Sultanate of Sulu in

1822 with borders of modern nation states
Status Part of the Bruneian
Empire (1405–1578),
Independent kingdom
 (1578–1851),
Protectorate of Spain
(1851–1898),
Protectorate of the
United States (1903–
1915)

Capital Maimbung (1878)[1]

Buansa
Palawan (1893)[2]

Common languages Tausug, Arabic, Bajau,

Visayan, Banguingui
and Malay

Religion Sunni Islam

Government Monarchy

Sultan  
• 1405–? Sharif ul-Hashim of
Sulu (first)
• 1974–1986 Mohammed
Mahakuttah Abdullah
Kiram (last officially
recognized)

History  

• Ascension of Rajah 17 November 1405

Baginda

• Dissolution of 1986
Sultanate

Currency Barter and later the

Sulu coins system was
used[3]

Preceded by Succeeded by
Ancient Spanish East Indies
 barangay Insular Government of the
Lupah Sug Philippine Islands
Bruneian Republic of Zamboanga
Empire North Borneo
Sultanate of Bulungan
Dutch East Indies

Today part of  Philippines

 Malaysia
 Indonesia

The sultanate was founded on 17

November 1405.[5][note 2] by a Johore-born
explorer and religious scholar Sharif ul-
Hashim. Paduka Mahasari Maulana al
Sultan Sharif ul-Hashim became his full
regnal name, Sharif-ul Hashim is his
abbreviated name. He settled in Buansa,
Sulu. After the marriage of Abu Bakr and a
local dayang-dayang (princess) Paramisuli,
he founded the sultanate. The Sultanate
gained its independence from the
Bruneian Empire in 1578.[9]

At its peak, it stretched over the islands

that bordered the western peninsula of
Mindanao in the east to Palawan in the
north. It also covers the area in
northeastern side of Borneo, stretching
from Marudu Bay,[10][11] to Tepian Durian
(in present-day Kalimantan).[12][13] While
another source stated the area stretching
from Kimanis Bay which also overlaps with
the boundaries of the Bruneian
Sultanate.[14] Due to the arrival of western
powers such as the Spanish, British, Dutch,
French, German and American, the Sultan
thalassocracy and sovereign political
powers were relinquished by 1915 through
an agreement that was signed with the
last colonialist, the United
States.[15][16][17][18] In 1962, Philippine
Government under the leadership of
President Diosdado Macapagal officially
recognised the continued existence of the
Sultanate of Sulu.[19] On 24 May 1974,
Sultan Mohammed Mahakuttah Kiram
(reigned 1974–1986), was the last
officially recognized Sulu Sultan in the
Philippines, having been recognized by
President Ferdinand Marcos. On 15
August 1974 Sultan Moh. Mahakuttah A.
Kiram submitted the organisational
structure of the Sultanate of Sulu to the
President of Philippines. The above named
structure confirmed that Muedzul Lail Tan
Kiram was the Raja Muda (Crown Prince)
of Sulu. Under Rodrigo Duterte's
administration, calls to finally settle the
dispute of who is the officially recognized
Sultan of Sulu via government recognition
through an Executive Order was voiced out
by various parties involved with the issue.
The calls have yet to be dealt with by the
government since 2017, along with a 2016
electoral promise to retake Eastern Sabah.

In 2016, for the first time in history, the five

contesting sultans of Sulu, Sultan Ibrahim
Bahjin, Sultan Muizuddin Jainal Bahjin,
Sultan Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram, Sultan
Mohammad Venizar Julkarnain Jainal
Abirin, and Sultan Phugdalun Kiram signed
a covenant in an unprecedented move
aimed at consolidating and strengthening
the sultanate's unity. The ceremony was
held in Zamboanga City and was attended
by hundreds of supporters and members
of the different Royal Houses of the
Sultanate of Sulu, and religious leaders
and representatives of various sectors,
including those from mainland Mindanao.
In May 9, 2018, all five sultans of the
sultanate and their supporters converged
again in Zamboanga City in support of the
establishment of the Zambasulta Federal
State through a federal form of Philippine
government. The event was officially
declared as the Bangsa Sug Consensus.

History
Pre-establishment
Map of the Sulu Archipelago

The present area of the Sultanate of Sulu

was once under the influence of the
Bruneian Empire before it gained its own
independence in 1578.[9] Later, the earliest
known settlement in this areas soon to be
occupied by the sultanate who was in
Maimbung, Jolo. During these times, Sulu
was called Lupah Sug.[20] The Principality
of Maimbung, populated by Buranun
people (or Budanon, literally means
"mountain-dwellers"), was first ruled by a
certain rajah who assumed the title Rajah
Sipad the Older. According to Majul, the
origins of the title rajah sipad originated
from the Hindu sri pada, which symbolises
authority.[21] The Principality was instituted
and governed using the system of rajahs.
Sipad the Older was succeeded by Sipad
the Younger.

Some Chams who migrated to Sulu were

called Orang Dampuan.[22] The Champa
Civilization and the port-kingdom of Sulu
enaged in commerce with each other
which resulted in merchant Chams settling
in Sulu where they were known as Orang
Dampuan from the 10th-13th centuries.
The Orang Dampuan were slaughtered by
envious native Sulu Buranuns due to the
wealth of the Orang Dampuan.[23] The
Buranun were then subjected to retaliatory
slaughter by the Orang Dampuan.
Harmonious commerce between Sulu and
the Orang Dampuan was later restored.[24]
The Yakans were descendants of the
Taguima-based Orang Dampuan who
came to Sulu from Champa.[25] Sulu
received civilization in its Indic form from
the Orang Dampuan.[26]

During the reign of Sipad the Younger, a

mystic[27] named Tuan Mashā′ikha[note 3]
arrived in Jolo in 1280 AD.[note 4] Little is
known to the origins and early biography
of Tuan Mashā′ikha, except that he is a
Muslim "who came from foreign lands" at
the head of a fleet of Muslim traders,[29] or
he was issued from a stalk of bamboo and
was considered a prophet, thus well
respected by the people.[30] Other reports,
however, insisted that Tuan Mashā′ikha
together with his parents, Jamiyun Kulisa
and Indra Suga, were sent to Sulu by
Alexander the Great (who is known as
Iskandar Zulkarnain in Malay Annals).[21]
However, Saleeby dismisses this claim by
concluding that Jamiyun Kulisa and Indra
Suga were mythical names.[30] According
to tarsila, during the coming of Tuan
Mashā′ikha, the people of Maimbung
worshipped tombs and stones of any kind.
After he preached Islam in the area, he
married Sipad the Younger's daughter, Idda
Indira Suga and bore three children:[31]
Tuan Hakim, Tuan Pam and 'Aisha. Tuan
Hakim, in turn, begot five children.[32] From
the genealogy of Tuan Mashā′ikha, another
titular system of aristocracy called
"tuanship" started in Sulu. Apart from the
Idda Indira Suga, Tuan Mashā′ikha also
married into another "unidentified woman"
and begot Moumin. Tuan Mashā′ikha died
in 710 A.H. (equivalent to 1310 AD), and
was buried in Bud Dato near Jolo, with an
inscription of Tuan Maqbālū.[33]
A descendant of Tuan Mashā′ikha named
Tuan May also begot a son named Datu
Tka. The descendants of Tuan May did not
assume the title tuan, instead, they started
to use datu. It is the first time datu was
used as a political institution.[31][34] During
the coming of Tuan Mashā′ikha, the
Tagimaha people (literally means "the
party of the people") coming from Basilan
and several places in Mindanao, also
arrived and settled in Buansa. After the
Tagimaha came the Baklaya people (which
means "seashore dwellers"), believed to be
originated from Sulawesi, and settled in
Patikul. After these came the Bajau people
(or Samal) from Johor. The Bajau were
accidentally driven towards Sulu by a
heavy monsoon, some of them to the
shores of Brunei and others to
Mindanao.[35] The population of Buranun,
Tagimaha, and Baklaya in Sulu created
three parties with distinct system of
government and subjects. According to
the Nagarakretagama, the Majapahit
Empire under Emperor Hayam Wuruk,
invaded Sulu at year 1365. However, in
1369, the Sulus rebelled and regained
independence and in vengeance,
assaulted the Majapahit Empire and its
province Po-ni (Brunei), looting it of
treasure and gold. A fleet from the
Majapahit capital succeeded in driving
away the Sulus, but Po-ni was left weaker
after the attack.[36] By 1390 AD, Rajah
Baguinda Ali, a prince of the Pagaruyung
Kingdom arrived at Sulu and married into
the local nobility. At least in 1417,
according to Chinese annals, three kings
(or monarchs) ruled three civilised
kingdoms in the island.[37] Patuka Pahala
(Paduka Batara) ruled the eastern
kingdom, he was the most powerful; the
west kingdom was ruled by Mahalachi
(Maharajah Kamal ud-Din); and the
kingdom near the cave (or Cave King) was
Paduka Patulapok.[38] The Bajau settlers
were distributed among the three
kingdoms.
Moumin's descendants, the son of Tuan
Mashā′ikha populated Sulu. After some
time, a certain Timway Orangkaya Su'il
was mentioned by the second page of
tarsila, that he received four Bisaya slaves
(People from the Kedatuan of Madja-as)
from Manila (presumably Kingdom of
Maynila) as a sign of friendship between
the two countries. The descendants of
Timway Orangkaya Su'il then inherited the
title timway, which means "chief". On
tarsila's third page, it accounts the fact
that the slaves were the ancestors of the
inhabitants in the island to Parang, Lati,
Gi'tung, and Lu'uk respectively.
The fourth page then narrates the coming
of the Buranun (addressed in the tarsila as
"the Maimbung people") Tagimaha,
Baklaya, then the drifted Bajau immigrants
from Johor.[39] The condition of Sulu
before the arrival of Islam can be
summarised as such: The island was
inhabited by several cultures, and was
reigned over by three independent
kingdoms ruled by the Buranun, Tagimaha,
and Baklaya peoples. Likewise, the socio-
political systems of these kingdoms were
characterised by several distinct
institutions: rajahship, datuship, tuanship
and timwayship. The arrival of Tuan
Mashā′ikha afterwards established a core
Islamic community in the island.

Islamisation and establishment

At the end of the 14th century, a notable

Arab judge and religious scholar named
Karim ul-Makhdum[note 5] from Mecca
arrived in the Malacca Sultanate. He
preached Islam to the people, and thus
many citizens, including the ruler of
Malacca, converted to Islam.[40] Chinese
Muslims, Arabs, Persians, Malays, and
Indian Muslims introduced Sulu and other
Muslim sultanates to Islam. Chinese
Muslim merchants participated in the local
commerce, and the Sultanate had
diplomatic relations with China during the
time of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644),
being involved in the tribute system. The
Sulu leader Paduka Pahala and his sons
moved to China, where he died, and
Chinese Muslims brought up his sons in
Dezhou, where their descendants live and
have the surnames An and Wen.[41]

In 1380 AD,[note 6] Karim ul-Makhdum

arrived in Simunul island from Malacca,
again with Arab traders. Apart from being
a scholar, he operated as a trader, some
see him as a Sufi missionary originating
from Mecca.[42] He preached Islam in the
area, and was thus accepted by the core
Muslim community. He was the second
person who preached Islam in the area,
following Tuan Mashā′ikha. To facilitate
easy conversion of nonbelievers, he
established a mosque in Tubig-Indagan,
Simunul, which became the first Islamic
temple to be constructed in the area, as
well as the first in the Philippines. This
later became known as Sheik Karimal
Makdum Mosque.[43] He died in Sulu,
though the exact location of his grave is
unknown. In Buansa, he was known as
Tuan Sharif Awliyā.[21] On his alleged grave
in Bud Agad, Jolo, an inscription was
written as "Mohadum Aminullah Al-Nikad".
In Lugus, he is referred to Abdurrahman. In
Sibutu, he is known to as his name.[44]

The different of beliefs on his grave

locations came about due to the fact that
Karim ul-Makhdum travelled to several
islands in Sulu Sea to preach Islam. In
many places in the archipelago, he was
beloved. It is said that the people of Tapul
built a mosque honouring him and that
they claim descent from Karim ul-
Makhdum. Thus, the success of Karim ul-
Makhdum of spreading Islam in Sulu threw
a new light in Islamic history in the
Philippines. The customs, beliefs and
political laws of the people changed and
customised to adopt the Islamic
tradition.[45]

Maritime power

An Iranum pirate.

The Sultanate of Sulu became notorious

for its so-called "Moro Raids" or acts of
piracy directed towards Spanish
Settlements in the Visayan areas with the
aim of capturing slaves and other goods
from these coastal towns. The Tausug
pirates used boats known as Proas which
varied in design and were much lighter
than the Spanish Galleons and could easily
out-sail these ships, they often carried
large swivel guns or Lantaka and also
carried a crew of pirates from different
ethnic groups throughout Sulu such as
Iranums, Bajaus and Tausugs alike. By the
18th century, the Sulu pirates had become
the virtual masters of the Sulu seas and
the surrounding areas, wreaking havoc on
Spanish settlements.[46] This prompted the
Spaniards to build a number of
fortifications[47] across the Visayan islands
of Cebu and Bohol, Churches were built on
higher ground and watchtowers were built
along coastlines to warn of impending
raids.

The maritime supremacy of Sulu wasn't

directly controlled by the Sultan,
independent Datus and warlords waged
their own wars against the Spaniards and
even with the Capture of Jolo on
numerous occasions by the Spaniards,
other settlements like Maimbung,
Banguingui and Tawi-Tawi were used as
assembly areas and hideouts for pirates.
The Sultanate's control over the Sulu seas
was at its height around the late 17th to
early 18th centuries were Moro raids
became very common for the Visayans
and Spaniards.

In Sulu and in the Mindanao interior, the

slave trade flourished and majority of
these slaves that were being imported and
exported were of Bisaya ethnicity, the term
"Bisaya" eventually became synonymous
to "slave" in these areas. Its maritime
supremacy over the Spaniards, at the time,
the Spaniards acquired Steam-powered
ships that began to curb Muslim piracy in
the region, the Moro piratical raids began
to decrease in number until Governor
Narciso Clavería launched the
Balanguingui expedition to crush the pirate
settlements there, effectively ending the
moro pirate raids. By the last quarter of the
19th century, Moro pirates had virtually
disappeared and the maritime influence of
the Sultanate became dependent on the
Chinese Junk trade.

Spanish and British

annexations

 
(Left) The first concession treaty was signed by Sultan
Abdul Momin of Brunei on 29 December 1877,
appointing Baron de Overbeck as the Maharaja Sabah,
Rajah Gaya and Sandakan.[48]
(Right) The second concession treaty was signed by
Sultan Jamal ul-Azam of Sulu on 22 January 1878 also
appointing Baron de Overbeck as Dato Bendahara and
Raja Sandakan, approximately three weeks after
signature of the first treaty.[49]

In the 18th century, Sulu's dominion

covered most of northeastern part of
Borneo. However areas like Tempasuk and
Abai had never really shown much
allegiance to its earlier ruler, Brunei,
subsequently similar treatment was given
to Sulu. Dalrymple who made a treaty of
allegiance in 1761 with Sulu, had to make
a similar agreement with the rulers of
Tempasuk and Abai on the north Borneo
coast in 1762.[50] Sultanate of Sulu totally
gave up its rule over Palawan to Spain in
1705 and Basilan to Spain in 1762. The
territory ceded to Sulu by Brunei initially
stretched south to Tapean Durian (now
Tanjong Mangkalihat) (another source
mentioned the southern most boundary is
at Dumaring),[51] near the Straits of
Macassar (now Kalimantan). However, by
1800–1850, these area had been
effectively controlled by the Sultanate of
Bulungan in Kalimantan, reducing the
boundary of Sulu to a cape named Batu
Tinagat and Tawau River.[52]
In 1848 and 1851, the Spanish launched
attacks on Balanguingui and Jolo
respectively. A peace treaty was signed on
30 April 1851 in which the sultan could
only regain its capital if Sulu and its
dependencies became a part of the
Philippine Islands under the sovereignty of
Spain. There were different
understandings of this treaty, in which
although the Spanish interpreted it as the
Sultan accepted Spanish sovereignty over
Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, however the Sultan
took it as a friendly treaty amongst equals.
These areas were only partially controlled
by the Spanish and their power was limited
to only military stations and garrisons and
pockets of civilian settlements. This lasted
until they had to abandon the region as a
consequence of their defeat in the
Spanish–American War. On 22 January
1878, an agreement was signed between
the Sultanate of Sulu and British
commercial syndicate (Alfred Dent and
Baron de Overbeck), which stipulated that
North Borneo was either ceded or leased
(depending on translation used) to the
British syndicate in return for payment of
5,000 Malayan Dollar per year.[53][54]
British version
“ ... hereby grant and cede of our own ”
free and sovereign will to Gustavus
Baron de Overbeck of Hong Kong
and Alfred Dent Esquire of
London...and assigns for ever and in
perpetuity all the rights and powers
belonging to us over all the
territories and lands being tritutary
to us on the mainland of the island
of Borneo commencing from the
Pandassan River

on the north-west coast and

extending along the whole east
coast as far as the Sibuco River in
the south and comprising amongst
other the States of Paitan, Sugut,
Bangaya, Labuk, Sandakan, Kina
Batangan, Mumiang, and all the
other territories and states to the
southward thereof bordering on
Darvel Bay and as far as the Sibuco
river with all the islands within three
marine leagues of the coast.[55]

Sulu version
“ "...do hereby lease of our own ”
freewill and satisfaction to...all the
territories and lands being tributary
to [us] together with their heirs,
associates, successors and assigns
forever and until the end of time, all
rights and powers which we
possess over all territories and
lands tributary to us on the
mainland of the Island of Borneo,
commencing from the Pandassan
River on the west coast to Maludu
Bay, and extending along the whole
east coast as far as Sibuco River on
the south,..., and all the other
territories and states to the
 southward thereof bordering on
Darvel Bay and as far as the Sibuco
River, ..., [9 nautical miles] of the
coast."

On 22 April 1903, Sultan Jamalul Kiram

signed a document known as
"Confirmation of cession of certain
islands", in which he granted and ceded
additional islands in the neighbourhood of
the mainland of North Borneo from Banggi
Island to Sibuku Bay to British North
Borneo Company. The sum 5,000 dollars a
year payable every year increased to 5,300
dollars a year payable every year.
Madrid Protocol

Sultan Jamalul Kiram II with William Howard Taft of

the Philippine Commission in Jolo, Sulu (27 March
1901)

The Sulu Sultanate later came under the

control of Spain in Manila. In 1885, Great
Britain, Germany and Spain signed the
Madrid Protocol to cement Spanish
influence over the islands of the
Philippines. In the same agreement, Spain
relinquished all claim to North Borneo
which had belonged to the Sultanate in the
past to the British Government.[56]

The Spanish Government

renounces, as far as regards the
British Government, all claims
of sovereignty over the
territories of the continent of
Borneo, which belong, or which
have belonged in the past to the
Sultan of Sulu (Jolo), and which
comprise the neighbouring
islands of Balambangan,
 Banguey, and Malawali, as well
as all those comprised within a
zone of three maritime leagues
from the coast, and which form
part of the territories
administered by the Company
styled the "British North Borneo
Company".

— Article III, Madrid

Protocol of 1885

Decline
Datu Amil (sitting left), an influential leader of the

Tausūgs in discussion with Captain W.O. Reed, US 6th

Cavalry Regiment during the American Moro
Campaigns. Amil was later killed by the Americans
which marking the starting end of the sovereignty of
the Sulu Sultanate when the Americans relinquished
their powers until the end of the last battle with the
Moros in which their region fell under the American
rules.[57][58]

Daru Jambangan (Palace of Flowers) in Maimbung,

Sulu before it was destroyed by a typhoon in 1932. It
used to be the largest royal palace built in the
Philippines. A campaign to faithfully re-establish it in
Maimbung town has been ongoing since 1933. A very

small replica of the palace was made in a nearby town

in the 2010s, but it was noted that the replica does not
mean that the campaign to reconstruct the palace in
Maimbung has stopped as the replica does not
manifest the true essence of a Sulu royal palace. In
2013, Maimbung was officially designated as the royal
capital of the Sultanate of Sulu by the remaining
members of the Sulu royal family. Almost all Sulu
royals who have died since the 19th century up to the
present have been buried around the palace
grounds.[59][60][61][62]

The Sultanate's political power was

relinquished in March 1915 after American
commanders negotiated with Sultan
Jamalul Kiram on behalf of then-Governor-
General Francis Burton Harrison. An
agreement was subsequently signed and
was called as the "Carpenter Agreement".
By this agreement, the Sultan relinquished
all political power over territory within the
Philippines (except for certain specific
land granted to Sultan Jamalul Kiram and
his heirs), with the religious authority as
head of Islam in Sulu.[18][63] However, the
United States based government refused
to intervene in the North Borneo dispute
(see below), officially maintaining a neutral
stance on the matter and continuing to
recognise Sabah as part of Malaysia.[64]
On 24 May 1974 Mohammad Mahakuttah
Kiram, under Memo Order 427,[65] which
was issued by Philippines President
Ferdinand Marcos. Memo Order 427
states that "The Government has always
recognised the Sultanate of Sulu as the
legitimate claimant to the historical
territories of the Republic of Philippines".

The province of Sulu hosted the Daru

Jambangan (Palace of Flowers) which
was the royal palace of the Sultan of Sulu
since historical times. The palace, located
in Maimbung was made of wood, and was
destroyed in 1932 by a huge storm. Today,
a few arches and posts remain from the
once grand palace complex. Many
members of the royal family advocated for
the reconstruction of the palace, and even
its enlargement, however, the government
of the Philippines has yet to establish a
position or a fund for the matter.

North Borneo dispute

W. C. Cowie, managing director of BNBC with the

Sultan of Sulu.

The dispute is based on a territorial claim

by the Philippines since the era of
President Diosdado Macapagal over much
of the eastern part of Sabah in Malaysia.
Sabah was known as North Borneo prior to
the formation of the Malaysian federation
in 1963. The Philippines, via the heritage
of the Sultanate of Sulu, claim Sabah on
the basis that Sabah was only leased to
the British North Borneo Company with the
sultanate's sovereignty never being
relinquished. The dispute stems from the
difference in the interpretation used on an
agreement signed between Sultanate of
Sulu and the British commercial syndicate
(Alfred Dent and Baron von Overbeck) in
1878, which stipulated that North Borneo
was either ceded or leased (depending on
translation used) to the British chartered
company in return for payment of 5,000
dollars per year. Malaysia views the
dispute as a "non-issue", as it not only
considers the agreement in 1878 as one of
cession, but it also deems that the
residents had exercised their act of self-
determination when they joined to form
the Malaysian federation in 1963.[66][67] As
reported by the Secretary-General of the
United Nations, the independence of North
Borneo was brought about as the result of
the expressed wish of the majority of the
people of the territory as supported by the
findings of the Cobbold Commission.[68]
Moreover, a later 1903 agreement between
Sultan of Sulu and the British government,
has provided reaffirmation regarding the
understanding of the Sultan of Sulu on the
treaty in 1878, i.e. it is of the form of a
cession.[69] However, it is acknowledged
that the British never paid such
compensation to the Sultanate of Sulu but
during a meeting of Maphilindo between
the Philippine, Malayan and Indonesian
governments in 1963, the Philippine
government said the Sultan of Sulu
wanted the payment of 5,000 from the
Malaysian government.[17] The first
Malaysian Prime Minister at the time,
Tunku Abdul Rahman said he would go
back to Kuala Lumpur and get on the
request.[17] Since then, the Malaysian
Embassy in the Philippines issues a
cheque in the amount of RM5,300 (approx.
₱77,000 or US$1,710) to the legal counsel
of the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu. Malaysia
considers the settlement an annual
"cession payment" for the disputed state,
while the sultan's descendants consider it
"rent".[70]

Republic Act 5446 in the Philippines, which

took effect on 18 September 1968, regards
Sabah as a territory "over which the
Republic of the Philippines has acquired
dominion and sovereignty".[71] On 16 July
2011, the Supreme Court ruled that the
Philippine claim over Sabah is retained
and may be pursued in the future.[72] To
date, Malaysia maintains that the Sabah
claim is a non-issue and non-negotiable,
thereby rejecting any calls from the
Philippines to resolve the matter in ICJ.
Sabah authorities sees the claim made by
the Philippines' Moro leader Nur Misuari to
take Sabah to International Court of
Justice (ICJ) as a non-issue and thus
dismissed the claim.[73]
 

   Territory in the 1878 agreement - From the

Pandassan River on the north west coast to the Sibuco
River in the south.[74]

Covenant Age

In 2016, for the first time in history, the five

contesting sultans of Sulu, Sultan
Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram, Sultan Ibrahim
Bahjin, Sultan Muizuddin Jainal Bahjin,
Sultan Mohammad Venizar Julkarnain
Jainal Abirin, and Sultan Phugdalun Kiram
signed a covenant in an unprecedented
move aimed at consolidating and
strengthening the sultanate's unity. The
ceremony was held in Zamboanga City
and was attended by hundreds of
supporters and members of the different
Royal Houses of the Sultanate of Sulu, and
religious leaders and representatives of
various sectors, including those from
mainland Mindanao.[75] In May 9, 2018, all
five sultans of the sultanate and their
supporters converged again in
Zamboanga City in support of the
establishment of the Zambasulta Federal
State through a federal form of Philippine
government. The event was officially
declared as the Bangsa Sug Consensus.[75]

Economy
Weapons and slave trade

A Moro brass lantaka or swivel gun.

Chinese who lived in Sulu ran guns across
a Spanish blockade to supply the Moro
Datus and Sultanates with weapons to
fight the Spanish, who were engaging in a
campaign to subjugate the Moro
sultanates on Mindanao. A trade involving
the Moros selling slaves and other goods
in exchange for guns developed. The
Chinese had entered the economy of the
sultanate, taking almost total control of
the Sultanate's economies in Mindanao
and dominating the markets. Though the
Sultans did not like one group of people
exercising exclusive control over the
economy, they did business with them.
 

19th century illustration of a lanong, the main warships

used by the Iranun and Banguingui people of the
navies of the Sultanates of Sulu and Maguindanao for
piracy and slave raids

The Chinese set up a trading network

between Singapore, Zamboanga, Jolo and
Sulu. The Chinese sold small arms like
Enfield and Spencer Rifles to the Buayan
Datu Uto. They were used to battle the
Spanish invasion of Buayan. The Datu paid
for the weapons in slaves.[76] The
population of Chinese in Mindanao in the
1880s was 1,000. The Chinese ran guns
across a Spanish blockade to sell to
Mindanao Moros. The purchases of these
weapons were paid for by the Moros in
slaves in addition to other goods. The
main group of people selling guns were
the Chinese in Sulu. The Chinese took
control of the economy and used
steamers to ship goods for exporting and
importing. Opium, ivory, textiles, and
crockery were among the other goods
which the Chinese sold.

The Chinese on Maimbung sent the

weapons to the Sulu Sultanate, who used
them to battle the Spanish and resist their
attacks. A Chinese-Mestizo was one of the
Sultan's brothers-in-law, the Sultan was
married to his sister. He and the Sultan
both owned shares in the ship (named the
Far East) which helped smuggle the
weapons.[76] The Spanish launched a
surprise offensive under Colonel Juan
Arolas in April 1887 by attacking the
Sultanate's capital at Maimbung in an
effort to crush resistance. Weapons were
captured and the property of the Chinese
were destroyed while the Chinese were
deported to Jolo.[76]

Pearling industry
 

A painting from 1880s depicting Sultan Jamal ul-Azam

having a conversation with the French visitors.

After the destruction of the pirate haunts

of Balanguingui effectively ending the
centuries of slave raids, which the Sulu
Sultanate's economy had so depended on,
along with the economy of mainland
Mindanao, the Sultanate's economy
experienced a sharp decline as slaves
became more inaccessible and the
islands' agricultural produce wasn't
enough, thus it became dependent on the
Mindanao interior even for rice and
produce.[77] The Spaniards thought they
had dealt the death blow for the sultanate
when they captured Jolo in 1876, rather,
the sultanate's capital and economic and
trading hub was moved to Maimbung on
the other side of the island. Up until the
American occupation, this was the
residence and economic centre of Sulu.
This is where the Sultan Jamalul Kiram II
and his adviser Hadji Butu began the Sulu
pearling industry to increase the Sultan's
wealth, they organised the Sulu pearling
fleet. The sultan's pearling fleet was active
way into the early 20th century, when in
1910, the Sultan reportedly sold a single
giant pearl in London for $100,000.

Culture
Social class system

Among the people of Sultanate of Sulu, the

title of nobility could be acquired only by
lineage, a "closed system" whereby the
titled persons inherit their offices of
powers and prestige.

There are two main social classes in Royal

Sultanate of Sulu:[78]
Datu (su-sultanun), which is acquired
purely by lineage to the sultanate.
Whereas, all male members of the Royal
House of Sulu should hold this
hereditary title and should hold the style:
His Royal Highness (HRH). Their spouse
would automatically hold the title of
Dayang Dayang (princess of the first
degree) Adopted members of the Royal
House of Sulu hold the style of His
Highness (HH) Whereas, their spouse
would also hold the title of Dayang
Dayang (princess of the first degree)
and should hold the style: Her Highness
according to traditional customs of
Sulu.
 Datu Sadja, which may be acquired
through confirming the titles (gullal) on
the middleman of the Sultan. The gullal
is made if a commoner has achieved
outstanding feats or services in line of
duty through display of bravery, heroism,
etc. Datu Sadja is life title of nobility and
the title holders should hold the style:
His Excellency. Whereas their spouses
should hold the title of Dayang and
should hold the style: Her Excellency.

The commoners or Maharlika are those

who do not trace their descent from
royalty. The Wakil Kesultan's, Panglimas,
Parkasa's and Laksaman's who are
commoners hold responsible positions
involving administrative matters.

Wakil Kesultanan – region representative

outside Royal Sulu Sultanate
Panglima – region representative inside
Royal Sulu Sultanate
Parkasa – aide-de-camp of region
representative inside Royal Sulu
Sultanate
Laksaman – sub region representative
inside Royal Sulu Sultanate

The males who hold offices above shall be

addressed by the title of nobility Tuan (the
title is directly attached to the office),
followed by the rank of the office they
hold, their given name, surname and
region. The females who hold offices
above shall be addressed by the title of
nobility Sitti (the title is directly attached to
the office), followed by the rank of the
office they hold, their given name, surname
and region.

Visual arts

 
A kutiyapi (lute) from Mindanao bearing Ukkil motifs.
The Sultanate of Sulu, along with the rest
of Mindanao has a long tradition of
decorative arts known as Okir or Ukkil.
Ukkil being the Tausug word for "wood
carving" or engraving, the Tausugs and
Maranaos people have been carving and
decorating their boats, houses and even
grave markers with these Ukkil carvings.
Aside from Wood carving, Ukkil motifs
have been found on various clothing in the
Sulu archipelago, Ukkil motifs tend to
emphasise geometric patterns and a
flowing design, with floral and leaf
patterns as well as folk elements. The
Tausugs also decorated their weapons
with these motifs, various Kris and Barong
blades have finely decorated handles as
well as blades covered in floral patterns
and the like.[79] Bronze Lantaka also bear
some Ukkil patterns.

Pretenders
Pre-Colonial History of the Philippines
 

Barangay government
Ten datus of Borneo
Legendary
Suwarnapumi
Chryse
Ophir
Tawalisi
Wāḳwāḳ
Sanfotsi
Zabang
States in Luzon
Caboloan (Pangasinan)
Ma-i
Rajahnate of Maynila
 Namayan
Tondo
States in the Visayas
Kedatuan of Madja-as
Kedatuan of Dapitan
Rajahnate of Cebu
States in Mindanao
Rajahnate of Butuan
Sultanate of Sulu
Sultanate of Maguindanao
Sultanates of Lanao
Key figures
Jayadewa •Dayang Kalangitan •Ache •Lakan Dula •
Sulaiman III •Katuna •Tarik Sulayman •Tupas •
Kabungsuwan •Kudarat •Humabon •Lapu-Lapu •
Alimuddin I •Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram

History of the Philippines

Portal: Philippines
 view ·talk ·edit

After the death of Sultan Mahakuttah A.

Kiram, the Philippine national government
failed to formally recognise a new Sultan.
Mahakutta's Crown Prince Muedzul Lail
Kiram, the heir to the throne according to
the line of succession as recognised by
the Philippine governments from 1915 to
1986, was 20 years old upon his father's
death. Due to his young age, he failed to
claim the throne in a time of political
instability in the Philippines that led to the
peaceful revolution and subsequent
removal of President Marcos. The gap in
the Sultanate leadership was filled by
crown claimants of rival branches.
Therefore, the following Sultans were not
crowned with the support of the Philippine
government nor received a formal
recognition from the national government
as their predecessors had until 1986.
However, the Philippine national
government decided to deal with one or
more of these so-called Sultan claimants
regarding issues concerning the
Sultanates affairs.

Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram claims that he is

the legitimate successor as the 35th
Sultan of Sulu based on the Memorandum
Order 427 of 1974, in which former
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos
recognised his father, Sultan Mahakuttah
A. Kiram, as the Sultan of Sulu.[65][80] Under
Rodrigo Duterte's administration, calls to
finally settle the dispute of who is the
officially recognized Sultan of Sulu via
government recognition through an
Executive Order was voiced out by various
parties involved with the issue. The calls
have yet to be dealt with by the
government since 2017, along with a 2016
electoral promise to retake Eastern Sabah.

Gallery
A flag coloured yellow was used in Sulu by
the Chinese.[81]
  

Flag of Sulu Sultanate according to Pierre

Sonnerat.[82]

Merchant flag of the Chinese community

in the Sulu Sultanate.
  

War flag of the Sulu Sultanate at the end

of the 19th century.

Modern flag under the claimant Sultan

Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram.
See also
2013 Lahad Datu standoff
List of Sunni Muslim dynasties
Sultanate of Malacca
Sultanate of Maguindanao
John C. Bates
Manila Accord
Monarchy abolishment
Hinduism in the Philippines
History of the Philippines (Before 1521)

Notes
1. According to WH Scott, even though the
sultanate was ruled by Tausūg people, the
subjects of the kingdom were a mix of
Butuanon, Samal and Malays.[4]
2. The generally accepted date of the
establishment of the sultanate by modern
historians is 1457. However, the National
Historical Commission of the Philippines
list the date as "around 1450", or simply
"1450s",[6] due to uncertainty. On the other
hand, independent Muslim studies marked
the day to a more exact date 17 November
1405 (24th of Jumada al-awwal, 808
AH).[7][8]
3. Mashā′ikha is an Arabic term which
originated from mashā′ikh, which means "an
intelligent or pious man".
4. The generally accepted date for the
coming of Tuan Mashā′ikha is 1280 AD,
however, other Muslim scholars dated his
coming only by second half of the 13th
century".[28]
5. May be interchange to Karimul Makhdum,
Karimal Makdum or Makhdum Karim
among others. Makhdum came from the
Arabic word makhdūmīn, which means
"master".
6. Another uncertain date in Philippine
Islamic history is the year of arrival of Karim
ul-Makhdum. Though other Muslim
scholars place the date as simply "the end
of 14th century", Saleeby calculated the
year as 1380 AD corresponding to the
description of the tarsilas, in which Karim
ul-Makhdum's coming is 10 years before
Rajah Baguinda's. The 1380 reference
originated from the event in Islamic history
when a huge number of makhdūmīn started
to travel to Southeast Asia from India. See
Ibrahim's "Readings on Islam in Southeast
Asia."

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External links
The official website of Royal House of
Sulu under the guidance of Sultan
Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, 35th Sultan of
Sulu
Line of succession of the Sultans of
Sulu of the Modern Era as published in
 the Official Gazette of the Republic of
the Philippines
Philippine Provincial Government of
Sulu – The official list of Sultans
Sultanate of Sulu on
WorldStatesMen.org

Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Sultanate_of_Sulu&oldid=882012862"

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