List of sultans of Sulu

Sultan of Sulu سلطان سولو
Details
Style	Sultan of Sulu
First monarch	Rajah Baginda
Last monarch	Jamalul Kiram II (as sovereign monarch) Moh. Mahakuttah Kiram (appointed monarch)
Formation	1390
Abolition	1917
Residence	Datu Sangahan, Sulu
Pretender(s)	Ismael Kiram II Jamalul Kiram III Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram

This is a list of the rulers of the Sultanate of Sulu. The Royal House of Sulu is a Muslim royal house that is revered in the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines. The current ruling Royal House of Sulu is the Royal House of Kiram. The sovereignty of the Sultanate was dissolved in 1917 but the descendants of the royal family are still de facto recognized and honored as royalty in Sulu. The last sultan recognized by the Philippine government was Moh. Mahakuttah A. Kiram, who reigned from 1974-1986. The current claimants to the throne of the Sultanate are Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, Fuad Kiram, Jamalul Kiram III and Ismael Kiram II.

History

Under a Treaty of 1851 between the Sultan of Sulu and Spain, the status of the Sulu Sultanate resembled that of a Spanish Protectorate. The internal administration of Sulu, its customs, laws, and religion were fully respected and were not subjected to Spanish jurisdiction.

In 1878 Gustavus Baron de Overbeck obtained a grant of these territories in Borneo from Sultan Jamalul A'Lam. The deed of cession dated 22 January 1878, grants in perpetuity all the rights and powers belonging to the Sultan over the territories named in consideration of the payment to the grantor and its heirs and or successors of the sum of 5,000 dollars a year. The confirmatory deed dated 22 April 1903, relates only to certain islands which had not been specifically named in the main deed. The consideration was a further payment of 300 dollars a year. Under that grant Sultan of Sulu remained his sovereignty rights over the territory of North Borneo

By the treaty of 1851 the Sultan of Sulu had acknowledged the sovereignty of the Spanish Government over Sulu, but any question of his power to make a valid cession of the territories named in the main deed of Cession was set at rest by a Protocol of 1885 signed on behalf of the British, Spanish and German Governments at Mardik on 7 March 1885.

Article III of that Protocol reads:- "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 been 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 a company styled the British North Borneo Company". Under that Protocol Sultan of Sulu remained his sovereignty rights over the territory of North Borneo.

In the Treaty of Paris (1898) whereby the Spanish surrendered their territory, their boundary was stipulated to be nine miles off the coast of North Borneo. In May 1899, Spain evacuated Sulu, and on 26 August 1899, General Bates, of the United States army, concluded a treaty with Sultan Jamalul Kiram and the sovereignty of Sulu (excluding North Borneo) passed from Spain to the United States of America. Under that Treaty Sultan of Sulu remained his sovereignty rights over the territory of North Borneo.

The status of Sulu changed entirely in 1915. The Sultan had been, by then, shorn of all temporal power and retained only the empty title of Sultan and certain religious jurisdiction exercisable only by the consent of the parties. As United States of America was not interested in the territory of North Borneo, de jure Sultan of Sulu remained his sovereignty rights over the territory of North Borneo.

In 1936, after the death of Sultan Jamalul Kiram, the Philippine Government decided not to recognize the continued existence of the Sulu Sultanate, according to a letter to the Governor of North Borneo dated 28 July 1936, from His Britannic Majesty's Consul General in Manila.

On 12 September 1962, the Vice President and concurrently Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Philippines, Mr. Emmanuel Pelaez together with Sultan Moh. Esmail E. Kiram signed a "Instrument of cession of the territory of North Borneo by His Highness Sultan Moh. Esmail E. Kiram , Sultan of Sulu", under what Philippine Government again officially recognized the continued existence of the Sulu Sultanate and the office of Sultan of Sulu.

Reign of Last Sultan

On 24 May 1974, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential Memorandum Order 427 that recognized Mohammad Mahakuttah A. Kiram as the Sultan of Sulu in a public coronation. He is the eldest son of Sultan Moh. Esmail E. Kiram. Also, Mahakuttah's son Muedzul was crowned Raja Mudah (Crown Prince) during the coronation.

Sultan Mahakuttah reigned until his death in 1986. Mahakutta`s Crown Prince Muedzul Lail Kiram, the heir to the throne according to the line of succession as recognized by the Marcos government, was 20 years old upon his father`s death. Due to his age, he was ineligible to ascend to the throne. (The minimum age required for a sultan is 21 years old.) The elders of Sulu decided to crown his uncle, Jamalul Kiram III, as interim sultan in 1986. However, in 1987, when Muedzul became eligible to the throne, Jamalul Kiram III refused to surrender the throne, causing a rift between the elders of Sulu loyal to Kiram III and those loyal to Muedzul.

After the bloodless 1986 Philippine revolution, the new Constitution specifically prohibits the passage of any "law granting a title of royalty or nobility." Because of this, no Sultan has been recognized by the government since 1986. While the sultanate is no longer a recognized sovereign entity it continued to exert some influence in the Philippines' Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and the Malaysian state of Sabah.

List of Sultans of Sulu 1450-1936

The following list details the holders of the title Sultan between 1450 and 1936.

	Sultan	Details
1	Sultan Sharif ul-Hashim 1450–1480	The founder of the Sulu Sultanate whose proper name was Abu Bakr. He founded The Royal Sultanate of Sulu in 1457 and renamed himself Paduka Mahasari Maulana al-Sultan Sharif ul-Hashim. The "maulana" meaning protector (Arabic), "paduka" being a local term for "master", and "mahasari" for "His Majesty". The Sharif is reported to have lived about thirty years in Buansa, the first seat of the sultanate, and his tomb is located in one of the slopes of nearby Mount Tumantangis.
2	Sultan Kamalud-Din 1480-1505	The son of the Sharif ul-Hashim who succeeded his father as sultan.
3	Sultan Alaud-Din ?	Sulu Genealogy suggests that he was a brother of Kamalud-Din. A son of Sultan Shariful-Hashim, but believed not to be proclaimed the "Sultan of Sulu."
4	Sultan Amirul-Umara 1505-1527	His title is believed to be the Arabic translation of Maharajah-di-rajah found as the fourth sultan in some tarsilas. Some Sulu genealogy do not mention him. Believed to be the Sultan Bolkiah
5	Sultan Muizzul-Mutawadi-in 1527-1548	He is the Maharajah Upo (grandchild) of Sharif ul-Hashim. Some genealogy states that he succeeded to the sultanate upon the death of Kamalud-Din.
6	Sultan Nasirud-Din I 1548-1568	The son of Sultan Muizz ul-Mutawadi-in. His surname was Digunung or Habud, suggesting that he grew up in or ruled from the interior of Sulu.
7	Sultan Muhammad ul-Halim 1568-1596	The son of Sultan Nasirud-Din I. His other name was Pangiran Buddiman which was the name by which he was probably known.
8	Sultan Batara Shah Tengah 1596-1608	The son of Sultan Muhammad ul-Halim. "Batara" was a title used by Sulu rulers as early as the beginning of the fifteenth century, and Brunei annals always referred to Sulu rulers by this term. Died without heir.
9	Sultan Muwallil Wasit I 1610-1650	The nephew of Sultan Batara Shah Tengah (the son of his sister who married Sultan Hassan of Brunei). He was known to Spaniards as Raja Bungsu. One of his daughters married Sultan Qudarat of Maguindanao while another daughter married Balatamay (Baratamay), the ruler of Buayan in 1657. Around 1650, his son Bachtiar took over the sultanate.
10	Sultan Nasir ud-Din II 1645–1648	Son of Sultan Muwallil Wasit who reigned during the lifetime of his father following his father's defeat by the Spaniards. The throne reverted to his father after his brother, Sarikula, died in 1648.
11	Sultan Salahud-Din Bakhtiar 1649/50-1680	Known to Spanish authorities as Pangiran Bactial and to Dutch officials as Pangiran Batticale. After his death, he was called Marhum Karamat. Due to his father's old age as well as the number of his followers, he did not become sultan until around 1650, if not a year earlier. He installed the "3 Temporary Sultans of Sulu" to sit on the Sulu throne from 1680-1685 due to the very young age of his son.
12	Sultan Ali Shah	Not mentioned in the Sulu Genealogy but produced a permanent heir in Shahabud-Din (No. 15). His reign was short and peaceful.
13	Sultan Nur ul-Azam	Daughter of Sultan Nasirud-Din II who was also known as Pangyan Ampay or Sitti Kabil (Arabic, meaning grand mistress) and ruled for four or five years. Some Sulus did not look with favor on her regime, being ruled under a woman.
14	Sultan Al Haqunu Ibn Wali ul-Ahad	The name "Ibn Wali ul-Ahad" is Arabic for "son of the rajah muda" (heir apparent). Is speculated to be the son of Sarikula and helped govern with his cousin Sultan Salah ud-Din.
15	Sultan Shahabud-Din 1685-1710	The son of Salah ud-Din. It was he who killed Sultan Kahar ud-Din Kuda of Maguindanao in 1702 and "ceded" Palawan to the Spanish government in 1705.
16	Sultan Mustafa Shafi ud-Din 1710-1718	The younger brother of Shahab ud-Din he was also known as Juhan Pahalawan. He abdicated the thrown in favor of his younger brother Badar ud-Din to avoid future dynastic troubles.
17	Sultan Badarud-Din I 1718-1732	The younger brother of the two previous sultans, he was known to different Spanish authors as "Bigotillos" or "Barbillas,"" or as "el Rey Viejo de Tawi-Tawi." His mother as a Tirun lady from the North East coast of Borneo. In 1732, a nephew (or grand nephew) contested his rule which led to his retirement to Tawi-Tawi where he was then known as Sultan Dungun. He died around 1740 in Dungun during the reign of his son Azimud-Din I.
18	Sultan Nasarud-Din 1732-1735	He was either a son or grandson (by a daughter) of Shahab ud-Din and was known to the Spaniards as Datu Sabdula (Arabic, Abdullah). In 1731, he challenged the rule of Badar ud-Din, forcing the latter to take leave and retire in 1732. The intrigues of Badar ud-Din led to the proclamation of Azim ud-Din (a son of Badar ud-Din) as sultan in 1735. After a series of desultory skirmishes between the factions of Nasar ud-Din and Azim ud-Din, the former left for Maimbung where he generally remained till he died around 1735. He was also referred to as Dipatuan.
19	Sultan Alimud-Din I 1735-1748 1764–1773	Son of Badarud-Din. His father proclaimed him ruler in Tawi-Tawi in 1735. In 1736, after a few intrigues had paved the way, a number of Datus asked Alimud-Din to transfer his court from Dungun to Bauang (Jolo). But a political struggle in 1748 forced him to leave Jolo for Basilan and then Zamboanga. His younger brother, Datu Bantilan, was then proclaimed sultan. In the meantime, he went to Manila where he remained for sometime, including a few years of imprisonment. He returned an old man to Jolo in 1764. In the same year, on June 8, he was formally reinstated to the throne. In 1773, tired of affairs of state, he formally handed over the affairs of state to his son Muhammad Israil. He had two periods of reign; 1735–1748 and 1764-1773.
20	Sultan Bantilan Muizzud-Din 1748-1763	Known to Spanish officials and priests as Datu or Pangiran Bantilan. He was a younger brother of Alimud-Din-I.
21	Sultan Mohammad Israel 1773-1778	One of the sons of Alimud-Din I who abdicated his power to his son in November 1773, but did not formally assumed the reign early the next year. He was believed to have been poisoned by either the partisans of his cousin or the cousin, himself, Alimud-Din II(a son of Sultan Bantilan Muizzud-Din I), in 1778.
22	Sultan Alimud-Din II 1763–1764 1778-1789	The son of Muizzud-Din I who governed Sulu with his brother after the death of their father around the middle of 1763. By the end of that year, he had become, for all practical purposes, the Sultan. With the arrival of his uncle Alimud-Din I from Manila in 1764, whom he received well, Alimud-Din II left his followers for Parang. In 1778, he succeeded Muhammad Israil. He reigned up to his death in 1789.
23	Sultan Sharapud-Din 1789-1808	Another son of Alimud-Din I and lived a venerable old age. Ten years earlier the Spaniards were expecting him to die at any moment and were thus worried that a successor antagonistic to them might ascend the throne.
24	Sultan Alimud-Din III 1808	The son of Sharapud-Din. He died the same year as his father. According to a report, he reigned only for forty days. Most likely he died a smallpox epidemic that raged through Jolo that year.
25	Sultan Aliyud-Din I 1808-1821	The younger brother of Alimud-Din III.
26	Sultan Shakirul-Lah 1821-1823	The brother of Aliyud-Din I.
27	Sultan Jamalul-Kiram I 1823-1844	By some source his real name was Muwalil Wasit, he was the son of Alimuddin-III. Current ruling Royal House of Sulu, Royal House of Kiram descends from him.
28	Sultan Moh. Pulalun Kiram 1844-1862	The son of Jamalul-Kiram I.
29	Sultan Jamalul A'Lam 1862-1881	On 22 January 1878, he signed a treaty under what, the territory of North Borneo was leased to the British North Borneo Company. He was the son of Moh. Pulalun Kiram.
30	Sultan Badarud-Din II 1881-1884	The son of Jamalul-A'Lam, died in 1884 without leaving any male heir.
31	Sultan Harun Ar-Rashid 1886-1894	A descendant of Alimud-Din I, through Datu Putong. Spanish intrigues led to his proclamation as sultan by a few Datus in 1886, although earlier in 1884, Jamalul Kiram, a younger brother of Badarud-Din II, had already been proclaimed as Sultan of Sulu. He never had support of the majority of the Sulu people neither Ruma Bichara. When it became apparent that he no longer served any purpose to Spanish officials, Harun ar-Rashid was persuaded to abdicate in 1894. This was a tacit admission on the part of Spanish authorities that Jamalul Kiram was the real Sultan of Sulu. Harun ar-Rashid retired to Palawan where he died in April 1899.
32	Sultan Jamalul-Kiram II 1894-1936	The younger brother of Badarud-Din II. He was proclaimed Sultan of Sulu by his direct followers in 1884 as the son of Jamalul A'Lam. By some source his real name was Amirul Kiram Awal-II. His proclamation as sultan was contested by Datu Aliud-Din, a grandson of Sultan Shakirullah, but without any success. Aliud-Din was forced to fly to Basilan. It was Harun ar-Rashid who tried to mediate between Amirul Kiram and Aliud-Din until the Spaniards thought it expedient to have Harun ar-Rashid to Sultan himself. The Spaniards were led eventually to deal with Jamalul-Kiram II as the Sultan of Sulu in spite of his repeated refusal to go to Manila on a state visit. Jamalul-Kiram II died on June 7, 1936. In 1915, he virtually surrendered his political powers to the United States government under the 1915 Carpenter Agreement. Jamalul Kiram II died without leaving any children.
32	Sultan Bomid-din I 1936-1973	The second younger brother of Badarud-Din II. He was proclaimed Sultan of Sulu by his direct votes of the people during the ruma bichara held in Parang, Sulu on April 11, 1936.

Sultans from 1936-1950

After the death of Sultan Jamalul Kiram in 1936 the Philippine Government, the successors in sovereignty of the United States of America, decided not to recognise the continued existence of the Sulu Sultanate, according to a letter to the Governor of North Borneo dated 28 July 1936, from His Britannic Majesty's Consul General in Manila. After that decision there appeared several legitimate claimants and pretenders to the throne of Sulu. During WWII, the Japanese and American forces took influence in the Sultanates affairs, each recognizing a pretender supportive of their agenda.

	Sultan	Details
1	Muwallil Wasit II 1936	He was the younger brother of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II and crown prince of the Sultanate. He was lawfully elected by the Ruma Bechara, the Datus and Sharifs as the new Sultan. Six months later and before the formal coronation ceremony took place, he was murdered. His legitimacy as the heir to the throne and his position as crown prince of Jamalul Kiram II was confirmed again by the Cession Court of North Borneo`s so-called McKaskie court rule in 1939, identifying his heirs as the owners of the territory of North Borneo.
2	Amirul Umara I 1937-1950	Husband of Dayang Dayang Piandao and recognised Sultan of Sulu by Japanese Government. Dayang Dayang Piandao was the daughter of Sultan Badarud-Din II and after death of his father she was adopted by Sultan Jamalul Kiram II. After death of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II, on 16 August 1937 Sessions Court of North Borneo granted her administration rights over the property and credits of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II, deceased.
3	Jainal Abirin 1937-1950	Born as Datu Tambuyong. Supported by the American Forces.

List of Sultans of Sulu 1950-1986

The following list details the holders of the title Sultan between 1950 to 1986, who are officially recognised by Philippine Government.

	Sultan	Details
33	Sultan Moh. Esmail E. Kiram I 1950-1974	He was the eldest son of Raja Muda Muwallil Wasit II and the legitimate successor of the Sultan of Sulu. Sultan Moh. Esmail E. Kiram granted authority to Philippine government under the administration of President Diosdado Macapagal on 12 September 1962 and of President Ferdinand Marcos in 1972. Under above mentioned documents Philippine Government again officially recognised the continued existence of the Sulu Sultanate and the office of Sultan of Sulu. Datu Moh. Mahakuttah A. Kiram, Sultan Moh. Esmail E. Kiram's son was his Raja Muda.
34	H.R.M.SULTAN MUHD YAHCUB@SULTAN ALIMUDDIN-V<.SULTAN OF SULU-MINSUPALA-BULUNGAN PROVINCE AND SABAHNORTH BORNEO SULTANATE PROCLAMED AND CROWNED SULTAN OF SULU ON JANUARY 3.1967 TO PRESENT Claimants as Sultan of Sulu from 1980 - present After the death of Sultan Mahakutta Kiram, the Philippine government failed to formally recognize a new Sultan. Mahakutta`s Crown Prince Muedzul Lail Kiram, the heir to the throne according to the line of succession as recognized by the Philippine governments from 1915-1986, 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 leadership was filled by pretenders of rival branches. Therefore, the following Sultans were not crowned with the support of the Philippine government nor did receive a formal recognition from the federal government like their predecessors, until 1986. However, the Philippine government decided to deal with one or more of these pretenders regarding issues concerning the Sultanates affairs, appointed them into positions in the government or received them on a case to case basis and granted therefore a de facto recognition to their reign. Sultan (Claimant) Details 1 Moh. Punjungan Kiram 1980-1983 Younger brother of Sultan Esmail E. Kiram I. On 11 October 1939, Sessions Court of North Borneo granted him administration rights over the property and credits of Raja Muda Muwallil Wasit II, deceased. He is the father of Jamalul Kiram III and Ismael Kiram II. Punjungan was the Crown Prince regent of Sultan Esmail Kiram I. under the condition to transfer his rights to the son of the Sultan, when he is of legal age. Instead of resigning from his position, Punjungan exiled himself in Malaysia and later returned to contest the reign of Mahakutta Kiram, who had lawfully replaced him as Crown Prince. 2 Abirin, Aguimuddin 1983 3 Jamal ul-Kiram III 1983-1990 2012 - Present "Interim Sultan of Sulu" from 1974- 1981 (not recognized by the government). In 1986, he was crowned as the Sultan of Sulu. Eldest son of Punjungan Kiram, elder brother of Ismael Kiram II. 4 Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram 1986–2012 as Raja Muda 2012 - Present As the eldest son of Moh. Mahakuttah A. Kiram, he is a crown prince and claimant to the Sultanate. He was crowned as Raja Muda beside his father's public coronation in Sulu on 24 May 1974. . Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram was later himself crowned as sultan in a coronation event on the island of Jolo on September 16, 2012. 6 Fuad Kiram 2004–Present He was appointed in 2004 by his nephew, Raja Muda Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, as Sultan of Sabah. Datu Fuad A. Kiram signed a notarized document stating that he recognizes Raja Muda Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram as the legitimate head of the Royal House of Sulu. However, in 2006, Raja Muda Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram revoked his appointment after he found out that Datu Fuad A. Kiram was styling himself as Sultan of Sulu and Sabah. Ismael Kiram II also excommunicated Fuad, claiming that the latter abandoned his third wife Farida. 5 Mohammad Akijal Atti 1990-1999 He is a Malaysian businessman. 6 Ismael Kiram II 1999–Present Due to different regional spellings, as can be found on government and newspaper sites, his name appears as Esmail, Esmael, Ismail or Ismael. Second son of Punjungan Kiram and younger brother of Jamalul Kiram III. Abdullah Kiram is his son and possible heir. He was crowned as "acting sultan" by the elders of Sulu in 2001 as his older brother, Jamalul Kiram III left Sulu and went to Manila due to health reasons. Recently, he styles himself as Sultan Bantilan or Caretaker Sultan stating that he recognizes Jamalul Kiram III as the legitimate Sultan. External links The official website of Sultan-claimant Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram Philippine Provincial Government of Sulu - The Official list of Sultans Philippine National Historical Institute - Coronation of the current Sultan Sulu sultan’s ‘heirs’ drop Sabah claim - 2008-07-17 Who is the Real Sultan? - 2008-07-13 + [1] [2] References