Ahmad Muʽazzam

Last updated

Ahmad Al-Muʽazzam Shah
أحمد المعظم شاه
Sultan of Pahang
CO 1069-505-01 (7893293906).jpg
Sultan Ahmad Al-Muʽazzam Shah and his personal attendants, 1897.
Raja Bendahara of Pahang
Reign10 June 1863 – 8 August 1881
Predecessor Tun Mutahir
Sultan of Pahang
Reign16 August 1881 – 13 April 1909
Installation25 September 1884
Successor Sultan Mahmud Shah
Born(1836-05-23)23 May 1836
Pulau Maulana, Pekan, Pahang
Died9 May 1914(1914-05-09) (aged 77)
Istana Pantai, Pekan, Pahang
Burial11 May 1914
SpouseCik Besar Yang Atur binti Abdullah
Cik Amah binti Jamut
Engku Besar of Terengganu
Tun Besar Fatima binti Tun Muhammad
Che’ Ungku Pah binti Dato’ Temenggong Sri Maharaja Tun Ibrahim
Encik Zubaida binti Abdullah
Cik Hajjah Fatimah binti Haji Muhammad Talib
Cik Kusuma binti Tok Minal Daeng Koro
Cik Santoma
Cik Wan Mandak Kiri
Cik Halimah
Cik Bakai
Cik Mah binti Awang Tukang
Cik Maimunah
Cik Fatimah Selat
Issue Tun Muda Besar
Tengku Long Mahmud
Tengku Ali
Tengku Abdullah
Tengku Sulaiman
Tengku Jusoh
Tengku Umar
Tengku Muhammad
Tengku Long
Tun Salamah
Tengku Dalam
Tengku Nong Fatimah
Tengku Hajjah Kalsum
Tengku Hajjah Mariam
Names
Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Ahmad Al-Muʽazzam Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Bendahara Sri Maharaja Tun Ali
Father Raja Bendahara Seri Maharaja Tun Wan Ali bin Almarhum Tun Koris
MotherCik Long Binti Encik Esah (Che Puan Lingga)
Religion Sunni Islam

Sultan Ahmad Al-Muʽazzam Shah ibni Almarhum Raja Bendahara Sri Maharaja Tun Wan Ali (Jawi: سلطان أحمد المعظم شاه ابن المرحوم بندهار سري مهاراج تون علي; 23 May 1836 – 9 May 1914) was the sixth Raja Bendahara of Pahang and the founder and first modern Sultan of Pahang. Commonly known as Tun Wan Ahmad before his accession, he seized the throne in 1863 after defeating his elder brother Tun Mutahir in the Pahang Civil War, assuming the title Sri Paduka Dato' Bendahara Siwa Raja Tun Ahmad. In the early years of his reign, Pahang descended into turmoil, with various attempts made by the surviving sons of Tun Mutahir, based in Selangor, to overthrow him. This led to Pahang's direct involvement in the Selangor Civil War that brought it to a conclusive end.

Contents

The civil wars that ravaged the land had led to the rise of dissension among the ruling class and territorial chiefs who were thenceforth divided into factions. In 1881, prompted by his dwindling authority both within Pahang and among his counterparts in the western Malay states, Tun Wan Ahmad took the title of Sultan Ahmad al-Muadzam Shah and formally proclaimed as sultan by his chiefs two years later. The event marked the revival of Pahang as a sultanate after more than two centuries of union with the crown of Johor. Ahmad gained formal recognition from the British Straits Settlements government in 1887, in return for signing a treaty with the British which compelled him to accept a British Agent in his court.

Early life

On 23 May 1836 at Pulau Maulana, Pekan, Che Puan Long, a wife of the 22nd Bendahara of the Johor Empire, Tun Ali, gave birth to a son Wan Ahmad, for whom an Arab, Habib Abdullah ibni Omar Al-Attas foretold he would lead a great future. Wan Ahmad was the patrilineal descendant of the 13th Bendahara who was proclaimed as the 10th Sultan of Johor, Abdul Jalil Shah IV. After the accession, Abdul Jalil was given the special province of the bendaharas, who ruled the state as the vassal of the Johor Sultanate. However, during the reign of Tun Abdul Majid, and with the gradual dismemberment of the empire, Pahang's status changed from a provincial state (Tanah Pegangan) to a fiefdom (Tanah Kurnia), thus the reigning bendahara assumed the title raja bendahara. It was not until 1853, when Pahang, under the rule of his father, formally declared independence.

Wan Ahmad was educated privately in his father's court. He was granted Kuantan and Endau as his fief by his father when he was very young. However, his control of these territories was opposed by his brother, after the latter's succession in 1857.

Civil war

The dispute over the territories of Kuantan and Endau prompted Wan Ahmad to oppose his brother. The tensions among the two brothers escalated into a bitter civil war, shortly after the death of their father in 1857. His elder brother, Tun Mutahir was supported by Johor to the south, and by the British Straits Settlements who were then opposing the Siamese Rattanakosin Kingdom. Wan Ahmad, 22 years old at that time, was helped by the Terengganu faction, a Malay sultanate to the north, and by the Siamese. Both sides, whose outside supporters had ulterior motives, engaged chiefly in raids and ambushes, with occasional battles near fortifications along the vast riverine system of Pahang. Siamese vessels sent to assist Wan Ahmad in 1862 were routed by British warships. The war ceased soon after Wan Ahmad's troops captured and established control over a number of important towns and regions in the interior, and eventually seized the capital, Pekan. Tun Mutahir retreated to Temai and in May 1863, he fled to Kuala Sedili, where he died with his son Wan Koris.

Ahmad owed his victory in the war partly to his outstanding ability as a field commander. He was formally installed as ruler by his chiefs with the title Bendahara Siwa Raja Tun Ahmad. Ahmad proclaimed amnesty to those chiefs and subjects who had aided his enemies. He also rewarded the wealthy businessmen who had rendered him financial assistance during the war by leasing to them the state's salt and opium monopolies.

The Sultan was appointed an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the November 1902 Birthday Honours list. [1] [2]

Reign

Sultan Ahmad Al-Mu`azzam Shah seated with Acting Resident of Pahang, Frederic Duberly, circa 1902. CO 1069-487-24 (7887943384).jpg
Sultan Ahmad Al-Muʽazzam Shah seated with Acting Resident of Pahang, Frederic Duberly, circa 1902.

During his reign, Pahangese politics came under the purview of the British government. Increasing pressure was exerted upon the sultan by the residing British Agent to administer the state according to the British ideals of "just rule" and modernisation. This had effectively plunged the state into discontent with clashes between traditional chiefs and the British. The British ultimately compelled Tun Wan Ahmad to make his state a British protectorate in 1888 and John Pickersgill Rodger was appointed as Pahang's first Resident.

The work of building up a state administration began with the creation of the Supreme Court, a police force and a State Council. In 1895, the sultan entered into a Treaty of Federation to form the Federated Malay States. Tun Wan Ahmad transferred his executive and administrative powers to his eldest son Tengku Long Mahmud, in 1909 due to old age, retaining his position and titles as head of state until his death in 1914.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johor Sultanate</span> Sultanate of Johor

The Johor Sultanate was founded by Sultan of Malacca Mahmud Shah's son, Alauddin Riayat Shah II in 1528.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bendahara</span> Head of the Malay nobility

Bendahara was an administrative position within classical Malay kingdoms comparable to a vizier before the intervention of European powers during the 19th century. A bendahara was appointed by a sultan and was a hereditary post. The bendahara and the sultan shared the same lineage.

Sultan Mahmud Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah ruled the Sultanate of Malacca from 1488 to 1511, and again as pretender to the throne from 1513 to 1528. He was son to Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah. As a monarch, he was known to be ruthless ruler. After the capture of Malacca and the downfall of the century long sultanate; Mahmud left for Bintan and became a leader of a small confederacy which led attacks against Portuguese-occupied Malacca in the late 1510s. After retaliation from the Portuguese in 1526, he fled to Riau and died there in 1528.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sultan of Pahang</span> Hereditary constitutional head of Pahang, Malaysia

Sultan of Pahang is the title of the hereditary constitutional head of Pahang, Malaysia. The current sultan is Al-Sultan Abdullah ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah. He is the Head of Islam in the state and the source of all titles, honours and dignities in the state. Historically, the title was also used by rulers of the Old Pahang Sultanate.

Dato' Bendahara Seri Maharaja Tun Habib Abdul Majid was the 19th Bendahara of the Johor Sultanate during the late 17th century. The Johor Sultanate under Sultan Mahmud Shah II saw a gradual decline of royal authority during Tun Habib's tenure as the Bendahara of Johor. Internal challenges within the Sultanate faced by Tun Habib consolidated his power as the Bendahara, in which case the Bendahara monopolised legitimate authority over the Johor Sultanate by the 1690s. After his death, Tun Habib's descendants spanned throughout the Johor Sultanate and established ruling houses in Riau-Lingga, Johor, Pahang and Terengganu.

Sri Paduka Dato' Bendahara Sri Maharaja Tun Muhammad Tahir ibni Almarhum Dato' Bendahara Sri Maharaja Tun Ali was the fifth Raja Bendahara of Pahang who ruled the state until his death in 1863 in the Pahang Civil War.

Sultan Muhammad Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Mansur Shah (1455–1475) was the founder of the old Pahang Sultanate and reigned from 1470 to 1475. A former heir apparent to the Malaccan throne, he was banished by his father Mansur Shah for committing murder, following an incident in a Sepak Raga game and went into exile in Pahang and was later installed as its first sultan in 1470.

Sultan Ahmad Shah I ibni Almarhum Sultan Mansur Shah was the second Sultan of Pahang from 1475 to 1495. He succeeded his younger brother, Muhammad Shah as sultan after the latter's death by poisoning in 1475. During his reign, relations between Pahang and its Malaccan overlord, deteriorated greatly, as a result of Sultan Ahmad's resentment towards his half-brother Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah of Malacca. Under Sultan Ahmad's rule, Pahang became increasingly unstable with Sultan Ahmad abdicating around 1495, in favour of his son, Raja Mansur.

Sultan Zainal Abidin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud Shah was the seventh Sultan of Pahang and reigned from 1540 to 1555. He succeeded his elder brother Sultan Muzaffar Shah on his death in 1540.

Paduka Sri Sultan ‘Abdu’l Jalil IV Ri’ayat Shah Zillu’llah fi al-’Alam bin Dato’ Bendahara Sri Maharaja Tun Habib Abdul Majid was the Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Johor and Pahang and their dependencies, who reigned from 1699 to 1718.

Mahmud Ri’ayat Shah Zilu’llah fil’Alam Khalifat ul-Muminin ibni al-Marhum Sultan ‘Abdu’l Jalil Shah was the 17th Sultan of Johor and Johor's dependencies who reigned from 1770 to 1811. Exercising little power over the sultanate where actual power was held under the Bugis court faction, the Tuhfat al-Nafis nevertheless mentions him as an able statesman who did what he could against insurmountable odds, while Abdullah Abdul Kadir attests to his good character.

Sri Paduka Dato' Bendahara Paduka Raja Tun Abdul Majid ibni Almarhum Dato' Bendahara Sri Maharaja Tun Abbas, (1718–1802) was the 21st Bendahara of the Johor Sultanate, who was believed by historians to be the first Raja Bendahara of the Pahang Kingdom that gained effective control over the principality, following the gradual dissolution of the Johor by the end of the 18th century.

Sri Paduka Dato' Bendahara Sri Maharaja Tun Muhammad ibni Almarhum Dato' Bendahara Paduka Raja Tun Abdul Majid was the 22nd Bendahara of the Johor Sultanate and also the second Raja Bendahara of the Pahang Kingdom, reigning from 1802 to 1803.

Sri Paduka Dato' Bendahara Paduka Raja Tun Koris ibni Almarhum Dato' Bendahara Paduka Raja Tun Abdul Majid was the 23rd Bendahara of the Johor Sultanate and the third Raja Bendahara of the Pahang Kingdom who reigning from 1803 to 1806.

Sri Paduka Dato' Bendahara Sri Maharaja Tun Ali ibni Almarhum Dato' Bendahara Paduka Raja Tun Koris was the 23rd and the last Bendahara of the Johor Sultanate, and the fourth Raja Bendahara of the Pahang Kingdom reigning from 1806 to 1857.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pahang Civil War</span> Conflict in Pahang, Malaysia

The Pahang Civil War, also known as the Brothers War or the Bendahara War was a civil war fought from 1857 to 1863, between forces loyal to the reigning Raja Bendahara Tun Mutahir, and forces loyal to his brother Tun Ahmad, over the succession to the throne of Pahang.

Sultan ʽAbdullah Al-Muʽtassim Billah Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Ahmad Al-Muʽazzam Shah was the third modern Sultan of Pahang reigning from 1917 to 1932.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pahang Sultanate</span> Old sultanate of Pahang, Malaysia

The Pahang Sultanate also referred as the Old Pahang Sultanate, as opposed to the modern Pahang Sultanate, was a Malay Muslim state established in the eastern Malay Peninsula in the 15th century. At the height of its influence, the sultanate was an important power in Southeast Asia and controlled the entire Pahang basin, bordering the Pattani Sultanate to the north and the Johor Sultanate to the south. To the west, its jurisdiction extended over parts of modern-day Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pahang Kingdom</span> Malay state from 1770 to 1881

The Pahang Kingdom was a Malay state that existed from 1770 to 1881, and is the immediate predecessor of the modern Malaysian state of Pahang. The kingdom came into existence with the consolidation of power by the Bendahara family in Pahang, following the gradual dismemberment of the Johor Empire. Self rule was established in Pahang in the late 18th century, with Tun Abdul Majid declared as the first raja bendahara. The area around Pahang formed a part of the hereditary domains attached to this title and administered directly by the raja bendahara. The weakening of the Johor Sultanate and the disputed succession to the throne was coupled by the increasing independence of the Bendahara in Pahang, the Temenggong in Johor and Singapore, and the Yamtuan Muda in Riau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bendahara dynasty</span> Malaysian dynasty

The Bendahara dynasty is the current ruling dynasty of Pahang, Terengganu and Johor – constituent states of Malaysia. The royal house were of noble origin, holding the hereditary position of bendahara in the courts of Singapura, Malacca and Old Johor since at least from the end of the 13th century.

References

  1. "Birthday Honours". The Times. No. 36921. London. 10 November 1902. p. 10.
  2. "No. 27493". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 November 1902. pp. 7161–7163.