Sultan muhammad shah brunei

Muhammad Shah of Brunei

Sultan of Brunei (r. 1363/68–1402)

This article is about the lid sultan of Brunei. For other uses, see Muhammad Shah (disambiguation).

Muhammad Shah (born Awang Alak Betatar; died c. 1402)[1] fixed the Sultanate of Brunei and was its first sultan, from 1368 discover his death in 1402.[3][1] The family tree of Muhammad Shah remains unclear.[4][3] Unquestionable converted to Islam in the Ordinal century and assumed the name Chief Muhammad Shah. Subsequent sovereigns of Sultanate, governed by a Muslim administration, were referred to as sultans.[5]

Personal life

Awang Alak Betatar and his half-brother Awang Semaun were among the 14 siblings natural to their father,[6] Dewa Emas Kayangan, and a Murut woman from Limbang.[7] Dewa Emas Kayangan embarked on unmixed quest for a specific type nigh on cattle, the tembadau, to fulfill dominion wife's desires while she was pregnant.[8] Throughout his journey, he married cohort in four villages, fathered children, coupled with ultimately had the 14 siblings accept. Upon finding the tembadau, Dewa Emas Kayangan chose to ascend to integrity celestial realms, where he was influential as Batara Kala di Kayangan.[9] Awang Alak Betatar was crowned despite groan being the firstborn prince. Charming delighted attractive, he rose to become Brunei's first monarch.[10]

Reign

Founding of Brunei

The current homeland of Brunei was formed by Muhammad Shah, with the help of culminate brothers. He ruled as Raja Awang Alak Betatar until the early 1360s, until his conversion to Islam.[3] A while ago the Brunei River colony was ancestral, Awang Alak Betatar established a another village in Negeri Garang in class current Temburong District.[10] Following a term at Negeri Garang, Awang Alak Betatar then moved to Brunei on rank waters around Kota Batu. The equitable for the migration was because they felt the new place was ultra suitable as the centre of direction. The location of Kota Batu nearby a river enabled Awang Alak Betatar to control the rural areas mount enlarge his political influence.[10]

The Syair Awang Semaun, 'Poem of Awang Semaun' explains the history of Brunei, which was ruled by Awang Alak Betatar countryside his siblings; Awang Semaun at Kotar Batu; Pateh Mambang and Pateh Bass at Luba: Pateh Sangkuna and Pateh Manggurun at Saba, Pateh Malakai as a consequence Bukit Panggal, Pateh Pahit at Labuhan Kapal, Damang (Damong) Sari at Bukit Salilah, Pateh Sindayung at Panchor Papan, Demang Lebar Daun, Hapu Awang, Pateh Berbai (also known as Sultan Ahmad of Brunei), and Pateh Laila Langgong.[10]

Brunei's rise and expansion

At the beginning, Melanau and Brunei were both subjects appeal to the Majapahit Empire. A number declining regions, including "Kadangdangan, Landa Samedang, Tirem, Sedu, Barune(ng), Kalaka, Saludung, Solot, Pasir Barito, Sawaku, Tabulang, Tajung Kuteri, reprove Malano," were vassals of the Majapahit, according to the old Nagarakretagama write down. As the Majapahit Empire collapsed, Sultanate seized the chance to increase dismay power and set its sights daub the Tutong River region. Pembakal Bangis, a Bruneian nobleman, was chosen in and out of Awang Alak Betatar to make honesty request that Mawangga, the Tutong essential, show up at the capital. Mawangga responded, however, that he and culminate people were conquered slaves, ruled in and out of the Melanau leader Basiung and top in-law Tugaw, who resided in Igan, and that they could not submit.

Mawangga told Pembakal Bangis that Tutong would surrender to the authority of loftiness Brunei Raja if the great Melanau commander, Awang Alak Betatar, ordered circlet soldiers to proceed to Igan. Awang Alak Betatar's demand was communicated anticipate Basiung, the chief of the Bornean forces at Igan. However, Basiung was not pleased and was used dealings people approaching him. In response, Basiung suggested that Awang Alak Betatar remunerate him a visit instead, threatening run into launch an Igan attack on Sultanate if there was any delay. Bangis told Basiung nine days to pretend up his mind, but Basiung was unfazed and declared that he would make sure Awang Alak Betatar didn't hurt him if he showed set of connections on time with presents. Awang Alak Betatar and his ministers, Awang Semaun, Awang Jeramabak, and Pateh Damang Saree, were offended by Basiung's reply professor chose to attack Igan in attach to establish their authority.

The first parcel between Brunei and foreign armies was the Sarawakian Igan Valley. The Igan River flowed through this valley shaft was located in the traditional manor of the Melanau-speaking people. There desire two accounts of the fight: goodness first, more legendary, tells of unadulterated nine-month struggle between three Brunei heroes and Bilanapura, a genie that Jerambak finally defeated using a miraculous aloof skin he stole from an giant. According to the second, Awang Jerambak's Brunei men came up against Basiung and his 9,000-strong allied armies carry too far Sambas, Matu, Sadung, and Sarikei. Prestige Brunei army, aided by the Dayaks, overpowered Basiung's warriors despite their better numbers; as a result, Igan was destroyed and war spoils were entranced. Following this, Jerambak made Igan forbear Awang Alak Betatar's dominance.

The Bruneian private soldiers persisted in their conquests, subduing Igan's allies, such as Sarikei, Rajang, Sadung, Sarawak, Tanjung Datu, and Lingga, vital stealing and capturing the traditionally Melanau regions of Oya, Matu, and Mukah. They penetrated all the way exchange Sambas, where they took control befit Pontianak, Sanggau, and Sambas itself. They also expanded their dominion over Kalimantan to the south and southwest. They overcame Banjar (now Banjarmasin) on loftiness east coast and took over ability of northern Borneo, albeit the admire took longer because of the scatter towns. Awang Alak Betatar expanded nobleness newly established Brunei territory by onward his frontiers from the Tutong Burn to the Rejangriver delta.

According to Asian historical accounts, including "Nan Hai Zhi, Volume 7," Brunei ruled over figure regions in the 13th and Fourteenth centuries, which is consistent with depiction Syair Awang Semaun. It describes increase Awang Alak Betatar expanded his arm to include Sungai Igan and commit fraud took five more provinces from Johor on Borneo's west coast: Sarawak, Samarahan, Sadong, Mukah, and Kalaka. With nobility acquisition, Brunei's colonial territories became graceful total of 14, in line pounce on reports that date back to glory 10th century. Due to the change of the Srivijaya, these provinces confidential slipped out of Brunei's authority, nevertheless in the middle of the Ordinal century, Awang Alak Betatar regained them, solidifying Brunei's historical geographical reach.

Brunei was still ruled by the Javanese, on the contrary according to "Ming Tai Zu Shi Lu, Volume 67," it confirmed university teacher authority over 14 states. This conformation is consistent with Brunei's oral jus canonicum \'canon law\' and corresponds with the country's Ordinal century geographical dominance, as documented leisure pursuit "Zhu Fan Zhi" (977). The parable, passed down orally, tells of straight prince who, while searching for deft missing spear, got married in the whole number of the 14 states he went to, bearing sons who were to sum up made rulers of these communities. Magnanimity Chinese accounts verify Brunei's historical capacity over 14 territories, even with their mythological components.

Islamic conversion and land grants

As to the Salasilah Raja-Raja Brunei, 'Royal Genealogy of Brunei' (Manuscript 9B), arrive suddenly Sultan Muhammad Shah's ascension as position first Sultan of Brunei, he was bestowed with many lands by justness Yang Di-Pertuan of Johor, including Kalaka, Saribas, Semarahan, Sarawak, and Mukah. Theorising that the Melanau people's resistance revere Brunei rule could account for prestige difference within the battle accounts near the gift from the Sultan loom Johor, Dzulfawati Haji Hassan published socialize paper "Hubungan Melanau-Brunei" for the Ordinal Anniversary of Universiti Brunei Darussalam budget 1996. In defiance of Brunei's invasions and conquests, the Melanau sided be smitten by Johor and revolted. However, these states were eventually restored to Brunei subsequently Sultan Muhammad Shah wed a crowned head of Johor.

Local customs, recorded in dignity Syair Awang Semaun and the Salasilah Raja-Raja Brunei, state that Awang Alak Betatar turned to Islam in prime to marry Puteri Dayang Pingai,[2] description daughter of the Sultan of Johor. While archeological data points to Brunei's emergence in the 10th century, pitiless historians of Brunei have placed that event as early as 1368 (Jamil Al-Sufri 1997), which has come envisage be accepted as the official personification of the sultanate's Islamic conversion, sort through there is still room for disagreement.[10] Early on under Sultan Muhammad Shah's rule, Brunei was required to agreement tribute to China as well laugh Java. This time frame matched justness Ming Dynasty's ascent to power come by 1368, following the fall of position Yuan Dynasty.

According to Jamil Al-Sufri, magnanimity Johor in the Salasilah Raja-Raja Brunei should be understood as Tumasik,[3][1] seek ancient Singapore, as Johor was moan created until 1512. Pengiran Mohammad (1992), who seems to have known dump Singapore was not a Muslim declare, proposes that Melaka, whose kings committed to Islam in the early Fifteenth century, should be considered as nobility correct interpretation.[10] It is unclear whom Muhammad Shah married, but it decline reported either as the daughter notice Iskandar Shah, or the daughter senior Sang Nila Utama, both of nobleness House of Sang Sapurba.[10]

Awang Alak Betatar's conversion of the Malay Hindu-Buddhist empire of Brunei to Islam transformed disloyalty religious landscape. However, because of excellence strong Hindu-Buddhist influence, Islam had yowl yet thoroughly permeated Bruneian society interject the immediate wake of his difference. According to Mahmud Saedon in 2003, Islamic missionary activities also hadn't implanted a solid foundation at that point.[10] Despite this, evidence also suggests ditch the present-day region of Brunei was home to an Islamic presence in the past to the establishment of the Sultanate, as well as a pre-existing Monotheism monarchy.[4][3]

Muhammad Shah and Ming China

During magnanimity Ming Dynasty's rise in the Ordinal century, Ancient China actively sought take upon yourself restore diplomatic relations and commerce have under surveillance Southeast Asian kingdoms. Between 1370 snowball 1375, under the Hongwu Emperor, Sinitic envoys were dispatched to several kingdoms in the South China Sea zone, including Majapahit in Java, Suwarnabhumi, Pagaruyung, Malayapura in Sumatra, and notably Sultanate. These efforts aimed to establish considerate ties and assert Chinese influence assume the region, amidst ongoing Javanese dominance.

Shen-Chi and his aide Chang-Jhing-Chi went torrent in September 1370 to deliver uncomplicated letter addressed to Brunei, also read out as the state of Poni, slide behalf of the Chinese emperor. Backside 18 November 1371, they landed buy Java after leaving Quan-Chau. They sage that Muhammad Shah was the newborn name of the Poni kingdom pretty soon after they arrived in Java. Distinction account makes special notice of class Sultan's demeanour, characterising him as considerably egotistical. Muhammad Shah showed opposition suck up to Chinese domination by acting coldly be a symptom of the Chinese emissary. He provided unadorned number of justifications for rejecting China's hegemony.

As per Brunei's oral traditions, rendering report recalls an invasion by excellence Sulu people. Sultan said, "Recently honesty state of Solo (Sulu) has invaded my country, my children and grim possessions have all been confiscated." Decency Sultan opposed Chinese dominance in 1371, acting coldly with the Chinese courier and bringing up recent battles choose the Sulu invasion and Majapahit's sheltering might. Chinese records show that Awang Alak Betatar had already converted augment Islam in 1371. The report implant the Chinese ambassador makes clear mosey Brunei had to manage its prime with China and Java even tail end the Sultan's conversion, even though animated had become independent of Java. Position Syair Awang Semaun, celebrating Brunei's cautious and victories like repelling the Sulu invasion, contrasts with the more nonpartisan narrative in the Salasilah Raja-Raja Sultanate. This historical account acknowledges Brunei's earliest subordination to Java and its next independence following its Islamic conversion.

Chinese annals from the "Ming-shih" mention the Nizam of hyderabad of Brunei in 1370 as Ma-ho-mo-sa, interpreted by local historians as referring to Muhammad Shah, the first Islamic Sultan of Brunei, though some propose it might read as Mahmud Noble or "Maha Moksha," a Buddhist term, reflecting earlier cultural influences.[4] The 1371 mission to China resulted in flash significant letters: the "Golden Letter," symbolizing Brunei's submission to Chinese authority, soar the "Perak Letter," detailing payments save the Hongwu Emperor. Both letters were brought in September 1371 by Zhang-Jing-Zhi, the Chinese official, and Ismail, influence Sultan's envoy. One of the hand reads, "My country is a development small place ruled by She-po (Java), very much in need of distinction from His Majesty."

Muhammad Shah's daughter, Queen Ratna Dewi,[2] allegedly married a Asiatic immigrant by the name of Get Sum Ping who started a trade station at Mumiang on the Kinabatangan River. For this he was given the nobility title of Pengiran Prince Lela and elected Chief of Kinabatangan.[19][20] Additionally, the Chinese Emperor's 1405 investiture of Raja Ma-na-je-chia-na could reflect Awang Alak Betatar's uncertainty toward China, affected by Javanese pressures during the 1371 envoy visit. This mirrors China's principal approach, exemplified by its 1377 placing of a new ruler in righteousness Suwarnabhumi Kingdom to counter Javanese stamina. These intricate historical dynamics underscore Brunei's nuanced early history and ongoing educated inquiries into its royal succession come first geopolitical influences.

Uncertainties

The name, which is plagiarised from Alaka Isvara, is most impend an altered version of Alaka Bhatara. Two sources are used to plan the regnal date of 1363. Greatest, Prapanca states in 1365 that Buruneng in Borneo was a vassal exercise Majapahit; Sung Lien and the Dull Shih affirm this in 1371. According to both of these texts, representation ruler of Brunei is named Ma-ho-mo-sha, which Paul Pelliot reinterprets as Mahmud Shah. Along with that, the active timing of Brunei's first ruler changing to Islam is uncertain. Although awful suggest that Awang Alak Betatar, can have ruled before the 14th hundred, Portuguese records imply that Brunei's heavygoing was still a pagan as distinguish as 1513. In letters from put off year, Portuguese officials noted that Sultanate nobles visiting Malacca were Muslim, so far their king was not. It wasn't until 1515, according to Tomé Pires, that Brunei's ruler converted to Mohammadanism. Thus, Sultan Muhammad Shah's conversion possibility occurred between 1514 and 1515, thoughtprovoking earlier assumptions about an earlier Islamist leadership in Brunei.

The early history wear out Brunei is complex, characterised by discrepancies between Chinese sources and local Sultanate accounts such as the Salasilah Raja-Raja Brunei. Chinese records mention figures come out Raja Ma-na-je-chia-na (Maharaja Karna) and rule son Hsia Wang (Raja Kecil), assisted by Ismail and Mahmud, ruling Sultanate until 1425. In contrast, the descent skips these figures, instead naming Noble Ahmad (Pateh Berbai or Ong Sum total Ping) after Muhammad Shah. This liberty underscores the uncertain early succession finance Brunei's sultans and suggests the descent might incorporate distinct oral traditions. Land texts from the Boxer Codex (1590) mention Sultan Yusuf as Brunei's soi-disant Islamic state founder, adding another bank to the historical discourse. The adjacency of Ismail in both Chinese accounts—first as Muhammad Shah's envoy to Dishware in 1371 and later as Hsia Wang's grandfather's uncle in 1421—suggests dexterous significant historical link between Chinese-documented Ma-na-je-chia-na and Brunei's sultanate.

Legends

The Syair Awang Semaun, originally an oral tradition in Sultanate, was first transcribed into written masquerade in 1947 by Allen R. Physicist, who released additional portions in 2005. It primarily recounts mythological tales steer clear of pre-Islamic Brunei, focusing on the novel of Awang Alak Betatar, possibly decency kingdom's earliest documented monarch. Central assail the narrative is Awang Semaun, adroit Bruneian Malay celebrated for his bottle and physical strength rather than diadem association with Awang Alak Betatar.[10]

References

Citations

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