This is a list of sultans and later claimants of the former Sulu sultanate. The
Royal House of Sulu is a royal house of the
Sulu Archipelago in the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
. Historically the head of the
Sultanate of Sulu
The Sultanate of Sulu (Tausug language, Tausūg: ''Kasultanan sin Sūg'', كاسولتانن سين سوڬ; malay language, Malay: ''Kesultanan Sulu''; fil, Sultanato ng Sulu; Chavacano: ''Sultanato de Sulu/Joló''; ar, سلطنة سولك) ...
, the position of sultan today carries with it no political powers or privileges and is mostly a cultural figure.
There are currently several claimants to the sultanship after the death of the last recognized sultan, Mohammed Mahakuttah A. Kiram.
Pre-sultanate kings
Sulu was divided into three kingdoms before the sultanate arose.
The descendants of
Paduka Pahala
Paduka Pahala (died 1417) was East King of Sulu, most famous for being the first king from the area of the modern day Philippines to be buried in China. He ruled one of the three Kingdoms on Sulu during his time.
Journey to China and Demise of ...
, through his two sons, live in
Dezhou in China have the surnames An and Wen.
Sharif ul-Hāshim of Sulu
Sharif ul-Hashim (began reign 17 November 1405) was the regal name of Sharif Abubakar Abirin Al-Hashmi. He was an Arab arrived in Sulu and married the princess Dayang-dayang Paramisuli of the previous royal family, founding the Sulu sultanate.
List of sultans
List of sultans from 1405 to 1936
The following list details the holders of the title of
sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
between 1405 and 1936.
List of sultans from 1936 to 1950
By the early 20th century, the sultanate had already declined. Any claimed political sovereignty of the sultanate was formally abolished in 1915.
The descendants of the royal family are still recognised and honoured as ''
de facto
''De facto'' ( ; , "in fact") describes practices that exist in reality, whether or not they are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms. It is commonly used to refer to what happens in practice, in contrast with ''de jure'' ("by la ...
'' royalty by the people in Sulu and by others..
After the death of Sultan Jamalul-Kiram II in 1936, the Philippine Government, the successors in sovereignty to 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 the British Consul General in Manila. After that decision several legitimate claimants and pretenders to the throne of Sulu appeared. During World War II, Japanese and American forces exerted influence in sultanate's affairs, each recognising a pretender supportive of their agenda.
List of sultans from 1950 to 1986
![Sulusultanategenaolgy](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Sulusultanategenaolgy.jpg)
In 1962, the Philippine government under President
Diosdado Macapagal
Diosdado Pangan Macapagal Sr. (; September 28, 1910 – April 21, 1997) was a Filipino lawyer, poet and politician who served as the ninth president of the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965, and the sixth vice president, serving from 19 ...
officially recognised the continued existence of the Sulu sultanate and, on 24 May 1974, officially recognised Sultan Mohammad Mahakuttah Kiram (reigned 1974–1986), under Memo Order 427, which was issued by Philippine President
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. ( , , ; September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino politician, lawyer, dictator, and kleptocrat who was the 10th president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled under martial ...
, and which stated that "The Government has always recognised the Sultanate of Sulu as the legitimate claimant to the historical territories of the Republic of Philippines" and that Mahakuttah A. Kiram is officially recognised as the Sultan of Sulu with the government being obligated to support his coronation on that date, his 8-year-old eldest son, Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, being crowned beside his father as Raja Muda (Crown Prince). On 16 February 1986, Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, succeeded his father to become the head of the Sulu royal house. As the eldest son of the former Sultan Mahakuttah, he is the legitimate heir to the throne of the Sultanate of Sulu.
The following list details the holders of the title
Sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
between 1950 and 1986, who are officially recognised by the Philippine Government.
List of self-proclaimed sultans from 1980 to 2013, as recognised by the provincial government of Sulu
After the death of Sultan Mahakuttah A. Kiram, the Philippine national government has not formally recognised 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 at a time of political instability in the Philippines that led to
peaceful revolution and the subsequent removal of President Marcos. The gap in the sultanate leadership was filled by claimants from rival branches. Therefore, the following sultans were not crowned with the support of, nor received formal recognition from, the Philippine government as their predecessors had until 1986. However, the Philippine national government has participated in discussions with one or more of these claimants regarding issues concerning the sultanate's affairs.
The current claimants
These are the current claimants.
See also
*
List of current pretenders
*
Pretender
A pretender is someone who claims to be the rightful ruler of a country although not recognized as such by the current government. The term is often used to suggest that a claim is not legitimate.Curley Jr., Walter J. P. ''Monarchs-in-Waiting'' ...
*
Monarchy abolishment
The abolition of monarchy and anti-royalism is a legislative or revolutionary movement to abolish monarchical elements in government, usually hereditary.
Abolition of absolutist monarchy in favor of limited government under constitutional monarc ...
References
External links
Line of succession of the Sultans of Sulu of the Modern Era
{{Sultans of Sulu and claimants
Filipino datus, rajas and sultans