List of sultans of Sulu

Sultans of Sulu سلطان سولو
Details
First monarch	Rajah and Sharif ul-Hāshim
Last monarch	Mohammed Mahakuttah Kiram (appointed monarch)
Formation	1390
Abolition	1915
Residence	Datu Sangahan, Sulu
Pretender(s)	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 of the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines.

House history

A genealogy released by the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines at the height of the 2013 Lahad Datu standoff.

The political sovereignty of the Sultanate was dissolved in 1915. However non-political sovereign powers, such as the right to confer titles, as well as cultural, proprietary and religious authority remain. The descendants of the royal family are still regarded, recognised and honoured as de facto royalty by the people in Sulu and many others.

The last sultan officially recognised by the Philippine government was Sultan Mohammed Mahakuttah A. Kiram, who reigned from 1974 to 1986.

The current ruling Royal House of Sulu is the Royal House of Kiram. Currently the heir to the throne of the Sultanate is Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram the eldest son of Sultan Mohammed Mahakuttah A. Kiram.

Pre-Sultanate Kings

Sulu was divided into three Kingdoms before the Sultanate arose.

	King	Details
1	East King Paduka Pahala (Paduka Batara)  ?–1417
1	Cave (Dong) King Paduka Patulapok  ?–
1	West King Maharaja Kamalud Din (Mahalachii)  ?–

The descendants of Paduka Pahala through his two sons live in Dezhou in China have the surnames An and Wen.

The Hashemite Sharif ul-Hāshim of Sulu arrived in Sulu and married Princess Dayang-dayang Paramisuli from the previous royal family, founding the Sulu Sultanate.

Past Hashemite Sultans

List of Sultans from 1450 to 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, which translates from Arabic roughly as "The Master His Majesty, Protector and Sultan, Noble of the Banu Hashim Clan". The Sultan 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 genealogies 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 Batarah Shah Tengah 1596–1608	The son of Sultan Muhammad ul-Halim. "Batarah" 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 Bongsu with his royal blood belongs to the Brunei royal blood. 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. Moved Sulu Royal court to Dungun, Tawi-Tawi after the Capture of Jolo by the Spaniards in 1638.
10	Sultan Nasir ud-Din II 1645–1648	Either Sultan Muwallil Wasit's Son who ruled following his father's defeat at the hands of the Spaniards at Jolo, or believed to be the Sultan Qudarat Who became Sultan by virtue of his marriage to the previous Sultan's Daughter. After which, The throne reverted to Wasit once again after a certain 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.
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 favour 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 is 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 royal Families then known as "The Sulu Sultanate First Heir-Apparents Families". 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 8 June, 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. His families then known as "The Sulu Sultanate Second Heir-Apparent" (The Maharajah Adinda Families). The Second line heirs to the Sulu Sultanate throne after the terms of the First Heir-Apparents lines.
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 power until 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 in 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 (cousin to Brunei Sultan Nasiruddin whose niece-Mohandun's husband was Brunei's Maharaja Anddin. Muwalil Wasit was the son of Alimud-Din III. The current ruling Royal House of Sulu, Royal House of the 1752 three Sultans descended the present Royalties of Sulu, and falling upon the kirams who first filed the claim over North Borneo-Sabah.
28	Sultan Moh. Pulalun Kiram 1844–1862	The son of Jamalul-Kiram I whose cousin the Maharaja Adinda (son of Mohandun) in 1859 was made Crown Prince of Sultan Pulalun due to the latter being childless).
29	Sultan Jamal ul-Azam 1862–1881	The proxy of Moh. Pulalun Kiram. On 22 January 1878, he signed a treaty under which the territory of the eastern part of northern Borneo was ceded to an Austro-Hungarian consul Baron von Overbeck.
30	Sultan Badarud-Din II 1881–1884	The great-grandson of the 1417 Paduka Batara, Sulu Eastern King who had died in Denzou-China, 19 year old old Sultan Badaruddin 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 1881 till duress in abdicating in 1884 for Jamalul-Kiram-II in coming forth to have succeeded. Jamalul Kiram-II, a younger brother of Badarud-Din II, had already been proclaimed as Sultan of Sulu. While Sultan Harun Ar-Rashid became apparent that he no longer served any purpose to Spanish officials, Harun Ar-Rashid was persuaded to abdicate in 1884. This was an apparent admission on the part of Spanish authorities that Jamalul-Kiram-II 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 Shakirul-Lah, but without any success. Aliud-Din was forced to flee to Basilan. It was Harun Ar-Rashid who tried to mediate between Jamalul-Kiram and Aliud-Din, until the Spaniards thought it expedient to have Harun Ar-Rashid himself proclaimed Sultan. 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. In 1915, Jamalul-Kiram II virtually surrendered his political powers to the United States government under the 1915 Carpenter Agreement. Jamalul-Kiram II died on 7 June 1936, without leaving any son nor heir although he had seven daughters in which woman cannot be appointed as heir or successor according to Islamic law.

List of Sultans from 1936 to 1950

After the death of Sultan Jamalul-Kiram II 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 World War II, Japanese and American forces exerted influence in the Sultanates affairs, each recognising a pretender supportive of their agenda.

	Sultan	Details
1	Sultan Bomid-Din I 1936–1973	The second younger brother of Sultan Badarud-Din II and Sultan Jamalul-Kiram II. He was proclaimed Sultan of Sulu by the direct votes of the people during a Ruma Bichara held in Parang, Sulu on 11 April 1936, while Sultan Jamalul-Kiram II was dying, but was not widely acknowledged. He was based in Parang, but was eclipsed by his rivals during World War II. His claim was rejected by the Philippine government in 1962 in favour of Sultan Esmail E. Kiram I.
2	Muwallil Wasit II 1936	He was the younger brother of Sultan Badarud-Din II and Sultan Jamalul-Kiram II and Raja Muda (crown prince) of the Sultanate. He was lawfully elected by the Ruma Bichara, 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 Sessions Court of North Borneo's so-called McKaskie court ruling in 1939, identifying his heirs as the rulers of the territory of North Borneo. Mohammed Esmail Kiram was the eldest son of Muwallil Wasit II and recognised successor of the Sultan of Sulu
3	Amirul Umara I 1937–1950	Recognised as Sultan of Sulu by the Japanese Government, he was the husband of Dayang Dayang Piandao, who was the daughter of Sultan Badarud-Din II and after whose death she was adopted by Sultan Jamalul-Kiram II. After death of Sultan Jamalul-Kiram II, on 16 August 1937 the Sessions Court of North Borneo granted her administration and inheritance rights over the property and credits of Sultan Jamalul-Kiram II, deceased. Amirul Umara I ruled from Maimbung but after the defeat of Japan and the death of Dayang Dayang Piandao without an heir, he stepped down.
4	Jainal Abirin 1937–1950	Born as Datu Tambuyong, he was a great-great-grandson of Sultan Shakirul-Lah and was supported by the American Forces. He ruled from Patikul but stepped down in 1950.

List of Sultans from 1950 to 1986

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

	Sultan	Details
1	Sultan Mohammed Esmail Kiram I 1950–1974	He was the eldest son of Raja Muda Muwallil Wasit II and the legally recognised successor of the Sultan of Sulu. Sultan Mohammed Esmail Kiram granted authority to the Philippine government under the administrations of President Diosdado Macapagal on 12 September 1962 and of President Ferdinand Marcos in 1972, under which documents the Philippine government again officially "recognised" the continued existence of the Sulu Sultanate and the office of Sultan of Sulu. His eldest son, Datu Moh. Mahakuttah A. Kiram, was his Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Sulu.
2	Sultan Mohammed Mahakuttah Abdullah Kiram 1974–1986	He was the eldest son of Sultan Moh. Esmail E. Kiram I and the heir apparent to the throne. He was the last Sultan of Sulu officially recognised by the Ruma Bichara and by the Philippine government. In Memorandum Order 427 (1974), then-Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos declared that Mahakuttah A. Kiram was the legitimate heir and that the government was obligated to support his coronation as Sultan of Sulu, which took place on 24 May 1974. At the same time, Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, the eldest son being 8 years old, was crowned beside his father as Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Sulu.

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 federal 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 federal government as their predecessors had until 1986. However, the Philippine federal government decided to deal with one or more of these so-called Sultan claimants regarding issues concerning the Sultanates affairs.

	Sultan	Details
1	Mohammed Punjungan Kiram 1980–1983	Younger brother of Sultan Esmail E. Kiram I. On 11 October 1939, the Sessions Court of North Borneo granted him administration rights over the property and credits of his father Raja Muda Muwallil Wasit II, deceased. Punjungan was the Crown Prince under Sultan Esmail E. Kiram I, on the condition that he transfer his rights of succession to the son of the Sultan when he is of legal age. (This condition was rarely used, as the law of succession would be complicated by other previous generations to also do the same backwards succession, which is not prescribed by the law of succession. The Primogeniture law of succession only ascribes to the male heir successor, and since Punjungan Kiram was the youngest brother of Sultan Esmail E. Kiram I, the hierarchy would go down to his oldest son Jamalul Kiram III and his legitimate Raja Muda.) Instead of resigning from his position as Raja Muda, Punjungan exiled himself in Malaysia and later returned to contest the reign of his nephew Mahakuttah A. Kiram, who had lawfully replaced him as Crown Prince. Mahakuttah A. Kiram was politically acknowledged by President Ferdinand Marcos as Sultan, based on Mahakuttah A Kiram being Crown Prince and Abraham Rasul recommendation. He was known as the father of Jamalul Kiram III and Esmail Kiram II.
2	Aguimuddin Abirin 1983	From the family of Jainal Abirin, he claimed the title for a short time.
3	Jamal ul-Kiram III 1983–1990 2012–2013	Eldest son of Punjungan Kiram, elder brother of Esmail Kiram II. He was the so-called "Interim Sultan of Sulu" from 1974–1981 during the absence of his father in Sabah (but not recognised by the Philippine government) In 1986, he pro-claimed himself as the Sultan of Sulu and later retired, replaced by Mohammad Akijal Atti in 1990. He was in violation of the Sultanate law of succession by leaving Sulu for Manila to enter politics. A decade-long dispute on the succession rights within this family ended on 11 November 2012 when claimants met together and Jamalul Kiram III once again proclaimed the sultan title alongside his brother Esmail Kiram II. He also declared Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram as heir apparent and organised the intrusion over the eastern part of Sabah in February 2013 which turned into a violent standoff until he been labelled as a "terrorist" by both the Malaysian and Sabah state governments when his followers mutilate Malaysian security personnel bodies and their intention to taking Sabahan residents as a hostage. Kiram III died on 20 October 2013.
4	Mohammad Akijal Atti 1990–1999	Succeeded Jamalul Kiram III in 1990 as regent, and was succeeded by Jamalul Kiram's brother Esmail Kiram II in 1999.
5	Esmail Kiram II 1999–2015	Second son of Punjungan Kiram and younger brother of Jamalul Kiram III. Due to different regional spellings, as can be found on government and newspaper sites, his name appears as Esmail, Esmael, Ismail or Ismael. He pro-claimed himself as "Reigning Sultan" by the elders of Sulu in 2001 as his older brother, Jamalul Kiram III, left Sulu and went to Manila and enter showbizz and politics. The November 2012 agreement allowed Jamalul Kiram III to once again be proclaimed Sultan alongside Esmail Kiram II, and their brother Agbimuddin Kiram was confirmed as Raja Muda (heir apparent) to both. Sultan Esmail Kiram II stated that he recognised Jamalul Kiram III as the legitimate leader of the "Sabah Homecoming of Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram" as agreed by the family, because he was the oldest brother and because the arrangement was permitted due to the illness of Jamalul Kiram as a tribute by his younger brother Sultan Esmail Kiram II. Jamalul Kiram III styled himself as "Sultan Proper" (being former and abdicated Sultan) while organising the "Sabah Homecoming of Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram" in February 2013 which turned into a violent standoff. The unpopular effect of allowing his older brother and former Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to handle the issue that lead to a standoff created some negative criticism to them. Abdulah Kiram was his son and possible heir, but his brother Agbimuddin Kiram was confirmed as Raja Muda (heir apparent) in 2012, led the Sabah standoff in 2013 and died on 13 January 2015 while still in hiding. Sultan Esmail Kiram II died on 19 September 2015.

The Current Claimant as Sultan

Although the Coronation of Sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram on 16 September 2012 was not formally recognised by the Philippine federal government, however he was the last recognised Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Sulu since 1974 and has since been recognised by Local Authorities, Foreign Royal Houses and the people of the region as the rightful legitimate heir and Sultan of Sulu.

	Sultan	Details
1	Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram 1974–2012 as Raja Muda 2012–present as Sultan	Is the eldest son of Sultan Mohammed Mahakuttah Abdullah Kiram the last official recognised Sultan of Sulu by the Philippine government and he is the last Raja Muda (Crown Prince) recognised by the Philippine government. He is the legitimate heir to the Sultanate and Head of the Royal House of Sulu. In 2004 Raja Muda Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, who had been the Chief Justice of the Royal Court under Sultan Esmail Kiram II, appointed his uncle Datu Mohammed Fuad Abdullah Kiram as 'Sultan of Sabah', but continued to be acknowledged as the head of the Royal House of Sulu. However, in 2006 Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram revoked this appointment after he found out that Fuad Abdullah Kiram was styling himself as 'Sultan of Sulu and Sabah'. Fuad Abdullah Kiram continues to claim this title. Sultan Esmail Kiram II also excommunicated Fuad Abdullah Kiram, claiming that the latter abandoned his third wife Farida. Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram later crowned himself as Sultan in a coronation event on the island of Jolo on 16 September 2012.

External links

• Philippine Provincial Government of Sulu - The Official list of Sultans
• Philippine National Historical Institute - Coronation of the current Sultan