The Sultan of Kelantan (Malay: Sultan Kelantan, Jawi: سلطان كلنتن) is the constitutional head of Kelantan state in Malaysia. The executive power of the state is vested in him as the monarch of the state. The current sultan, Muhammad V, is the 29th Sultan of Kelantan. He is the Head of Islam in the state and the source of all titles, honours and dignities of its people. He was the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong or the monarch and head of state of Malaysia from 13 December 2016 to his abdication on 6 January 2019, after his election on 14 October 2016 at the 243rd (special) Conference of Rulers.
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History
Kelantan was historically a powerful state with trade links with early Chinese, Indian and Siamese civilisations. After being a tributary of the Majapahit and Srivijaya Empires in the 13th and 14th centuries, it fell under the power of Siam and then Malacca in the 15th century. Following the Portuguese conquest of Malacca in 1511, Kelantan dissolved into several petty fiefdoms. These were conquered again by the Siamese and made subject to neighbouring Pattani.
In 1760, the raja at Kubang Labu, variously identified by accounts as either Long Muhammad or Long Pandak, succeeded in reuniting the disparate territories under a single ruler. Four years later, he was overthrown by Long Yunus, an aristocratic warlord of Pattani origin, who seized the throne and proclaimed himself Raja of Kelantan. Following the death of Raja Yunus in 1795, control of the state passed to Terengganu. In 1800, Long Muhammad, son of Yunus, declared himself Sultan Muhammad I. He was eventually accepted by the Siamese as ruler of a separate tributary, in 1812.
In September 2010, Sultan Ismail Petra was constitutionally deposed by the State Succession Council in favour of his eldest son, Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra (the current sultan). The elder sultan had failed to sufficiently recover from a debilitating stroke he had suffered the previous May. This was followed by several months of litigation by lawyers acting on behalf of the former sultan.
Residences
Istana Negeri (State Palace), located at Kubang Kerian, a district of Kota Bharu, is the official residence of the current ruler, Sultan Muhammad V. In addition, a number of official ceremonies have been performed at this palace.
Istana Mahkota (Crown Palace), also at Kubang Kerian, is the official residence of Sultan Muhammad V's mother Raja Perempuan Tengku Anis.
Istana Balai Besar (Grand Hall Palace), located in the downtown area of Kota Bharu, was constructed in 1840 under the orders of Sultan Muhammad II (r. 1835–1886). It replaced the old palace at Kota Lama as the administrative centre of the sultanate, and also served as the residence of a number of sultans. Since its completion, the town where the palace is located was named Kota Bharu (meaning "new fort") and later became the state capital of Kelantan. It now serves as the main palace for state ceremonial functions.
Istana Telipot (Telipot Palace), located in Kota Bharu, served, until recently, as the official residence of the current sultan whilst he was heir-apparent.
Istana Bukit Tanah (Bukit Tanah Palace), located in Tumpat, It is understood that the palace was built before the Japanese rule of about 1910, during the reign of Sultan Ismail Ibni Almarhum Sultan Muhammad IV.
Istana Kota Lama (Old Fortress Palace), located on the banks of the Kelantan River, is the old palace of the modern sultanate, and served as the official residence of the sultans of the early 19th century. Its proximity to the river made it subject to flooding, and was replaced by the Istana Balai Besar in 1840, and subsequently renamed (Kota Lama means "old fortress"). However, it continues to be used as the official residence of the crown prince and Kelantan royal family.
Istana Jahar (Jahar Palace), located in downtown Kota Bharu, was built in 1887 by Sultan Ahmad (r. 1886–1890) for his son and heir-apparent, Sultan Muhammad III (r. 1890–1891). The name Jahar was taken from the tree that stands at the entrance, also known as "Flame of the Forest". It now houses the Museum of Royal Traditions and Ceremonies (Malay: Muzium Adat Istiadat Diraja).
Succession
The succession order of Kelantan sultanate is determined by agnatic primogeniture. No female may become ruler, and female line descendants are generally excluded from succession. According to Laws of the Constitution of Kelantan (in Malay language: Undang-undang Tubuh Perlembagaan Negeri Kelantan), the Sultan of Kelantan must be Malay, royal in blood, descendant of the Kelantan sultanate, male and a Muslim. The crown prince is also subjected to the same rule. The constitution states that the Sultan must come from the line of Sultan Ismail Petra, only if there are no longer eligible descendant of him, then the sultan should be chosen from the descendants of Sultan Yahya Petra and so on.
The order of the descendants, in descending order of degree of kinship : Sultan Ismail Petra, Sultan Yahya Petra, Sultan Ibrahim, Sultan Ismail, Sultan Muhammad IV.
Current order of succession
The current order of succession is as follow:
- previous Sultan
- current Sultan
List of dynasties and rulers
Sultans and Rajas of the Malay Kingdom of Langkasuka Dynasty
1267–1339: Raja Sang Tawal (Abdullah), Raja of Langkasuka, elder son of Raja Sakranta, Maharaja of Jawaka. Defeated by the Siamese in 1295 and fled from Ligor after losing Singgora, finally settling in Kelantan here he established a new capital
1339–1362: Sultan Mahmud Shah ibnu 'Abdu'llah, Raja of Langkasuka and Kelantan, son of Paduka Sri Sang Tawal
1362–1418: Sultan Baki Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Shah, Raja of Chermin, son of Sultan Mahmud ibnu Abdullah, Raja of Langkasuka and Kelantan
1418–1429: Sultan Sadik Muhammad Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Baki Shah [Maulana Nenggiri]
1429–1467: Sultan Iskandar Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Baki Shah
1467–1522: Sultan Mansur Shah I ibni al-Marhum Sultan Iskandar Shah
1522–1526: Sultan Gombak Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Mansur Shah
1526–1547: Sultan Ahmad Shah son of Raja Muda Mansur Shah II son of al-Marhum Sultan Gombak Shah. Succeeded on the death of his grandfather
1547–1561: Sultan Mansur Shah III ibni al-Marhum Sultan Ahmad Shah
1561–1565: Sultan Ibrahim Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Mansur Shah III (first time)
1565–1570: Raja Umar bin Raja Ahmad bin Raja Muhammad ibni Sultan Gombak Shah, Raja Muhammad bith in of (Terengganu)
1570–1579: Paduka Sri Sultan Ibrahim Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Mansur Shah III (second time)
Sultans and Rajas from Jembal Dynasty
1579–1597: Sultan Addil ud-din ibni al-Marhum Nik Jamal ud-din (1 time)
1597–1602: Sultan Muhammad ibni al-Marhum Sultan Ibrahim
1602–1605: Sultan Addil ud-din ibni al-Marhum Nik Jamal ud-din (2 time), Raja of Kelantan
1605–1616: Sultan Samir ud-din ibni al-Marhum Nik Jamal ud-din, Raja of Kelantan, son of Nik Jamal ud-din bin Wan Abul Muzaffar, Deputy King of Champa
1616–1637: Sultan 'Abdu'l Kadir ibni al-Marhum Sultan Samir ud-din
1637–1649: Raja Sakti I ibni al-Marhum Sultan 'Abdu'l Kadir, Raja of Kelantan-Utara (Jembal) and Patani
1649–1663: Raja Loyor bin Raja Sakti I
1663–1667: Interregnum or queen Puteri Saadong
1667–1671: Ratu Sa'adong I binti Raja Loyor, Putri Wijayamala, Raja of Jembal
1671–1676: Sultan Abdul Rahim ibni al-Marhum Sultan Samir ud-din Bahar
1675–1721: Sultan Omar Ibni Al-Marhum Raja Sakti I
Sultans and Rajas of Patani Dynasty
1721–1734: Raja Long Bahar bin Dato' Pengkalan Tua Wan Daim, son of a Bugis adventurer who arrived and settled in Patani around 1640. Styled Laksamana and Tuan Long Besar before his accession. Succeeded his father-in-law, as Regent 1715. Became Raja of Patani soon afterwards, but was expelled by Raja Bendang Badan in 1716. Succeeded on the death of his grand father-in-law, as Raja of Kelantan-Utara (Jembal), before 22 October 1721. Assumed the title of Sultan. He married his first wife, Raja Mas Kelantan of Patani (d. 1707), daughter of Raja Bakar of Patani. His second marriage was to Pah binti Raja Sakti, daughter of Raja Sakti II of Kelantan. His daughter is Sri Biji di-Raja of Patani.
1734–1739; 1746–1756: Raja Long Sulaiman Bin Long Bahar, son of Long Bahar and his father's first wife Raja Mas Kelantan. Succeeded on the death of his father, 1734. Deposed by his cousin in 1739 and restored again in 1746 and lastly deposed by his son-in-law in 1756.
1739–1746: Interregnum during the First Kelantanese Civil War between Raja Long Pandak of the western faction and Raja Long Sulaiman of the eastern faction.
1756–1758: Raja Long Pandak bin Tuan Sulung Bin Dato' Pengkalan Tua Wan Daim. Succeeded as ruler of West Kelantan around 1717. Granted the title of Dato' Sri Maharaja by Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Syah of Johor on 1741. Later recognised as ruler of all Kelantan by his brother-in-law, Long Derahman, and installed at Fort Kubang Labu, 1756.
1758–1763: Raja Long Muhammad bin Tuan Sulung. Appointed heir apparent (Raja Muda) by his brother in 1756. Proclaimed as Raja of Kelantan by Long Derahman, at Fort Kubang Labu, before 1758. Expelled from Kubang Labu by Long Yunus before 1763.
1763–1795: Raja Long Yunus bin Raja Long Sulaiman. Expelled Long Muhammad and became Raja of Kelantan at Fort Kubang Labu, before 1763. Became Raja and Yang di-Pertuan of Kelantan, 1776 and installed as Yang di-Pertuan Muda of Kelantan by his father-in-law Sultan Mansur Shah I of Terengganu in 1793. Married his first wife before 1741, Jumat, Inche' Puan Balai Dua, daughter of Engku Tanang Wangsa of Trengganu. His second marriage around 1793 was to Inche' Encik Tuan Nawi, daughter of Sultan Mansur Riayat Shah I of Terengganu.