History Jambi Sultanate, The Islamic Malay Kingdom in Sumatra

Painting attack on Dutch East Indies ships at the palace of the Sultan of Jambi in 1858 - 1865. (Photo source: Wikipedia)

INDEPHEDIA.com - The Jambi Sultanate was an Islamic Malay kingdom that once stood in Jambi Province, Sumatra Island, Indonesia, with the capital city of Tanah Pilih (Select Land), now Jambi City.

Before becoming a sultanate, this kingdom was named Jambi Malay Kingdom which was founded by Datuk Paduko Berhalo and his wife, Putri Selaras Pinang Masak, in Jambi City, in 1460.

This kingdom officially became a sultanate in 1615 after the Prince of Kedah ascended the throne and used the title Sultan Abdul Kahar.

Prior to the existence of the kingdom/sultanate, the Jambi region was part of the Malay Kingdom and later became part of the occupied Sriwijaya region.

At the end of the 14th century AD, Jambi was a vassal of Majapahit. Javanese influence still permeated the Jambi Sultanate during the 17th and 18th centuries AD.

During the colonial period, the Tanah Pilih in Jambi City was destroyed by the Dutch. In this situation, Sultan Thaha withdrew to the interior of Jambi.

As a replacement for Sultan Thaha, the Jambi royal relatives chose Prince Panjang Arms to become sultan with the title Sultan Ahmad Nazaruddin.

At that time, Sultan Ahmad Nazaruddin, although he lived in Dusun Tengah (now Rambutan Masam Village, Muara Tembesi District), still controlled the capital city (Jambi City).

In 1903, Pangeran (Prince) Ratu Martaningrat, a descendant of Sultan Thaha, surrendered to the Dutch. Furthermore, the Jambi region became part of the Palembang Residency.

The Jambi Sultanate was officially dissolved by the Dutch East Indies government in 1906 with the last sultan being Sultan Thaha Syaifuddin. (*)