Kiram Family
Upon the death of the allegedly poisoned Sultan, the son of the second wife became Sultan. His name was Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Kiram II, who enjoyed a long reign from 1884‐1936.
It was during his reign that America took control of the Philippines. American forces battle‐hardened by annihilating the American Indians eventually conquered Sulu, declaring that the Sultan no longer held sovereign power but did retain spiritual authority.
Sultan Muhammad jamalul Kiram
(The Last Recognised Sultan Of Sulu died in 1936)
Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Kiram II married at least ten wives in an effort to sire an heir. However, no wife became pregnant. When his youngest wife had a love affair with Hadjirul, one of the Sultan’s bodyguard, Instead of killing her and the bodyguard, the Sultan took mercy on them and merely sent them into exile to Pangutaran, instead of executing them. In exile, this young wife became pregnant by Hadjirul. The exiled wife and the bodyguard claimed their love child should be Sultan; but no one believed their claims that Julaspi should be crowned. Julaspi died in Maharlika Village, Taguig, in 1998, and had two sons who claim to be Sultan… Rodinhod and Kudar, who obviously have no claim to the throne.
Childless, Jamalul Kiram II died in 1936, during the American occupation. His full brother, the Rajah Muda Mawallil Wasit, the second son of wife Pangiyan Jamila, ascended to the throne.
Four days, after the death of the elder brother, he was crowned by the Ruma Bechara, (Royal Council). Shocking everyone, this new Sultan was believed poisoned six months later, died, and was buried in Maimbung. By the time of his poisoning, Mawallil Wasit was already an old man, since her elder brother had ruled for 52 years. Mawallil Wasit did have three wives. His first wife, named Albiya, bore one child, a daughter named Sitti mariam. His second wife, Ambuh Inang, bore one child, Esmail Kiram I. his third wife, Napsa, gave birth to three children, but only one son, named Punjungan. The daughters were Sitti Radda, the eldest child, and Putli Jahara.
Entranced by her beauty, Mawallil Wasit had abducted Napsa from Simunul Island in Tawi‐Tawi. Some claim that she was already pregnant by a man to whom she had been married for only one week at the time of her abduction, and use this to argue against the legitimacy of Punjungan. Upon the death of Mawallil Wasit, the Sultanate entered a period of competition to see who would become Sultan. Also, shortly after his death, World War II began, with a Japanese occupation of Sulu. With the invaders, the Sultanate began to lose firm control over its destiny.
Rajamuda Datu Mawallil Wasit
THE STRUGGLE TO THE THRONE
After the death of Sultan Mawallil Wasit, Dayang Dayang Piandao, a niece of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II and daughter of Sultan Badaruddin II, seated as temporary ruler “sandah”. She asked her subjects to proclaim her husband Datu Ombra Amilbangsa as Sultan Amirul Umara II in January 1937 knowing the issue of proclamationthat obviously displayed a sort of self‐interest on the part of Dayang Dayang Piandao, the Datus of Patikul, whose mothers were descendants of Sultan Shakirullah build their own “Temporal Branch” and selected Princess Andrada, daughter of Datu Tambuyung as their “sandah. She thereby too asked her subjects to select her father Datu Tambuyung and named Sultan Muhammad Jainal Abirin II. His lineage was from Sultan Sakirullah,the brother of Sultan Alimudin III, and the father of Sultan Jamalul Kiram I. His lineage was traced same as Sultans Badaruddin II, Jamalul Kiram II, and Mawallil Wasit, all belonging to the fifth generation. Furthermore, the succession issue in the house of Shakirullah is more acceptable since Sultan Muhammad Jaimal Abirin has the rightful connection as far as leadership is concerned, which is a clear ground prioritation, as compared to Sultan Ombra Amilbangsa who came from Tawi‐Tawi. With this kind of scenario, the struggle to the throne existed, Even though no shedding of blood occur, the issue remain a threat to both sides.
Sultan Ombra Amilbangsa/Sultan Amirul Umara-II
During the Japanese time, Sultan Ombra Amilbangsa becomes an ally of the Japanese troops. This has become a strong driving force that later on proclaimed him as a recognized Sultan of Sulu. Aside from this, he was also proclaimed as governor of Sulu. And upon the success of American liberation in the Philippines against the Japanese troops, Ombra Amilbangasa ran for the office as a Congressman and won. He died due to old age. On the other hand, Sultan Jainal Abirin remained an anti‐colonizer. In opposite to Sultan Ombra Amilbangsa, he deliberately fought with the American troops of Gen. Pershing at the Battle of Bud Bagsak, again with the Japanese troops thus gaining the misinterpreted connotation of being a “rebel” instead of being a “Time Freedom Fighter” until his death due to old age in 1950.
DAYANG DAYANG HADJI PIANDAO ‐is the Daughter of Sultan Badaruddin and his wife Amina. She grew up to be a powerful lady with a very strong influence in governmental affairs and was the power behind the throne during the reigned of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II.
Dayang-Dayang Hajah Piandao
In 1939 Dayang Dayang Hadji Piandao filed a civil case at the Court of First Instance in Jolo, Sulu, for and in behalf of the heirs in the “Deed of Partitions” and recorded in the court the rightful heirs/claimants. Same suit followed in the High Court of the State of North Borneo with Judge Macaskie presiding. The Court ruled in favor of the heirs and they are entitled payment under the 1876 Lease Agreement. Shares as agreed were as follows:
- Dayang Dayang Hadji Piandao Kiram 3/8
- Princess Tarhata Kiram 3/16
- Princess Sakinur in 3/16
- Mora Napsa 1/24
- Ismail Kiram 1/24
- Punjungan Kiram 1/24
- Sitti Mariam Kiram 1/24
- Sitti Radda Kiram 1/24
- Sitti Jahara Kiram 1/24
When Sultan Muhammad Jainal Abirin died in 1950, the Rajah Muda was Esmail Kiram. Thus the Sultanate passes on to the Rajah Muda, the first son of the second wife, Ambuh Inang. This son Esmail was proclaimed, as Sultan Esmail Kiram I in Jolo in 1950.
Sultan Esmail Kiram-I
It was this Sultan who in 1962 ceded the territory of North Borneo to the Republic of the Philippines during the time of President Diosdado Macapagal. During his long reign, the Rajah Muda or Crown Prince, was Datu Punjungan, who was the son of the third wife, Napsa.
In 1974, Sultan Esmail Kiram I died in Jolo. By this time, blazing warfare between Moro and Filipino soldiers was raging in Sulu. In addition, the secret plan of the Philippines to invade North Borneo had ended in the Jabidah Massacre of 1968, and there was suspicion and uncertainty everywhere in the region. Because President Ferdinand Marcos had declared Martial Law I 1972, Crown Prince Datu Punjungan had already fled to North Borneo and dared not return to claim the Sultanate.
Sultan Punjungan Kiram
Thus, emissaries from President Marcos traveled to Jolo to identify and select a new Sultan. They ask Abraham Rasul, the husband of Santanina Rasul, who should be the next Sultan, in as much as they could not find Datu Punjungan. At the order of President Marcos, a selection committee was formed. This group chose Muhammad Mahakutta Kiram as sultan in 1974. They chose him because he was the first so of the second wife; and since they were unable to find Datu Punjungan, Datu Mahakuttah became Sultan, though not in accordance to standard rules. It was well known that the Crown Prince was alive, thus no new Sultan should have been crowned. This intervention by Manila has had exactly the effect which the Government of the Republic of the Philippines sought, which was to divide and control the people of Sulu. To this day, the competing claims to being Sultan stem from the interference by Manila.
Sultan Muhammad Mahakuttah Kiram
Sultan Mahakuttah was brought to Manila, where he was well financed by President Marcos, lived in the Aurelio Hotel in Mabini, and received a large allowance. He played a large role in recommending to President Marcos who could bring in barter trade goods, with approval by the Southern command officer in charge. While living in Manila, Sultan Mahakuttah fell prey to all vices. Finally, he married Mercy, a Christian woman in Pampanga. In 1976, Sultan Mahakuttah began to lose favor with President Marcos because the “Magic Eight” commanders of the Moro National Liberation front had surrendered to Marcos. They began to get funding, not Sultan Mahakuttah.
When martial law ended in 1980, Crown Prince Punjungan returned to North Borneo to Jolo. The Ruma Bechara, along with all the Datus and the leaders of the different municipalities of Jolo, gathered in Jolo to proclaim Datu Punjungan as the rightful Sultan. At that time, they also proclaimed Datu Jamalul Kiram III as Rajah Mudah. Sultan Mahakuttah was present at the gathering in Jolo and willingly renounced the Sultancy in favor of his uncle, Sultan Punjungan.
Sultan Punjungan reigned from 1980‐1983, and died a natural death in Zamboanga City. Buried in Maimbung, Sulu, the ancestral capital of the Royal Sultanate. Before he died, he wrote a Will of Testament, that all rights of administrative over all his interests shares and participation in all the properties of the Sultanate of Sulu, including its proprietary rights and interests over Sabah, formerly known as British North Borneo, are conferred to his son Datu Esmail
Dalus Kiram.
Upon Sultan Punjungan’s death, Crown Prince Datu Jamalul Kiram III was proclaimed Sultan by the council of Datus Simultaneously, Datu Esmail Kiram was proclaimed Rajah Muda, or Crown Prince.
Sultan Jamalul Kiram-III
Even before becoming Crown Prince or Sultan, Jamalul Kiram III had taken up residence in Manila and married a Christian woman named Celia, as his second wife. Under the doctrine of “Astanah ha Lupah Sug,” which requires the Sultan to reside in Jolo, the people expected Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to move back to Jolo. However, he never did. After leaving Jolo in the late 1970s, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III never re‐established a residence in Jolo. In fact, when his own son from his first wife, Caroline Tulawie, died in Jolo, he returned briefly but stayed with his brother, Rajah Muda Datu Esmail Kiram. Over a period of twenty years, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III returned to Jolo only once or twice per year for brief visits.
During his visit to Jolo when his son died, the Ruma Bechara advised Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to step down in favor of Rajah Muda Datu Esmail Kiram. It was subsequently agreed that Sultan Jamalul kiram III could retain the title of Sultan, but that Rajah Muda Esmail Kiram would be Sultan in fact in Sulu and North Borneo. It was agreed that if Sultan Jamalul Kiram III decided to return to Jolo, he would be reinstated as Sultan, a process familiar to the Sultanate because of events surrounding the Sultana Azim ud‐Din I or Sultan Aliuddin I, in the 1750s. This Sultan was kept in Manila by the Spanish for many years, and during his absence aother man became Sultan. But when Alimuddin I was able to return to Jolo, he was reinstated as Sultan.
A written agreement concerning the stepping aside of Jamalul Kiram III was promised in the Jolo meeting. It has yet to be delivered.
Esmail Kiram II was crowned in Jolo in 2001 after he was found to be in compliance with all the rules of succession. His younger brother, Agbimuddin, became Crown Prince
Sultan Esmail Dalus Kiram-II
In 2005, Fuad Kiram was proclaimed in Maharlika Village as Sultan of Sulu. Though a fine man, he does not meet the traditional requirements. First, he was never proclaimed as Rajah Muda. When Fuad’s elder brother, Mahakuttah, became Sultan the person who was named Rajah Muda was Muedzul‐Lail Kiram. Second, Fuad is not a resident of Sulu, but lives in Angono, Rizal. Third, his mother is not of royal blood lines. Fourth, the coronation of Mahakuttah was proclaimed not by the Ruma Bechara but by the government of Ferdinand Marcos.
Sultan Muhammad Fuad Abdulla Kiram-I
Recently on 2004, Rajamuda Datu Muedzul‐Lail Kiram has made claims to be rightful Sultan. He is ascended his father's throne Sultan Muhammad Mahakuttah Kiram on 1974. during that time, he has proclaimed as the Rajamuda/Crown Prince of Sulu by his father but his age factor has deficiencies in his claim. nowadays, he attempt to made claimants as the rightful heirs to be a sultan of sulu.
On the last 2009, he has made a unification and agreement known as Kiram-Aranan with HRH Datu Muhammidul Ali Aranan, the Head of the royal house of Maharaja Adinda Aranan at his official Astanah in Sanraymundo, Jolo. with the agreement they signed has made his claims more powerful but on 2011, the agreement had problems which the head of the royal house, HRH Datu Muhammidul Ali Aranan urgently pulled out with the reason that the royal family of Aranan withdrew the unification between Kiram-Aranan to respect the other legitimate royal family of kiram and need to avoid the worst dispute between kiram family.
The Letter Agrement of Unification Kiram-Aranan signed at
the official house of Rajamuda Muedzullail Kiram in Sanraymundo, Jolo
