One of the earliest events in the reign of Alimud Din I was his rati-
fication of the treaty of 1737. The sultan was represented in Manila
by Datu Mohammed Ismael and Datu Ja'far, who signed the document.
The treaty was drawn in January, 1737, by Governor-General Fernando
Vald^s y Tamon and contained five articles.
The first article declared the determination of both parties to preserve
permanent peace between the two states, all differences or grievances to
be settled amicably, and hostilities between subjects or vassals to be
strictly prohibited and punished; the second provided for alliance and
mutual aid against any foreign foe. European nations were, however,
excluded from the provisions of this article; the third provided for free
trade between the two states, restricted by the use of passports to be
issued by superior authority; the fourth provided that each state should
be held responsible for all infractions of the peace committed by its
subjects and should be bound to punish the same and make proper amends
to the proper party ; the fifth provided for the exchange of captives and
return of all church images and ornaments in the possession of the Sulus.
To all appearances Alimud Din I was a man of peace and a reformer,
lie kept his part of the treaty faithfully and piracy was actually sup-
pressed during the whole period in which he held the reins of government.
He revised the Sulu code of laws and system of justice. He caused
to be translated into Sulu parts of the Quran and several Arabic texts
on law and religion. He strongly urged the people to observe faithfully
their religion and the ordained five daily prayers. He even went so
far as to prescribe punishment for failure to observe this rule. He
wanted all pandita to learn Arabic and prepared Arabic-Sulu vocabularies
as a preliminary step to making the Arabic the official language of
the state. He coined money, organized a small army, and tried to
establish a navy. His name is foremost in the memory of the Sulus,
partly because of his able administration and partly on account of the
fact that he is the grandfather of all the present principal datus of the
Sulus.
In September, 1746, a special commission from Manila carried to
Alimud Din a letter written by King Philip V in 1744, requesting the
admission of Jesuit missionaries to Jolo with permission to preach the
Christian religion to the Sulus. The sultan entertained the commission
very hospitahly and gave in their honor a royal reception and a review
of the troops. A council was held in which the sultan conferred with
the leading datus of Sulu and granted the request of King Philip V.
He further authorized the building of a church and recommended the
erection of a fort at some convenient locality for the safe protection of
the missionaries. In return for this favor he requested that the Spanish
Government give him, as an aid in building a navy, the sum of ^6,000,
12 piculs ^ of gunpowder, 12 piculs of nails, and 1 picul of steel. This,
he represented, was needed to enable him to suppress piracy and to
check the depredations of his enemies in Borneo. This request the
Spanish Government granted, and Jesuit missionaries entered Jolo,
translated the catechism into Sulu, and distributed it freely among the
people.
The liberties exercised by the Jesuits in their endeavor to proselyte
the Sulus and the strong friendship the sultan manifested toward them
created great dissatisfaction among the people, and an. opposition party
was formed, under the leadership of Prince Bantilan, for the purpose of
expelling the missionaries and deposing Alimud Din. Bantilan was the
son of Sultan Shahabud Din and had as much right to the sultanate of
Sulu as any son of Sultan Badarud Din. After the death of the latter
the sultanate should have reverted to the line of Shahabud Din; but it
happens very often that the sons of the last sultan are either older than
those of the former or meet with more favor and are, as a rule, supported
by the majority of the council of datus; thus the regular order of
descent changes in favor of the stronger person. Probably Bantilan was
preceded by both Nasarud Din and Alimud Din for some such reason
as the above. This he resented at heart, but suppressed his resentment
until this favorable opportunity offered itself. He then headed the
opposition to the sultan and the missionaries and won the majority of
the datus and panditas to his side. Hostilities soon increased and civil
war was imminent. In an effort to avssassinate the sultan, Bantilan thrust
a spear at Alimud Din and inflicted a severe wound in his side or thigh.
During the disturbances and confusion which followed it became danger-
ous for the missionaries to remain at Jolo. One of the ministers of
the sultan provided them with a salisipan in which they escaped without
harm and withdrew to Zamboanga. This occurred late in 1748. Over-
powered, disheartened, and grieved, Alimud Din left Jolo with his family
and numerous escort and came to Zamboanga, seeking the aid of Spain
against Bantilan. The latter proclaimed himself sultan with the title
of Mu'izzud Din,2 strengthened the defenses of his capital, and waged war on all the datus who had supported Alimud Din. His power soon
became supreme, and he reigned with a strong hand.
At Zamboanga Alimud Din is said to have given the officers many pres-
ents and offered the Governor Zachariaa 40 male Papuan slaves, who were
well dressed. Zacharias, unreasonably prejudiced and distrustful, sus-
pected some ill design and refused the present. Xot receiving sufficient
attention and consideration at Zamboanga, Alimud Din asked leave to
go to Manila. This granted, he sailed and arrived at Cavite January
2, 1749. At Manila "he was received with all the pomp and honor due
to a prince of high rank. A house for his entertainment and his retinue
of seventy persons was prepared in Binondo. A public entrance was
arranged which took place some fifteen days after he reached the city.
Triumphal arches were erected across the streets, which were lined with
more than 2,000 native militia under arms. The sultan was publicly
received in the hall of the Audiencia, where the governor promised to
lay his case before the King of Spain. The sultan was showered with
presents, which included chains of gold, fine garments, precious gems,
and gold canes, while the Government sustained the expense of his
household." *
Following this reception, steps were taken for his conversion. His
spiritual advisers cited to him the example of the Emperor Constantine
whose conversion enabled him to effect triumphant conquests over his
enemies. Under these representations Alimud Din expressed his desire
for baptism. The governor-general, who at this time was a priest, the
bishop of Nueva Segovia, was very anxious that the rite should take
place; but this was opposed by his spiritual superior, the archbishop of
Manila, who, with some others, entertained doubts as to the sincerity of
the Sultan's profession.
"In order to accomplish his baptism, the governor sent him to his own
diocese, where at Paniki, on the 29th of April, 1750, the ceremony took
place with great solemnity. On the return of the party to Manila, the
sultan was received with great pomp, and in his honor were held games,
theatrical representations, fireworks, and bull fights. This was the high-
water mark of the sultan's popularity.^
At his baptism the sultan received the name of Ferdinand, and Span-
ish authors often referred to him as "Don Fernando de Alimud Din I,
Catholic Sultan of Jolo." It is further stated that two datus and five
of his principal followers were baptized. The crown prince, Raja Muda
Mohammed Israel and his sister Fatimah attended school in Manila and
learned Spanish manners and customs.
A year and a half passed and no action was taken by the authorities
to restore Alimud Din. In the meantime Bantilan's fleets were busy
ravaging and pillaging the Bisayas. In July, 1750, a new governor, the
marquis of Obando (Francisco Jose de Obando) arrived in Manila.
After some deliberation he resolved to reinstate Alimud Din and punish
Bantilan and his pirates.^ Accordingly, on May 19, 1751, the sultan
and his retinue were sent on board the Spanish frigate San Fernando
and were convoyed by a squadron composed of seven war vessels under
the command of Field Marshal Ramon de Abad. Falling in with bad
weather off the shore of Mindoro, the San Fernando was disabled and
made for Kalapan. The squadron, however, continued its voyage un-
interrupted to Jolo, arriving there on the 26th of June. After some
desultory fighting, Abad arrived at an understanding with the Sulus
and arranged for Datu Asin to come to Zamboanga with sufficient boats
to escort the sultan back to Jolo.
The sultan in the meantime stopped at Iloilo where he changed
boats. Meeting with contrary winds he was carried off his course to
Dapitan, and from there he set sail again for Zamboanga, which he
reached on July 12.
Before Ferdinand I left Manila, he had addressed a letter to the sultan of
Mindanao, at the instance of the Spanish Governor-General. The original was
written by Ferdinand I in Moro; a version in Spanish was dictated by him,
and both were signed by him. These documents reached the governor of Zam-
boanga, but he had the original in Moro retranslatetl and found that it did
not at all agree with the sultan's Spanish rendering. The translation of the
Moro text runs thus:
"I shall be glad to know that the Sultan Mohammed Amirud Din and all
his chiefs, male and female, are well. I do not write a lengthy letter, as I
intended, because I simply wish to give you to understand, in case the sultan or
his chiefs and others should feel aggrieved at my writing this letter in this man-
ner, that I do so under pressure, being under foreign dominion, and I am compelled
to obey whatever they tell me to do, and I have to say what they tell me to
say. Thus the governor has ordered me to write to you in our style and
language; therefore, do not understand that I am writing you on my own behalf,
but because I am ordered to do so, and I have nothing more to add. Written
in the year 1164 in the month Rabi*-ul Akir. Ferdinand I, King of Sulu,
who seals with his own seal."
This letter was pronounced treasonable. Impressed with, or feigning this idea,
Governor Zacharias srfw real or imaginary indications of a design on the part of
the sultan to throw off the foreign yoke at the first opportunity.'
After the landing of Datu Asin and his followers at Zamboanga, the
governor found out by his spies that they had many arms and quantities
of ammunition in their boats which lay in the roadstead opposite the
town and fort. Suspicious and distrustful from the beginning, Za-
charias interpreted these facts as positive proof of an intention on the
part of the sultan and Datu Asin treacherously 'to attack the town when
an opportunity offered itself. He then at once confiscated part of the
arms, ordered the boats to leave the port, imprisoned the sultan and Datu
Asin and all their retinue, and communicated his suspicions and the action
taken to Manila. Among the prisoners were the sons and daughtere
of the sultan, several datus and dignitaries and pandiias, and many male
and female followers and seiTants. In all 217 persons entered the
prisons of the fort, most of whom were later transferred to Manila and
confined in Fort Santiago.
Zacharias's interpretation of the action of the sultan and Datu Asin
was simply absurd and his beliavior reflected considerable discredit on
his ability as an officer and administrator. It was further most regret-
table that his views were accepted as true by higher authority in Manila
where no clemency or redress was extended to the unfortunate sultan
and datus.
By a degree of the Governor-General, the following accusations were
set forth against the sultan and Datu Asin, viz :
1. That Prince Asin had not surrendered captives; 2. That whilst the sultan
was in Manila, new captives were made by the party who expelled him from the
throne; 3. That the number of arms brought to Zamboanga by Sulu chiefs
was excessive; 4. That the letter to Sultan Mohammed Aminid Din insinuated
help wanted against the Spaniards; 5. That several Mohammedan, but no Chris-
tian books, were found in the sultan's baggage; 6. That during the journey
to Zamboanga he had refused to pray in Christian form ; 7. That he had only
attended mass twice; 8. That he had celebrated Mohammedan rites, sacrific-
ing a goat, and had given evidence in a hundred ways of being a Mohammedan;
9. That his conversation generally denoted a want of attachment to the Span-
iards, and a contempt for their treatment of him in Manila,* and, 10. That he
still cohabited with his concubines.
The greatest stress was laid on the recovery of the captive Christians, and
the governor added, that although the mission of the fleet was to restore the
sultan to the throne (which, by the way, he does not appear to have attempted),
the principal object was the rescue of Christian slaves. lie therefore proposed
that the liberty of the imprisoned nobles and chiefs should be bartered at the
rate of 500 Christian slaves for each one of the chiefs and nobles, and the
balance of the captives for Prince Asin and the clergy.i
It is not therefore surprising to hear of the extraordinarily revengeful
activity which the Sulus exhibited during the period of humiliation to
which their sultan and nobles were subjected in Manila.
Bantilan was a man of strong personality, a warrior, and a leader. The
expeditions which he organized against his enemies were unusually strong
and left havoc everywhere. The towns he pillaged and the captives he
carried away alarmed the Spanish Government to a high degree. A high
council of war was convened in Manila in 1752, which declared for an
unmerciful campaign and a war of extermination to be conducted with
the utmost conceivable cruelty. Volunteers and Bisayan corsairs were
called to aid the regular troops. Unlimited authority was granted them
to annihilate the foe, bum his villages, destroy his crops, and desolate
his lands. The corsairs were exempted from all taxes. They were
allowed to keep or sell all female captives and all males under 13 and
over 30 years of age. Old men and crippled persons were to be killed.
Male captives between 12 and 30 years of age were to be turned in to
the government; the captors to receive in compensation from 1P4 to ^6
per man. Nursing children were ordered to be baptized. At first the
corsairs were required to turn in to the government one-fifth of all
valuables looted, but this was soon afterwards revoked and all corsairs
who equipped themselves retained all their booty.
As part of the general campaign, Field Marshal Abad made another
attack on Jolo with a force amounting to 1,900 men. The fleet can-
nonaded the forts for seventy-two continuous hours. A division of the
troops landed and engaged the Sulus, but after suffering considerable
loss retreated disastrously.
The raids of the Spaniards and Bisayans helped to increase the vigil-
ance of the Sulus and excited them to extreme cruelty and an abnormal
degree of revenge.^
The year 1753 is stated to have been the bloodiest in the history of Moro
piracy. No part of the Bisayas escaped ravaging in this year, while the
Camarines, Batangas, and Albay suffered equally with the rest. The conduct
of the pirates was more than ordinarily cruel. Priests were slain, towns wholly
destroyed, and thousands of captives carried south into Moro slavery. The
condition of the Islands at the end of this year was probably the most deplorable
in their history.*
In the meantime Prince Asin died of grief in his prison.
Early in 1753 Alimud Din petitioned the governor to allow Princess
Fatimah to go to Jolo for the purpose of arranging a peace with Bantilan.
This request was granted on condition that she deliver 50 slaves to the
Spanish Government on her arrival at Jolo. This she complied with
faithfully, adding one Spanish captive to the 50 Christian slaves wanted.
Her mission was apparently successful and she returned to Manila with
Datu Mohammed Ismael and Datu Maharaja-Layla, a commission sent
by Bantilan. They brought a letter from Bantilan, which was trans-
mitted to the governor by Alimud Din together with a draft of a treaty
for the restoration of peace between Spain and Sulu. Bantilan expressed
deep regret for Alimud Din and the existing condition of hostility and
gave strong assurance of his desire for the return of the sultan and the
reestablishment of peace with Spain.
The governor acceded to the petition of the sultan and sent a letter
to Bantilan with the commission, requesting that all hostilities stop for
the period of one year pending the consideration and completion of the
new treaty. In 1754 Governor Arandia assumed command and approved
of the proposed treaty. To expedite matters he sent the commanding
officer of the southern forces to find out what had been done by Bantilan
toward the fulfilment of the conditions agreed upon. Bantilan met the
commanding officer in a most friendly manner and discussed the questions
frankly and ably. He explained in clear and impressive manner the
principal causes of hostility and strongly blamed the governor of Zam-
boanga for his unjust imprisonment of the sultan and Datu Asin and his
unbearable treatment of the messengers and representatives of the Sulu
authorities. He declared his wish and true desire for peace and delivered
to the commanding officer 68 Cliristian captives and two Spanish sloops.
The officer was strongly impressed with the integrity of Bantilan and
with the honesty of his intentions, and gave to the governor a very
favorable report of both Alimud Din and Bantilan. He assured him that
the sultan was not a traitor at all, but a man of good intentions, who was
simply unable to carry out some of his plans and promises because of the
determined resistance of many of the principal datus.
A general council was held in Manila early in 1755, in which it was
resolved to set the sultan free and retuni him to Jolo if the Sulu
authorities carried out the terms of the following conditions:
1. That all captives within the sultanate of Sulu be delivered within
one year.
2. That all valuable property and ornaments looted from the churches
be returned within one year.
General Zacharias who had attended the council set out from Manila
in September to take charge of the government of Mindanao. He brought
back to Jolo 6 princes, 5 princesses, 20 women, and 130 men of the
sultan's retinue. He had letters from Alimud Din and the Governor-
General to Bantilan and was authorized to conduct the preliminaries
of a peace treaty. Other ambassadors who accompanied Zacharias were
empowered to ratify the same. The ships arrived at Jolo on October
4, and the ambassadors were well received by Bantilan. The latter
agreed to all the conditions imposed in as far as it was in his power to
carry them out. But he stated that many captives were bought from
Mindanao chiefs and were owned by datus on Basilan and other inacces-
sible places, who were unwilling to give them up unless they were justly
compensated. He added that many such datus were in alliance with
datus in Mindanao and were planning to attack Zamboanga, and that
the time was very inopportune for him to force them to deliver all
captives.
The terms were actually impossible of execution and the endeavor to
make the treaty and ratify it proved fniitless.
Alimud Din remained in prison until 1763, when the English, after
their conquest and occupation of Manila, reinstated him on the throne
of Sulu. During the period of his imprisonment he felt greatly humili-
ated, but lived as a Christian and with one wife only. At the death
of his wife, in 1755, he was allowed to marry a Sulu woman who had
been his concubine, but who had professed Christianity and was living
at the College of Santa Potenciana.
The Sulus received their former sultan with a good heart and Alimud
Din resumed his former authority as Sultan of Sulu. The people had
evidently acquired strong sympathy for him and Bantilan had either
undergone a change of heart or felt convinced that it was of no avail
to go against such strong popular sentiment and fight the English forces.
Withdrawing from Jolo he moved to Kuta Gubang near Parang, where,
a few years later, he died.
In return for the favors which he received from the English, Alimud
Din ceded to them that part of North Borneo lyiiig between Cape Inar-
stang and the River Frimanis with the adjacent Island of Balambangan
and the Island of Tulayan. Balambangan was soon after that occupied
and garrisoned by English forces.
In the later days of his reign, Alimud Din was addressed as Amirul
Mu'minin (The Prince of the Faithful) by which name he is better
known to the Sulus. Moro incursions increased at that time and the
Sulus became so daring as to invade the Bay of Manila in 1769, carry
away captives from the wharves of the city, and appear at the Plaza
del Palacio at retreat before they were repulsed or even detected. Be-
coming old and weak, Amirul Mu'minin abdicated the sultanate in favor
of his son Israel, in November, 1773.