The question of a successor to Sultan Badarud Din II proved to be
very vexatious, both to the Sulus and to the Spanish Government. At
that date the eligibles to the sultanate belonged to three houses — that of
J^ultan Jamalul Kiram I, the house of Sultan Shakirul Lah, and that
of Datu Putung, the son of Sultan Alimud Din I. These houses were
represented by the three candidates. Raja Muda Amirul Kiram, Datu
Aliyud Din, and Datu Hamn ar-Rashid.
Amirul Kiram was the oldest brother of the three sons of Sultan Ja-
malul A^am from Pangian Inchi Jamila. He was born on the 27th
of March, 1868, and was at one time the rival of Badarud Din II, his
older brother. The sultanate remained in the line of Jamalul Kiram
I for four consecutive generations and the majority of Sulus had come
to consider the sons of Jamalul A^lam as the direct heirs to the throne.
The influence of Pangian Inchi Jamila was a strong factor in itself and
tlie claims of Raja Muda Amirul Kiram were vigorously pressed upon
the council of state.
Datu Aliyud Din was the son of Datu Israel, the son of Sultan
Shakirul Lah. He urged that the descendants of Sultan Shakirul Lah
had an equal right to the sultanate with tjie descendants of Jamalul
Kiram I, and protested against the injustice of electing a minor in
preference to older and maturer members of the family.
Datu Harun ar-Rashid had no sultan in his line for five generations
and consequently did not press his claim to the succession. He was a
cousin of Pangian Inchi Jamila and a close friend of Jamalul A'lam. He
was the only living signer of the treaty of 1878, but since that date
he had removed to Palawan, where the Spanish Government intrusted
him with the rule of the Moro population of Palawan, Balabak, and
the neighboring southern islands, and where he liad rendered very
creditable service.
Datu Aliv^d Din and his party were so determined in their opposition
to Pangian Inchi Jamila and Eaja Muda Amirul Kiram that they would
not entertain any })roposals of compi'omise or attend the council of state
at Maymbung. The country was agitated and all datus and subordinate
chiefs took sides with one or the other of the two candidates. The major-
ity of datus and chiefs were in favor of Amirul Kiram. Datus Pula-pula,
Tvung, Marachak, Kall)i, and Julkarnayn, wlio were as a rule united,
and who wielded the strongest authority on the island next to that of
' the sultan, remained almost neutral, but at heart indorsed the claim of
Aliyud Din. In general the southera and greater half of the island
supported Amirul Kiram of Maymbung, while the northern half favored
Aliyud Din, who had in the meantime moved his residence to Patikul.
Governor Parrado offered his good oifices and tried to overcome the
difficulty by suggesting that Amirul Kiram be elc^*ted sultan, but that
Aliyud Din should act as regent during the minority of the former.
He went so far as to name a new and general council of state to meet
at Maymbung and decide the cjuestion. He submitted this proposition
to both parties threatening to leave them to their fate in case they did
not comply with his advice. The ^laymbimg party accepte<I the gov-
ernor's proposition, but the Patikml party did not; consecjuently Imth
candidates were proclaimed sultans, one at Patikul and one at Maymbung,
and both prepared to fight. Ambuscades, skirmishes, surprises, robberies,
and cattle stealing followed. Governor Parrado remained neutral until
July when he made friendly visits to Maymbung and Patikul and again
counseled concord and compromise. Datu Ilarun arrived in Sulu on
the 17th of November and both parties solicited his sup])ort and con-
sulted him: but he faileil to effect any agreement. A little later he
accompanied the governor of Sulu to Manila where he received much
attention because of the success that attended his s(»rvices at Palawan.
He remained in Manila about one month and returned to live at Matanda,
filled with a strong desire to better himself and his country. A year
passed and no agreement could be reached, nor did the S])anish Govern-
ment officially inognize any of the claimants. Amirul Kiram indulged
in licentiousness and Aliyud Din took to opium.
Governor Parrado during his administration completed the Cuartel
(le Espana and the market building and improved the forts Alfonso XII
and the Princess of Asturias. The majority of the nipa houses were
replaced by better structures of brick with iron roofs. A system of water-
works was put in and Jolo wa.s declared an open port. On July 23, 1885,
Parrado was succeed e<l by Col. Francisco Gastilla.
(lovernor Castilla followed the [)olicy of his predecessor and remained
neutral. Amirul Kiram had in the meantime nuissed a large force and
attacked Alij^d Din. The latter's party had weakened and only 800
remained to defend Patiknl and its hnia. The Maymhung forces greatly
outnumbered their adversaries, defeated tlieju, destroyed the kuta, and
burned the settlement. Datu Aliyud Din fled to Basilan and lived for
a while with Sharif Aqil. Raja Muda Amirul Kiram then requested
the Spanish Government to recognize his succession to the sultanate and
a commission was sent from Manila to investigate the matter and report
on it. After five months' service as governor of Sulu Colonel Castilla
asked to be relieved at the end of the year and Col. Juan Arolas
succeeded him in January, 1886.
Governor Arolas devoted himself to his work with unusual enthusiasm
and exemplaiy energy. Public works and sanitation received his best
attention. Trees were planted, the streets were improved, the gutters
and sewers were repaired and renewed, and the town was kept thoroughly
clean. The death list of the garrison was reduced from 102 in 1885
to 51 in 1886. A good road was constructed outside the wall and a
beautiful street was extended from the southern gate of the town to
Tulay and Asturias on both sides of which coconut and shade trees were
planted. The streets of Tulay were planned on the same scale as those
of the walled town, and fillings on a large scale were commenced for
this purpose. Excellent waterworks were completed and iron pipes were
laid throughout the walled town and Tulay for the use of the garrison
and the public.
As a result of the report of the commission appointed to investigate
Sulu affairs and tlie subject of succession to the sultanate, directions
were received from Madrid and Manila to the effect that Datu Harun
should be appointed subsultan and Amirul Kiram sultan, and that
both be requested to go to Manila, take the oath of fidelity to Spain,
and be invested with authority by the Governor-General. Datu Harun
had made himself very agreeable to Governors Parrado and Castilla and
a strong friendship had grown up between them. Arolas soon learned
to like Harun and trusted him. Amirul Kiram was then 18 years old
and his age probably suggested tlie necessity of having a regent who
would be competent to take charge of affairs and who would be favor-
able to the policy of the Spanish Government. The wish and opinion
of the Sulu nation and the desire of the ambitious sultana to be regent
herself were not fully respected and could not be approved, and the
dictates of the Spanish Government had to be complied with. Harun,
as might have been expected, obeyed the royal directions. Amirul Kiram
refused to go to Manila, considered it a humiliation for him to have
a regent and to be compelled to visit Manila for the approval of the
Spanish Government. He felt that he was the rightful heir and the
choice of the Sulus and that the treaty of 18T8 well guarded his rights
and granted the Sulus the full privilege of electing their chiefs. The
Sulu character asserted itself in his action and the nation stood by him
and counseled noncompliance to directions prejudicial to their own
rights and national honor.
