Raja Bendahara

Raja Bendahara (Jawi: راج بنداهارا) is a Malay title of monarch ruler in Pahang Kingdom that existed from 1770 to 1881. The title is a combination of the Sanskrit word Raja ('king') and 'Bendahara' ('grand vizier'). The successive Bendaharas of Johor Empire were ruling Pahang as a fief from the late 17th century. By the end of 18th century, the Bendahara emerged as an absolute ruler over the fief, carrying the title 'Raja',[1] following the decentralisation of Sultan's power and the dismemberment of the empire.[2]

Origin

In classical Malay kingdoms, a Bendahara was the most important and highest administrative position in royal court, serving as the chief of all ministers. As a royal adviser, a Bendahara was appointed by the Raja and dismissible only by the Raja himself. The position is hereditary and candidates were selected from the male descendants of the Bendahara family.

The ascendancy of a Bendahara into a royalty began in the late 17th century, when the last ruler of Johor from Melaka dynasty, Mahmud Shah II died without a male heir. Tun Abdul Jalil, the Bendahara of Johor, became the next Sultan of Johor, assuming the title Abdul Jalil Shah IV. During his reign, the eastern state of Pahang was established as a special province of the Bendahara family and ruled directly by the successive Bendaharas of the empire. A self-rule was established during the reign of Tun Abdul Majid when the state's status was changed from a tanah pegangan (a fief) to tanah kurnia ('granted land'),[3] thus the ruling Bendahara acquired the title Raja ('king') in Pahang, also known as Raja Bendahara'.[4]

List of Raja Bendahara of Pahang
Name Jawi Name Reignal title Reign
Tun Abdul Majid تون عبد المجيد Sri Paduka Dato' Bendahara Paduka Raja 1770-1802
Tun Muhammad تون محمد Sri Paduka Dato' Bendahara Sri Maharaja 1802-1803
Tun Koris تون قرظ Sri Paduka Dato’ Bendahara Paduka Raja 1803-1806
Tun Ali تون علي Sri Paduka Dato’ Bendahara Sewa Raja 1806-1847
Tun Mutahir تون محمد طاهر Sri Paduka Dato’ Bendahara Sri Maharaja 1847-1863
Tun Ahmad تون أحمد Sri Paduka Dato’ Bendahara Sewa Raja 1863-1881


References
  1. Linehan 1973, pp. 51-52
  2. Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid 2011, p. 82
  3. (Tun) Suzana (Tun) Othman 2002, p. 75
  4. Linehan 1973, pp. 51-52

Bibliography
  • Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid (2011), The Encyclopedia of Malaysia, 16 - The Rulers of Malaysia, Editions Didier Millet, ISBN 978-981-3018-54-9
  • Linehan, William (1973), History of Pahang, Malaysian Branch Of The Royal Asiatic Society, Kuala Lumpur, ISBN 978-0710-101-37-2
  • (Tun) Suzana (Tun) Othman (2002), Institusi Bendahara: Permata Melayu yang Hilang: Dinasti Bendahara Johor-Pahang (The Bendahara Institution: The Lost Malay Jewel: The Dynasty of Bendahara of Johor-Pahang), Pustaka BSM Enterprise, ISBN 983-40566-6-4
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