Maldives was turned into a Sultanate in 1153 when the Buddhist King Dhovemi converted to Islam. Prior to that the Maldives was a Buddhist Kingdom, a Hindu Kingdom and before that a matriarchal society with each atoll ruled by a chief queen according to some accounts or by others, several theocratic societies ruled by priests known as Sawamias of heliolatric, selenolatric and astrolatric religions. All the rulers before King Koimala only ruled over parts of the Maldives or Deeva Maari (and Dheeva Mahal) as it was known then. Koimala was the first king to rule over all the islands of the Maldives as we know today and the island of Maliku.
The formal title of the Sultan up to 1965 was, Sultan of Land and Sea, Lord of the twelve-thousand islands and Sultan of the Maldives which came with the style Highness. After independence in 1965 the Sultan assumed the title King with the style Majesty. This style was used until 1968, when the Maldives became a republic for the second time. The main official Royal residence of the Sultan was the Etherekoilu, a palace in Malé.
The reigns of Sultans are from three sources. Taarikh (also known as the Tarikh lslam Diba Mahal) by Maldivian chronicler Hasan Taj Al-Din (died in 1727) written in Arabic which covers 670 years of Maldives history, the loamaafaanu copper plates and the third source called Raadhavalhi which was written in 1757 using both Dhives Akuru and Thaana.
The 7 dynasties of Maldives
1. Theemugu dynasty
2. Umaru veeru dynasty
3. Hilai dynasty
4. Utheem dynasty
5. Isdhoo dynasty
6. Dhiyamili dynasty
7. Hura dynasty
The Mapanansa,[2] the copper plates on which the history of the Kings of Solar Dynasty was written were lost quite early on.
A 4th century notice written by Ammianus Marcellinus (362 CE) speaks of gifts sent to the Roman emperor Julian by a deputation from the nation of "Divi". The name "Divi" is very similar to "Dheyvi" who were the first settlers of Maldives.[2]
Srimati Damahara
mid-tenth cent.
mid-tenth cent.
She is also spelled as Damahaar.[3] Last ruler of the Solar Dynasty. It is unclear from the records how many other rulers ruled between the reigns of King Sri Srudasarunaditya and Queen Damahara. Married Prince Sri Baladitya from the Kalinga kingdom who later became the first king of the Lunar Dynasty. Al-Jawaliqi, writing in 1135 CE looking at earlier records,[4] describes a queen of Maldives named "Danhara" ruling on an island called "Abannba".[5]
Prince from Kalinga kingdom of India. Married Queen Damahara of the Solar dynasty to become the ruler of Dheeva Maari. Early during his reign King Rajaraja I of Chola captured the northern atolls Minicoy and Thiladhummathi. Although some sources indicate the start of the reign as when Rajaraja I invaded Maldives, a Chinese document from the Tang dynasty, records the visits of people from Mo-lai (Maldives) to China bringing with them gifts from their king, Che-p'o-lo-ti-to (Sri Balāditya) in 658 CE and also in 662 CE.[6] The king mentioned must have been a king of the Solar dynasty.
Sri Laukabarana
11th cent.
11th cent.
King of the Lunar dynasty. He is son or grandson of Queen Damahara. His name is alternatively written as Sri Loaka Abaaruna.
Sri Maha Sandura
~11th cent.
unknown
Son of King Laukabarana. He had a daughter Princess Kamanhaar (also known as Kamanaar or Rehendihaar), who was banished to the island then called Is-Midu (Addu Meedhoo today). With her she took the Mapanansa, the copper plates in which the history of the kings of Solar dynasty was written. The Mapanansa were later buried by a certain Al-Muhaddith Hassan, and this is why such little information survived about the Solar dynasty.[2]
Sri Bovana Ananda
unknown
before 1117
Son of King Laukabarana and brother of King Maha Sandura. He is the father of King Koimala.
Lunar or Homa or Theemuge Dynasty[7] (1117–1388, 271 years)
Reigned as a Buddhist until 1153. Son of Henevi Maava Kilege, sister of Koimala. A member of the Soma or Homa (Lunar) dynasty. Converted to Islam in 1153, assumed the title Sultan and founded the Theemuge dynasty. He was the famous Dharumavantha Radun[2] or the Benevolent King.
Husband of Sultana Raadhafathi. Son of Kaeumani Kaulhanna Kilege.[4] He is from the island of Maakurathu in Raa Atoll hence he is also known as Maakurathu Mohamed Rasgefaan.
Assassinated by his brother Hassan who succeeded him. Son of Golhavahi Aysha Rani Kilege and Omar Maafaiy Kilege son of Kalu Mohamed and Aysha Rani Kilege daughter of Korari Kilege therefore grandson of Sultan Kalu Mohamed
Brother of Mohamed III He was the first Maldivian and only member of its royalty to renounce Islam and convert to Christianity. He was deposed upon conversion, and known subsequently by the Lusitanian name of Dom Manoel.
Maldives ruled by Kateeb Mohamed Thakurufan of Utheemu after he assassinated Andiri Andirin, the regent of King Dom Manoel. As per a treaty he got refuge from Ali Raja of Cannanore, Mohamed Thakurufan's base of operation was Minicoy under the sovereignty of Cannanore. Keteeb Mohamed Thakurufan did not honour this promise. The Ali Raja demanded dominion over the Maldives, as promised to him by the Kateeb of Uteem. The nature of the relationship between Kateeb Mohamed Thakurufan and the Ali Raja of Cannanore was outlined in a letter sent by a later Ali Raja, Mariambe Ali-Adi Raja Bibi, to the Sultan Mohamed Mueenuddine I of the Maldives. The letter was dated Friday 17 Jamada-el-oula Anno Hegirae 1243 (7 December AD 1827). According to the letter Mohamed Thakurufan had entered into a treaty ceding sovereignty of the Maldives to the Ali Raja of Cannanore in the event Thakurufan was established in power in Male. (refer page 294 of Divehi Tarikh).
Kateeb Mohamed Thakurufan concluded a Treaty with King Dom Manoel in order to ward off the Ali Raja of Cannanore with whose help the Kateeb seized power in Male.
Under the treaty Dom Manoel was restored but remained in Goa. The co-regents were Kateeb Mohamed Thakurufan of Utheem and his brother Hassan Thakurufan. The Kateeb conferred on himself the title of Sultan in 1583 upon Dom Manoel's death. This was in breach of the Treaty and was not legally binding.
Son of King Manoel, who remained in Goa. He had two brothers, Dom Francisco and Dom Pedro. Kateeb Mohamed Thakurufan and his brother Hassan Thakurufan ruled for King Dom João as co-regents. Kateeb Mohamed Thakurufan assumed the title of Sultan following the death of King Dom Manoel. He married a Portuguese Christian noblewoman, Donna Francisca Vasconelles and had two children Dom Philippe and Dona Inez. Ibrahim, also known as Kalaafaan[14] (literally "Lord") was the de facto Sultan, but legally the regent of Kings Dom João and Dom Philippe who resided in Goa. He reigned from 1585 to 1609. Son of Mohamed Thakurufan, Kateeb of Utheemu and Rehendiye Goyye daughter of Cat Fatima of Boarhi Woods in Baarah Ibrahim Kalaafaan was the regent at the time of François Pyrard de Laval's[14] detainment in the Maldives after the shipwreck.
Son of King Dom João and Donna Francisca Vasconelles
Al-Amira Kuda Kalu Kamanafaanu acted as regent from 1607 until 1609.
She was the daughter of Hassan Thakurufaan and Sitti Maryam Maavaa Kuda Kamanafaanu Rani Kilege, daughter of Sultan Ali VI, Sultan of the Maldives, by his wife, Princess Aisha Kabafa'anu, daughter of Sultan Kalu Mohamed[6] Hussain Faamuladeyri Kilege acted as regent from 1609 to 1620. Muhammad Imaduddin I acted as regent from 1620 to 1632. De-recognised in the Maldives after an abortive expedition with Portuguese assistance in order to abolish regency and assume power.
Married Mariyam Kan'baafaanu who was the widow of Sultan Muhammad Mohyeddine
Arab mentor of Sultan Muhammad Mohyeddine He first visited Male during the reign of Ibrahim Iskandar I. He was probably poisoned to death. He coutured the re-establishment of the Islamic Penal code held by the previous Sultan Muhammad Mohyeddine and assigned Scholars to teach in Mosques. In his Sultanate Maldives was very peaceful and citizens became educated and religious. (refer page 67 to 69 of Divehi Tarikh)
First Sultan of the Dhevvadhoo dynasty[16] Popularly known as Dhevvadhoo Rasgefaanu,[17] son of Ali Mafahaiy Kilege of Dhevvadhoo and Kakuni Dio[4] Sultan Mohamed IV was married to Khadheeja Kanba daughter of Ibrahim Shah Bandar of Isdhoo (Isdhoo Bodu Velaanaa Thakurufaan) Devvadhoo Rasgefaan or Sultan Muahmmadh Ali V was grandson of Al Gazi Muhammad Shamsuddeen. He himself served as Chief Justice prior to Sultan. Devvadhoo Rasgefaan appointed the chronicler Hassan Thaajuddeen as his Chief Justice.[15]
Held captive on Kavaratti island from 1752 until his death in 1757. In 1752 he was seized by the Ali Raja of Cannanore and transported to Kavaratti island in the Laccadives. Male was occupied. The occupation was ended by Muleegey Don Hassan Maniku. The sultan died in captivity. During this time Maldives was ruled by the captive sultan's niece Amina I of Maldives and his daughter Amina II. The de facto regent was Muleegey Don Hassan Maniku.
Amina assumed the role of the ruler of Maldives in 1753 after Male was recaptured from the Malabars after 17 weeks of occupation. She was the daughter of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar II and Aisha Manikfan. She abdicated the throne and moved to Addu Atoll in the south. She was later banished to various islands and eventually became the Ruler of Maldives for the second time as the regent during the reign of her younger brother Sultan Mohamed Ghiyasuddin in 1773.
Amina succeeded her cousin in 1754 as nominal regent for her absent father the age of nine, while Muleegey Hassan Manikfaan managed the political affairs as de facto regent. Her father died in 1757 in Minicoy, after which she formally became monarch and queen regnant. In 1759 Sultan Hassan Izzuddin became monarch in absentia of Dhiyamigili Sultan.
Sultan in absentia until the return of Dhiyamigili heir Giyath al-Din
Ascended after hearing news of Sultan Muhammadh Imaduddin III's demise to fill the throne in absentia of Dhiyamigili heir to throne who was held captive by Ali Raja.[23] Abdicated throne to Sultan Muhammadh Ghiyath al-Din on his return and died on 2 February 1767.[23]
Also known as Muleegey Don Hassan Maniku or Don Bandaara
Don Bandaara was son of Amina Dio daughter of Mohamed Kateeb of island Muli of Maldives and Huraa Mohamed Faamuladeyri Thakurufan (from the island of Huraa).
Son of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar II of Dhiyamigili Dynasty also known as Muhammadh Manikfaan.
Also known as Haajee Bandaarain
Muhammadh Shams al-Din (later Sultan Muhammadh Shams al-Din Iskandar II) seized the throne when Sultan Ghiyath al-Din was on Hajj.[9]
Unaware of seizure of throne Ghiyath al-Din returned from Hajj and was killed during the reign of Huraa dynasty Sultan Muhammadh Mu'izz al-Din who is also known as Kalhu Bandaara. The last remaining heir of Dhiyamigili Prince Abdulla was banished to Fuvahmulah at the age of seven.[24]
Ascended after seizing throne from Dhiyamigili Dynasty
1774
Seized the throne when Sultan Ghiyath al-Din was on Hajj.[9][25] Ascended throne after an armed confrontation with Dhiyamigili dynasty supporters.[23][25]
After becoming the Sultan he looted and banished the aides of Sultan Ghiyath al-Din to various islands and seized the properties of Sultan Ghiyath al-Din.[25]
Son of Sultan Hasan 'Izz ud-din who reigned in absentia for the return of Dhiyamigili heir Ghiyath al-Din.[23] Sultan Ghiyath al-Din of Dhiyamigili dynasty was killed after he returned from Hajj in October 1774 during Sultan Muhammadh Mu'izz al-Din's reign.[25]
When Sultan Ghiyath al-Din of Dhiyamigili dynasty returned after Hajj during Sultan Muhammadh Mu'izz al-Din's reign, instead of bringing Sultan Ghiyath al-Din to Male', he was killed by attaching weights to his feet and throwing overboard into the sea.[25] The last remaining heir of Dhiyamigili Prince Abdulla was banished to Fuvahmulah at the age of seven.[24] Sultan Muhammadh Mu'izz al-Din is popularly known as Kalhu Bandaarain.
Sultan Muhammadh Mu'izz al-Din married Aminath Manikfaan from Addu, great-granddaughter of Isdhoo Dynasty Sultan Hassan X (Also known as Addu Hassan Manikfan[19])[26]
Sultan Hassan Nooradeen I married Aishath Manikfaan from Addu, great-granddaughter of Isdhoo Dynasty Sultan Hassan X (Also known as Addu Hassan Manikfan[19])[26]
His cousin Hassan Nooreddine Maandhoogey Manippulu acted as his regent due to his age. The regent abdicated in his name in favour of his older half brother.
His cousin Hassan Nooreddine Maandhoogey Manippulu acted as his regent due to his age. His cousin abdicated in his name and assumed the throne himself.
Abdul Majeed Didi was elected Sultan but continued to live in Ceylon. Maldives ruled by Council of Regency headed for a time by former Sultan Hassan Nooraddeen II.
Grandson of Sultan Muhammad Mueenuddeen II and eldest son of Sultan Abdul Majeed Didi took the title of King Muhammad Fareed Didi in 1965 when the British protectorate of the Maldives ended. Deposed by a national referendum which decided to replace the sultanate with a republic.
^Mohamed, Naseema (2002). "Pre-Islamic Maldives"(PDF). Man and Environment Journal of the Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies. 27 (1) – via National Centre for Linguistic and Historical Research.
^ abShareef, Rozy (10 July 2013). "އައްޑޫ ރަދުންނަކީ ކާކު؟" [Who is Addu's King?]. Addu Live. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.