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| The tomb of Sultan Bolkiah at Kota Batu. Interestingly, Kota Batu is the old capital of Brunei. |
My argument is based on the claim that Sultan Amirul Umara may have been Brunei's Sultan Bolkiah. During his time, Brunei reached its golden age, the height of its empire. An empire, a number of neighboring states came under her influence earning him the monicker "the singing admiral". In effect, the states continue to exist but subject to Sultan Bolkiah's overlordship.
I have argued that Sultan Alauddin, the 3rd sultan, reigned under the tutelage of Sultan Amirul Umara, the 4th sultan. The succession squabble of Alauddin with his Kamaluddin (2nd sultan) may not hold true because of this overlordship of Nakhoda Ragam or Sultan Bolkiah (allegedly Sulu's Sultan Amirul Umara).
In certain Sulu genealogies, the title of Amirul Umara is often interchange with Maharajah di Rajah. Both titles denotes an overlord, lord of lords, which is what Sultan Bolkiah at the height of Brunei's golden age, and with an empire covering large part of Borneo, the islands of Palawan up to Selurong (Luzon) and as far as Sulu to the east.
Sultan Amirul Umara became sultan in 1485 upon the abdication of his father.
Genealogy
- Sultan Bolkiah's father is Sultan Sulaiman, Brunei's 5th sultan.
- He is a grandson of the revered and pious Sharif Ali Berkat, Brunei's 4th sultan. Sharif Ali is said to be an Arab who married Puteri Ratna Kesuma, the daughter of Sultan Ahmad (Brunei's 3rd Sultan).
- In 1530, Sultan Bolkiah abdicated in favor of his son, Sultan Abdul-Kahar.
Source:
Sultan Bolkiah, 5th Sultan of Brunei
My Brunei Darussalam - Sultan Bolkiah's Tomb
Naima Talib's A Resilient Monarchy, New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies 4, 2 (December, 2002): 134-147.
Sultans of Brunei
