By Elmi Rizal Elias
Kuala Terengganu -- Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, to be installed as the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Thursday, is the 10th generation of Sultan Zainal Abidin I, the founder of the Terengganu Sultanate, according to the "Salasilah Sultan-Sultan Terengganu" (Lineage of the Sultans of Terengganu).
Born on Jan 22 1962, Tuanku Mizan ascended the Terengganu throne after the death of his father on May 15, 1998 in Singapore.
He was installed the Sultan of Terengganu on March 4, 1999 when he was 37.
According to the souvenir programme for the installation of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin as the Sultan of Terengganu, Tuanku Mizan is the descendant of Bendahara Paduka Sri Maharaja Johor, Tun Habib (Habab) Abdul Majid, the 20th Bendahara of Johor.
Sultan Zainal Abidin I was the son of Tun Habib who was also known as Bendahara Padang Saujana.
According to the famous book "Tuhfat al-Nafis" (The Precious Gift) authored by Raja Ali Haji, Tun Zainal Abidin was installed as the first Sultan of Terengganu by Daeng Menampuk or Raja Tua on the decree of Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah, the Sultan of Riau-Johor.
Another source said Tun Zainal Abidin was installed as the Sultan of Terengganu by Phra Nang Chau Yang, the King of Pattani.
Based on the Johor and Pahang annals, Tun Zainal Abidin went to Pattani after Paduka Raja Laksamana Wan Abdul Rahman was murdered in Terengganu around 1688 and King Phra Nang Chau Yang took him as his adopted son.
Tun Zainal Abidin became the Sultan of Terengganu in 1708 based on the Terengganu gold coin bearing the name Sultan Zainal Abidin who ruled till 1733.
Sultan Zainal Abidin I was succeeded by his son Ku Tana Mansur who took the title Sultan Mansur I in 1733 who was only seven years old then. He ruled Terengganu for 60 years until 1793.
Sultan Mansur I was replaced by his son Sultan Zainal Abidin II who reigned from 1793 to 1808. During his reign, a war broke out with Kelantan led by its ruler Long Muhammad ibni Long Yunus
In the war, Kelantan defeated Terengganu and freed itself from the latter's control.
After Sultan Zainal Abidin II, Sultan Ahmad ruled Darul Iman (Abode of Faith) from 1808 to 1830, folllowed by Sultan Abdul Rahman (July 4, 1830 to Dec 31, 1830), Sultan Daud (1830-1831), Sultan Mansur II (1831-1837), Sultan Muhammad (1837-1839) and Sultan Omar (1839-1876).
Sultan Omar ascended the Terengganu throne in 1831 succeeding Sultan Daud but he was dethroned and replaced by Tengku Mansur who took the title Sultan Mansur II and was later replaced by his son Sultan Muhammad.
In 1839, Sultan Omar defeated Sultan Muhammad and reclaimed the Terengganu throne. Terengganu saw much development during his reign.
After Sultan Omar's death, the throne was taken over by Sultan Ahmad Shah II who ruled from 1876 until 1881. He was succeeded by his son who ruled under the name Sultan Zainal Abidin III.
The reign of Sultan Zainal Abidin III (1881-1918) saw British colonising several states and they made futile attempts to interfere in the Terengganu government's administration but failed.
However, pursuant to the signing of the Bangkok Treaty in 1909 between the British and the Siamese government, the British claimed Terengganu had come under its administration.
Only in 1910, Terengganu inked an agreement with the British to accept a British Resident but he did not have any say in the state administration.
In 1911, Sultan Zainal Abidin III passed a law for the establishment of the Terengganu government stating that it was a Malay and Islamic state and that the Sultan Yang Dipertuan Besar Terengganu had the power of government over its territories and was the supreme leader of the Terengganu government.
Sultan Zainal Abidin III was replaced by Sultan Muhammad Shah II (1918-1920) and Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah (1920-1942).
The "Warta Chahaya Timor No. 38" newspaper dated Sept 29, 1942 reported that Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah died on Sept 26, 1942 and Tengku Ali, referred to as his eldest son was appointed as "temporary acting Sultan" by the Japanese administration on Sept 29, 1942.
Tengku Ali was subsequently bestowed the title "Sultan" on Sept 30, 1942 by the Japanese governor or "Syuckokan" but it was said the appointment was unconstitutional under the law of establishment of Terengganu 1911.
Tengku Sri Paduka Raja, Tengku Ismail, was proclaimed the Sultan of Terengganu on Dec 16, 1945 and was later installed as the state's ruler in 1949 with the title Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, the grandfather of Tuanku Mizan.
Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin served as the 4th Yang di-Pertuan Agong from Sept 21, 1965 until Sept 20, 1970.
During the period, Tengku Mahmud was appointed the Raja Muda of Terengganu and when Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah died in 1979, he was replaced by his son who took the title Sultan Mahmud AlMuktafi Billah Shah.
Sultan Mahmud died in 1998 and was succeeded by his son Tuanku Mizan.
On Dec 13, 2006, Tuanku Mizan was appointed the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong and his eldest son Tengku Muhammad Ismail was appointed the Raja Muda of Terengganu.
Tuanku Mizan, who will be installed as the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong tomorrow, is the second Sultan of Terengganu to be appointed the Head of State from among the nine Malay rulers.
Source: http://www.bernama.com