The ruling
family descends from Tuanku Umar (alias Raja Usman),
younger son of Tuanku Panglima Paderap of Aru (Deli). The
third, but eldest Royal son of Paderap, he was expelled
from Deli by his elder half-brother, Tuanku Gandar Wahid.
He removed to Serdang, together with his mother and
younger brother, where the Datuk Sunggal and other
important nobles installed him as Raja.
Tuanku Umar's successors ruled in opposition to the
rulers of Deli, until the arrival of the Dutch during the
middle of the nineteenth century. Unfortunately, the
Dutch had already made arrangements with the Sultan of
Deli. When drawing up the borders between the two states,
they allocated four districts to the latter. This
short-sighted action caused lasting bitterness for the
colonial authorities.
In common with the other princely states of north-east
Sumatra, Serdang prospered from the rapid economic growth
experienced by that area during the late and early
nineteenth centuries. Much of this development came from
the plantation industries, particularly tobacco, rubber
and palm oil.
Perhaps because of the loss of territory to Deli, the
Serdang rulers remained somewhat hostile to the Dutch
colonial authorities. They remained wary of any proposals
that would result in encroachments on their powers.
Sultan Sulaiman Sharif ul-'Alam Shah, who reigned for
sixty-seven years, almost the whole of the colonial
period, was particularly exercised by such concerns. He
led the opposition to the signing of
"contracts" between the local rulers and the
Dutch for a number of years.
Despite the Sultan's opposition to several aspects of
Dutch rule, he was not one of those similarly disposed,
who welcomed the Japanese invaders. The sultanate
remained a centre of quiet opposition; several members of
the ruling family being closely involved with the Dutch
or Allied underground forces. One of their number, Tengku
Rachmadu'llah, being beheaded by the Japanese in 1943.
The Japanese surrender in 1945 brought about a period of
confusion and administrative collapse. Various groups
attempted to seize power before the Dutch could return
and re-establish colonial ruler. Misunderstandings arose
when the Sultan accepted some arms surrendered to him by
the defeated Japanese. The Royal palace was attacked and
destroyed in the melee that followed. Shortly afterwards,
the Sultan was taken into "protective custody"
during the brutal putsch, known as the
"social revolution". In effect this was nothing
more than a bloody assassination campaign directed
against foreigners, anyone linked to the administration
or military, the Malay aristocracy or royalty.
Sultan Sulaiman died during his detention in late 1946.
No successor was officially recognised or installed.
Nevertheless, a long-standing campaign continues in
favour of a restoration. It is lead by Tengku Lukman
Sinar, younger son of the late Sultan and the foremost
living historian of Sumatra.
STYLES & TITLES:
The ruling prince: Paduka Sri Sultan (personal name)
(reign name) ibni al-Marhum (father's titles
and personal name), Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan Besar
of Serdang, with the style of His Highness.
The principal consort of the ruling prince: Tengku
Permaisuri.
The Heir Apparent: Tengku Putra Mahkota.
The other sons and male descendants of the ruling prince,
in the male line and down to the fifth generation: Tengku
(personal name).
The daughters and female descendants of the ruling
prince, in the male line and down to the fifth
generation: Tengku (personal name).
RULES OF SUCCESSION:
Male primogeniture, the sons of Royal wives taking
precedence over those of commoners.
ORDERS & DECORATIONS:
None known.
SELECT GLOSSARY: Bawar: the state sword, presented by the Sultans
of Aceh. Mufti Besar: the chief Islamic official in the
state. Nakhoda Raja: the title of the two officials
charged with supervising the state finances. Rajawali: the state kris, inherited from Sri
Paduka Khoja Pahlawan, the founder of the Royal Houses of
Deli and Serdang.
See Malaysia main page.
SOURCES:
John Anderson, Mission to the East Coast of Sumatra in
1823. Oxford in Asia Historical Reprints. Oxford
University Press, Kuala Lumpur, 1971.
Dada Meuraxa, Sejarah Kebudayaan Suku-Suku di Sumatera
Utara. Sasterawan, Medan, 1973.
T. Lukman Sinar, SH, The History of Medan in the olden
times. Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengembangan Seni Budaya
Melayu, Medan, 1996
T. Lukman Sinar, SH, Teromba Silsilah Radja2 dan
Bangsawan Serdang, Medan, 2001.
Tuanku Lukman Sinar Basarsyah II, SH, Kronik Mahkota
Kesultanan Serdang. Yandira Agung, Medan, 2003.
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Haji 'Abdu'l Hamid Arsyad, Datuk Amar di-Raja.
H.H. Tuanku Lukman Sinar Basarsyah II, Sultan of Serdang.
Y.A.M. Tengku Haji Shahrial Sinar bin al-Marhum Sultan
Sulaiman Sharif ul-'Alam Shah.
Y.M. Tengku Vivian Rosa.
I
would be grateful to hear from anyone who may have
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