HOW TAMPIN WAS WON!

TAMPIN BRIEF HISTORY
Sometime during the middle of the eighteenth century, Raja Adil, a supposed younger brother of Raja Melewar, the Yang di-Pertaun Besar (Yam Tuan) of the Negri Sembilan Federation, assumed the title of Yang di-Pertuan Muda, or deputy ruler of the federation. Rembau was assigned as his fiefdom, with the traditional Undang Luak as his deputy. During a succession dispute over the title of Yang di-Pertuan Besar, in which Adil's ambitious grandson, Raja Ali attempted to wrest the title of Yang di-Pertaun Besar, civil war ensued. The Yang di-Pertuan Muda and the Undang Luak found themselves on opposite sides of the dispute. After much fighting and bloodshed, the Undang Luak pushed back Raja Ali and his supporters to the northern regions of the province. Eventually a truce was negotiated in 1836. Rembau was partitioned, with the southern districts being assigned to the Undang Luak, and the northern districts around Tampin being recognised as a new state under Raja Adil.

During his bid for supreme power, Raja 'Ali had assumed the title of Yang di-Pertuan Besar. In a premature move, he had also relinquished the lesser title of Yang di-Pertuan Muda to his son-in-law, Sharif Sha'aban bin Syed Ibrahim al-Qadri. Consequently, on his death in 1850, Sharif Sha'aban was able to secure control over the province to the exclusion of Raja 'Ali's sons. He assumed the reign title of Sultan Muhammad Shah and secured some measure of defacto British recognition. Although his lofty titles were not recognised, Sharif Sha'aban and his successors were accepted as hereditary rulers of Tampin with the title of Tunku Besar.

STYLES AND TITLES:
The ruler: Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Syed (personal name) bin Tunku Syed (father's name), Tunku Besar of Tampin.
The wife of the ruler: Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Puan Besar.
Sons, grandsons and other male descendants of the ruler, in the male line: Tunku Syed (personal name) bin Tunku Syed (father's name).
Daughter, grand daughters and other female descendants of the ruler, in the male line: Tunku Sharifa (personal name) binti Tunku Syed (father's name).

RULES OF SUCCESSION:
The Yang di-Pertuan Mudas succeed according to the rules of male primogeniture, but must also receive confirmation from the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of the federation.

ORDERS AND DECORATIONS:
None, see Negri Sembilan.

GLOSSARY:
See Malaysia, main page.

SOURCES:
Ensiklopedia Sejarah dan Kebudayaan Melayu, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 1995.
John Gullick, The Tampin Succession, Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. XLIX, Part 2, 1976.
Norhalim Hj. Ibrahim, Negeri yang Sembilan, daerah kecil pesaka adat warisa kerajaan berdaulat. Penerbit Fajar Bakti Sdn. Bhd., Shah Alam, 1995.
R J Wilkinson, Papers on Malay Subjects, Malay History, Part V, Notes on the Negri Sembilan, FMS Government Press, Kuala Lumpur, 1911.
The Leaders of Malaya and Who's Who 1957-1958. J. Victor Morais, Kuala Lumpur, 1958.
Who's Who in Malaysia and guide to Singapore. Who's Who Publications, J.V. Morais, Kuala Lumpur, 1967-1978.
Who's Who in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Who's Who Publications, J.V. Morais, Kuala Lumpur, 1978-2000.

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Copyright©Christopher Buyers, November 2000 - July 2006