This is a list of monarchs of the Maldives. 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 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. 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.
Solar Dynasty or the Kingdom of Adeetta Vansa
Name |
Monarch From |
Monarch Until |
Notes |
King Soorudasaruna-Adeettiya |
unknown |
unknown |
Exiled prince and son of King Sri Brahamaadittiya of the Kalinga Kingdom of India. |
Queen Damahaar |
unknown |
unknown |
Last ruler of the Solar Dynasty. It is unclear from the records how many other rulers ruled between the reigns of King Adeettiya and Queen Damahaar. The Maapanansa, the copper plates on which the history of the Kings of Solar Dynasty was written were lost quite early on. Married Prince Sri Balaadeettiya from the Kalinga Kingdom who later became the first king of the Lunar Dynasty. |
Early Lunar Dynasty or the Kingdom of Soma Vansa
Name |
Monarch From |
Monarch Until |
Notes |
King Balaadeettiya |
around 990 |
unknown |
Prince from Kalinga Kingdom of India. Married Queen Damahaar of the Solar Dynasty to become the ruler of Deeva Mahal. Early during his reign King Raja Dada invaded the northern atolls of the Maldives. Although some sources indicate the start of the reign as 900AD, a Chinese document from the Tang Dynasty, records the visit of Maldivians to China bringing with them gifts from their king, Balaadeettiya in 658 AD and also in 662 AD. |
King Loakaabarana |
unknown |
unknown |
King of the Lunar Dynasty. |
King Maha Sandura |
unknown |
unknown |
Son of King Loakaabarana. 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 Maapanansa, the copper plates in which the history of the Kings of Solar Dynasty was written. The Maapanasa were later buried by Al-Muhaddith Hasan and this is why such little information survived about the Solar Dynasty. |
King Bovana Aananda |
unknown |
unknown |
Son of King Loakaabarana and brother of King Maha Sandura. He was the father of King Koimala. |
Name |
Monarch From |
Monarch Until |
Notes |
King Mahaabarana Adeettiya (Koimala) |
1117 |
1141 |
He became the first king to rule over the whole of Maldives after reclaiming the northern atolls from the Indian invaders. |
King (later Sultan) Dhovemi |
1141 |
1166/1176 |
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 Rasgefaanu or the Benevolent King. |
Sultan Muthey |
1166/1176 |
1185 |
Mother’s sister’s son of Dhovemi |
Sultan Ali I |
1185 |
1193 |
|
Sultan Dhinei |
1193 |
1199 |
|
Sultan Dhihei |
1199 |
1214 |
Brother of Sultan Dhinei I. |
Sultan Wadi |
1214 |
1233 |
Brother of Sultan's Dhinei I and Dhinei II. |
Sultan Valla Dio |
1233 |
1258 |
Brother of Sultan's Dhinei I, Dhinei II and Wadi. |
Sultan Hudhei |
1258 |
1264 |
|
Sultan Aima |
1264 |
1266 |
|
Sultan Hali I |
1266 |
1268 |
|
Sultan Keimi |
1268 |
1269 |
|
Sultan Audha |
1269 |
1278 |
Son of Sultan Wadi |
Sultan Hali II |
1278 |
1288 |
Son of Sultan Audha |
Sultan Yoosuf I |
1288 |
1294 |
Brother of Sultan Hali II |
Sultan Salis |
1294 |
1302 |
Son of Sultan Yoosuf I |
Sultan Davud |
1302 |
1307 |
Son of Sultan Yoosuf I |
Sultan Omar I |
1307 |
1341 |
Son of Sultan Salis |
Sultan Ahmed Shihabuddine |
1341 |
1347 |
Son of Sultan Omar I, deposed and banished by sister Khadijah |
Sultana Khadijah |
1347 |
1363 |
Deposed her brother Sultan Ahmed Shihabuddine. Deposed herself by her first husband Mohamed el-Jameel |
Sultan Mohamed el-Jameel |
1363 |
1364 |
First Husband of Sultana Khadijah. Assassinated by estranged wife Khadijah. He was nicknamed Handsome Mohamed. |
Sultana Khadijah |
1364 |
1374 |
Second reign on assassination of first husband Sultan Mohamed el-Jameel. Deposed for a second time by her second husband Abdullah. |
Sultan Abdullah I |
1374 |
1376 |
Second husband of Sultana Khadijah. Assassinated by wife Khadijah |
Sultana Khadijah |
1376 |
1380 |
Third reign |
Sultana Raadhafathi |
1380 |
1380 |
Daughter of Sultan Omar I, half sister of Sultana Khadijah. Deposed by husband Mohamed. |
Sultan Mohamed I |
1380 |
1385 |
Husband of Sultana Raadhafathi. |
Sultana Dhaain |
1385 |
1388 |
Daughter of Sultan Mohamed I. Deposed by husband Abdullah. |
Sultan Abdullah II |
1388 |
1388 |
Husband of Sultana Dhaain. Some records call him a Regent (Henevi-rasge). |
Sultan Osman I |
1388 |
1388 |
Former prime minister to Raadhafathi and Dhaain. Last of the Lunar Dynasty. |
Name |
Monarch From |
Monarch Until |
Notes |
Sultan Hassan I |
1388 |
1398 |
First of the Hilaaly Dynasty.Son of Golhaavahi Kambulo (probably a Lunar dynasty lady) and Kulhiveri Hilaalu Kaeulhanna Kaloge son of Muslim Abbas of Hulhule |
Sultan Ibrahim I |
1398 |
1398 |
Son of Sultan Hassan I. Deposed by his uncle Hussain. |
Sultan Hussain I |
1398 |
1409 |
Brother of Sultan Hassan I. Assumed the throne after deposing his nephew Sultan Ibrahim I. |
Sultan Nasiruddine |
1409 |
1411 |
Introduced the Islamic penal code. Possibly a member of the Lunar Dynasty |
Sultan Hassan II |
1411 |
1411 |
Drowned in a tank. |
Sultan Isa |
1411 |
1411 |
Brother of Sultan Hassan II. |
Sultan Ibrahim I |
1411 |
1421 |
Second reign, first reigned in 1398. |
Sultan Osman II |
1421 |
1421 |
Son of Sultan Osman I. |
Sultan Danna Mohamed |
1421 |
1421 |
Uncle of Sultan's Hassan I and Hussain I. Prime Minister to Osman I |
Sultan Yoosuf II |
1421 |
1443 |
Son of Sultan Hassan I |
Sultan Aboobakuru I |
1443 |
1443 |
Son of Sultan Hassan I half brother of Sultan Yoosuf II. Killed in battle with the Portuguese who came to summon the Council of Ministers of the Maldives to Cochin. |
Sultan Hasan III |
1443 |
1467 |
Son of Sultan Aboobakuru I. Deposed by Sayyid Mohamed while abroad. |
Sultan Sayyid Mohamed |
1467 |
1467 |
Possible descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. Deposed by Sultan Hassan III upon returning to Maldives. |
Sultan Hasan III |
1467 |
1468 |
Second reign. |
Sultan Mohamed II |
1468 |
1480 |
Son of Sultan Hasan III. |
Sultan Hassan IV |
1480 |
1480 |
Son of Sultan Mohamed II. Deposed by Omar II. |
Sultan Omar II |
1480 |
1484 |
Son of Sultan Yoosuf II. |
Sultan Hassan V |
1484 |
1485 |
Son of Sultan Omar II. |
Sultan Hassan IV |
1485 |
1491 |
Second reign. |
Sultan Hassan VI |
1491 |
1492 |
Grandson of Sultan Aboobakuru I. |
Sultan Ibrahim II |
1492 |
1492 |
Son of Omar II. |
Sultan Kalu Mohamed |
1492 |
1492 |
Son of Sultan Omar II. Deposed by his brother Yoosuf. |
Sultan Yoosuf III |
1492 |
1493 |
Son of Sultan Omar II. |
Sultan Ali II |
1493 |
1495 |
Grandson of Sultan Hassan I. |
Sultan Kalu Mohamed |
1495 |
1510 |
Second reign. Son of Sultan Omar II Deposed for a second time, this time by his nephew Hassan. |
Sultan Hassan VII |
1510 |
1511 |
Son of Sultan Yoosuf III. |
Sultan Sharif Ahmed |
1511 |
1513 |
An Arab from Mecca. Possible descendant of Muhammad. |
Sultan Ali III |
1513 |
1513 |
Killed in a duel with his sister Burecca (Buraki Raani). Grandson of Sultan Aboobakuru I.Son of Mohamed Farhana Kalo and Recca daughter of Aboobakuru I |
Sultan Kalu Mohamed |
1513 |
1529 |
Third accession assisted by his wife princess (later queen) Burecca who killed her brother Ali III |
Sultan Hassan VIII |
1529 |
1549 |
Son of Sultan Kalu Mohamed and Fatuma Dio, a concubine from Shiraz in Persia. |
Sultan Mohamed III |
1549 |
1551 |
Assassinated by his brother Hassan 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. |
Sultan Hassan IX |
1551 |
1552 |
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. |
Interregnum |
1552 |
1554 |
Maldives ruled by a Council of Ministers. |
Sultan Aboobakuru II |
1554 |
1557 |
Son of Ibrahim Faarhana Kilege and Sanfa Dio. Former Prime Minister to Dom Manoel. |
Sultan Ali IV |
1557 |
1558 |
Killed in battle. Son of Prime Minister Abdur Rahman Dorhimeyna Kaloge and Sitti Rani Kilege. He was married to Princess Aysha Rani Kilege, aunt of Dom Manoel and daughter of Kalu Mohamed. |
King Dom Manoel |
1558 |
1573 |
Restored as the king. Formerly known as Sultan Hassan IX. A Maldivian Catholic named Andiri Andirin acted as his regent, while Manoel lived in Goa. |
Interregnum |
1573 |
1573 |
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). |
King Dom Manoel |
1573 |
1583 |
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.
|
King Dom João |
1583 |
1603 |
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 (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 Pyrard's detainment in the Maldives after the shipwreck.
|
King Dom Philippe |
1603 |
1632 |
Son of King Dom João and Donna Francisca Vasconelles. 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. |
Name |
Monarch From |
Monarch Until |
Notes |
Sultan Muhammad Imaduddin I |
1632 |
1648 |
Legally proclaimed sultan in 1632 former regent for King Dom Philippe. |
Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar I |
1648 |
1687 |
Son of Sultan Muhammad Imaduddin I. |
Sultan Kuda Muhammad |
1687 |
1691 |
Son of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar I. His mother Princess Maryam acted as regent due to his age. Killed with his mother while at sea in an explosion. |
Sultan Muhammad Mohyeddine |
1691 |
1692 |
Re-established the Islamic penal code. Son of Daravandu Kadida Dio and Abu Naibu Hassan Dorhimeyna Kilege son of the Regent Hussain Famuladeyri Kilege. |
Hamawi Dynasty
Name |
Monarch From |
Monarch Until |
Notes |
Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen I |
1692 |
1692 |
Arab mentor of Sultan Muhammad Mohyeddine. He first visited Male during the reign of Ibrahim Iskandar I. He was Probably poisoned to death. He coutuned 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) |
Name |
Monarch From |
Monarch Until |
Notes |
Sultan Mohamed IV |
1692 |
1701 |
First Sultan of the Isdhoo Dynasty. Son of Ali Mafahaiy Kilege of Devvadu and Kakuni Dio. Probably poisoned to death by his successor. |
Sultan Ali V |
1701 |
1701 |
Son of Ibrahim Shah Bandar Kilege of Isdu and Aysha Dio. |
Sultan Hasan X |
1701 |
1701 |
Son of Sultan Ali V. Deposed by his cousin Ibrahim Mudzhiruddine. He is not listed in Radhavalhi, the official chronicle. |
Sultan Ibrahim Mudzhiruddine |
1701 |
1704 |
Cousin of Sultan Hasan X. Deposed by his Prime Minister Muhammad Imaduddin during the regency of his spouse, Fatima Kabafa'anu, while on the Hajj pilgrimage. |
Name |
Monarch From |
Monarch Until |
Notes |
Sultan Muhammad Imaduddin II |
1704 |
1720 |
Prime Minister to Sultan Ibrahim Mudzhiruddine. First of the Dhiyamigili Dynasty.Son of Ibrahim Dorhimeyna Kaloge and Amina Dio. |
Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar II |
1720 |
1750 |
Son of Sultan Muhammad Imaduddin II and Amina Dio of Fenfushi. |
Sultan Muhammad Imaduddin III |
1750 |
1757 |
Son of Sultan Muhammad Imaduddin II and Amina Dio of Fenfushi. Held captive on Kavaratti island from 1752 until his death in 1757. While in captivity the Maldives was ruled by regents.
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 Dom Hassan Maniku, a direct descendant of the penultimate Christian King Joao. The sultan died in captivity. Ruled by nominal regents who were in turn, the captive sultan’s sister Sanfa Rendi Kabafa'anu and his daughter, Amina of the Maldives. The de facto regent was Muleegey Dom Hassam Maniku. |
Sultana Amina |
1757 |
1759 |
Daughter of Sultan Muhammad Imaduddin III. Amina succeeded her paternal aunt as her father's nominal regent in 1753 and remained in this position until 1757. After her father's death in 1757, she succeeded him as monarch. |
Name |
Monarch From |
Monarch Until |
Notes |
Sultan Hasan 'Izz ud-din |
1759 |
1766 |
First Sultan of the Huraa Dynasty. Son of Amina Dio daughter of Mohamed Kateeb of Muli and Huraa Mohamed Faamuladeyri Thakurufan. |
Dhiyamigili dynasty (restored)
Name |
Monarch From |
Monarch Until |
Notes |
Sultan Muhammed Ghiya'as ud-din |
1766 |
1774 |
Son of Ibrahim Iskandar II. Deposed while on the Hajj pilgrimage |
Huraa Dynasty (first restoration)
First Republic of Maldives
See President of the Maldives since1968
Huraa Dynasty (second restoration)
Name |
Monarch From |
Monarch Until |
Notes |
Sultan Muhammad Fareed Didi |
1954 |
1968 |
Grandson of Muhammad Mueenuddeen II. Took the title of King in 1965, when the British protectorate of the Maldives ended. Deposed by a national referendum which decided to replace the sultanate with a republic. |
Second Republic of Maldives
See President of the Maldives
See also
References