Muhammad Kudarat

Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat (or ''Muhammad di-Pertuan Kudrat''; Jawi: ; 1581–1671) was the 7th Sultan of Maguindanao from 1619 to 1671.

He was a direct descendant of Shariff Kabungsuwan, a Malay-Arab noble from Johor who brought Islam to Mindanao between the 13th and 14th centuries. During his reign, he successfully fought off Spanish invasions and halted the spread of Catholicism on the island of Mindanao, much like the other Muslim rulers in the southern Philippines.

The Soccsksargen province of Sultan Kudarat is named after him, as is the municipality of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, where his descendants, who bear the title of ''datu'', engage in present-day politics.

Name and titles

In the name and titles of Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat, ''Muhammad Dipatuan Kurlat'' in Maguindanaon or ''Muhammad di-Pertuan Kudrat'' in Malay, the Maguindanaon term ''Dipatuan'' is from the Malay title ''di-Pertuan'' which means "ruler" or "owner" and literally means "the one who has been made to rule".

The term ''Kudarat'' is ultimately from Arabic ''qudrat'' which means "power". This was sometimes pronounced as ''Kurlát'' in Maguindanao, following the regular sound changes from /d/ to /r/ and /r/ to /l/ for loanwords in the language, something that is also observed in other Philippine languages like Tagalog and Cebuano. This term is also present in Malay as ''kudrat''.

Reign

In 1619–1621, Kudarat also engaged in an alliance with the Dutch through their trading company, the Dutch East India Company to which he sold rice and slaves captured from the Visayas. He also played off the Dutch against the Spanish, who were regional rivals in Southeast Asia at the time, both aiming to influence local rulers to gain access to their trading ports in hopes of monopolizing the Spice Trade.

In 1627, the next year, the Dutch domination sent an ambassador to discuss for a concerted effort against the Spaniards invasion. Kudarat knew that the Dutch soldiers were using him as a tool for their own imperialistic policies.

In 1637, Governor General Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuero sent a conqueror expedition to the land. Kudarat had a large of quantity of gunpowders and firearms, and his fort was strongky fortified. The Spaniards  capture 8 bronze cannons, 27 Lantaka or culverins and 100 muskets. The enemies dropped his walls in Lamitan. But Kudarat escaped the mountains and there gathered strength and force to continue his fight against the invaders of Spain.

In 1639, the Spaniards invaded the lands of the Maranaos. Kudarat hurried there to have a conference with the datus of Lake Lanao. He explained to them the effects of submitting to the Spaniards and appealed to Maranao pride and love of
independence. In a matter of months, the Spaniards were forced to leave the lands of the Maranaos for safer parts towards Zamboanga, (Fort Pilar), and never ventured to inland Lanao again.

The famous speech of Sultan Kudarat is recorded by a Spanish ambassador to the Maguindanao Sultanate:

True to the speech, the Maranao after offering patient defense, thereafter enjoyed 250 years of peace during the whole duration of Spanish withdrawal in the archipelago in 1899.

By the end of 1639, an understanding was also reached between Kudarat and Datu Maputi for a united front against the Spanish invaders. Datu Manakior, Datu of Tawlan, previously friendly with the Spaniards, at this time began to really suffer serious reverses in Mindanao with his European allies.

By the end of 1639, an understanding was also reached between Kudarat and Datu Maputi for a united front against the Spanish invaders. Datu Manakior, Datu of Tawlan, previously friendly with the Spaniards, at this time began to really suffer serious reverses in Mindanao with his European allies.

In 1639, the Spanish invaded the lands of the Maranaos. Kudarat hurried there to have a conference with the datus of Lake Lanao. He explained to them the effects of submitting to the Spaniards and appealed to Maranao pride and love of independence. In a matter of months, the Spaniards were forced to leave the lands of the Maranaos for safer parts towards Zamboanga, (Fort Pilar), and never ventured to inland Lanao again.

Finally, Governor Fajardo signed a treaty with Kudarat on June 25, 1645 which allowed Spanish missionaries to minister to the needs of the Christians in Mindanao, even allowed a church built, and trade was allowed in the sultan’s territories. Kudarat died on 1671 at age of 89–90 in Simuay, Maguindanao.

Gallery

File:Sultan Kudarat historical marker.jpg, Historical marker of Sultan Kudarat in Cotabato City

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kudarat
1581 births
1671 deaths
Filipino datus, rajas and sultans
Filipino Muslims
Filipino people of Arab descent
Filipino people of Malay descent
People from the Spanish colonial Philippines
Filipino paramilitary personnel
16th-century monarchs in Asia
17th-century monarchs in Asia