DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49708#0048
, THE
Maldives.
Historical
Sketch.
A.D. 1771.
A.D. 1772.
S. Ghazi Muh am-
mad M ’nizz-ud-din.
A.D.1774.
34 SESSIONAL PAPERS, 1881.
Kingdom with strict uprightness and impartiality, to the contentment and prosperity of his
subjects. Moreover, he rendered assistance and support to the wife and children of the late
Sultan. For all these blessings we adore the Almighty God.”* However, three brothers of
the Sultan did not share in the general enthusiasm, for within a few months they conspired
to dethrone him. The plot coming to light, they were banished to a neighbouring island, and
subsequently persisting in their treasonable designs, to a distant Atol. Here they were
followed secretly by their wives and children, who contrived to carry off much State pro-
perty. The rebels then altogether disappeared, though the Dutch Governor was asked to
arrest and hand them over to the Sultan’s Ambassador, in case they reached Ceylon.f
It would appear that in 1771 the Maldivians were again threatened with an invasion
by the Mapillas—ever their inveterate foesi—and the Dutch assented, as an exceptional
indulgence, to supply the Sultan with a mortar and ammunition on payment.§
In 1772 the Sultan found it necessary to arrest eight malcontents, who, however,
managed to escape from Male in a fishing boat. ||
It is perhaps not unreasonable to hazard the conjecture that the storm of revolt,
which had never ceased to lower from the day of his accession—gathering strength
year by year despite all precautions—culminated (1773-4) in the overthrow and death of
Sultan Ghiyas-ud-dln, the last of his line.
The silence preserved by the new Sultan, Gha'zi Muhammad M’uizz-ud-di'n, elder
son of Sultan Ghazi Hasan ’Izz-ud-dln, the founder of a rival dynasty,** touching the
fate of his predecessor and the circumstances attending his own assumption of the
Sovereignty, viewed in connection with a tradition related by Christopher, still vaguely
current, is ominous of ill. “ We were told,” says Christopher, “ that a Sultan, who
reigned about one hundred years ago, rendered himself obnoxious to the people by ridicu-
ling their religion. He, however, undertook a voyage to the Red Sea on a pilgrimage to
Mecca, and during his absence a nobleman, named Faruna Kalegefana [Tdzrwwtz K'dage-
fdnu], who was a leader of the popular party, and had gained great influence, determined
with others to prevent the resumption of the Sultanship by the absent prince by putting
him to death, if he should return. Return he did ; but before he could land the plot
against his life was carried into execution. Some of the conspirators, without divulg-
ing their purpose, pushed off in a boat, under pretence of bringing the Sultan on shore.
He entered their boat, and while returning they bound him hands and feet, and fasten-
ing stones to his feet, threw him overboard.
“ On landing they announced the accomplishment of their purpose, and being now
joined by the rest of their party, proclaimed their leader Faruna successor to the mur-
dered prince, by the name of Sultan Mahomed Nooradeen. On his elevation he banished
to Suadiva Attol the son of the man whose place he filled, but after a few months
he himself was obliged to quit the station to which he had waded through crime, and to
abdicate in favour of a Prince of the royal blood, in consequence of the people not wishing
to have on the throne one who was not descended from the family which had so long
commanded their homage and allegiance. The son of the Sultan who was murdered by
drowning, and his offspring, lived nearly independent in the Southern Attols until the
year 1831. Some of his decendants are still alive [1836-81, and are permitted to visit
Male.”*
* Sultan’s letter, 1767. A free translation of the Arabic. f Idem.
I Sultan’s letter, 1771. (Dutch translation, dated August 27th, Colombo.)
§ Reply of Governor I. W. Falck, dated December 30th, 1771 :—“ Of schoon wy geen handel mogen
dyven in ammunetsie van oorlog heb ik echter aan Uwer Hoogheids afgezant een mortier met de daer toe
nodige bommen aengeboden ; maer by heeft zwarigheid gemaekt betzelve om den Imogen prys aen te
neemen.”
|| Sultan’s letter dated September 25th, 1772.
Lastletters of S. Ghazi Muhammad Ghiyas-ud-din, dated 4th November, 1773 (Colombo); November
20th, 1773, (Gallo).
** First letter of S. Ghazi Muhammad M’uizz-ud-din, dated November 2nd, 1774 (Colombo).
ff Trans. Bombay, Geog. Soc., 1836-8 (Reprint 1844) p. 73. Sec Note (8).
Maldives.
Historical
Sketch.
A.D. 1771.
A.D. 1772.
S. Ghazi Muh am-
mad M ’nizz-ud-din.
A.D.1774.
34 SESSIONAL PAPERS, 1881.
Kingdom with strict uprightness and impartiality, to the contentment and prosperity of his
subjects. Moreover, he rendered assistance and support to the wife and children of the late
Sultan. For all these blessings we adore the Almighty God.”* However, three brothers of
the Sultan did not share in the general enthusiasm, for within a few months they conspired
to dethrone him. The plot coming to light, they were banished to a neighbouring island, and
subsequently persisting in their treasonable designs, to a distant Atol. Here they were
followed secretly by their wives and children, who contrived to carry off much State pro-
perty. The rebels then altogether disappeared, though the Dutch Governor was asked to
arrest and hand them over to the Sultan’s Ambassador, in case they reached Ceylon.f
It would appear that in 1771 the Maldivians were again threatened with an invasion
by the Mapillas—ever their inveterate foesi—and the Dutch assented, as an exceptional
indulgence, to supply the Sultan with a mortar and ammunition on payment.§
In 1772 the Sultan found it necessary to arrest eight malcontents, who, however,
managed to escape from Male in a fishing boat. ||
It is perhaps not unreasonable to hazard the conjecture that the storm of revolt,
which had never ceased to lower from the day of his accession—gathering strength
year by year despite all precautions—culminated (1773-4) in the overthrow and death of
Sultan Ghiyas-ud-dln, the last of his line.
The silence preserved by the new Sultan, Gha'zi Muhammad M’uizz-ud-di'n, elder
son of Sultan Ghazi Hasan ’Izz-ud-dln, the founder of a rival dynasty,** touching the
fate of his predecessor and the circumstances attending his own assumption of the
Sovereignty, viewed in connection with a tradition related by Christopher, still vaguely
current, is ominous of ill. “ We were told,” says Christopher, “ that a Sultan, who
reigned about one hundred years ago, rendered himself obnoxious to the people by ridicu-
ling their religion. He, however, undertook a voyage to the Red Sea on a pilgrimage to
Mecca, and during his absence a nobleman, named Faruna Kalegefana [Tdzrwwtz K'dage-
fdnu], who was a leader of the popular party, and had gained great influence, determined
with others to prevent the resumption of the Sultanship by the absent prince by putting
him to death, if he should return. Return he did ; but before he could land the plot
against his life was carried into execution. Some of the conspirators, without divulg-
ing their purpose, pushed off in a boat, under pretence of bringing the Sultan on shore.
He entered their boat, and while returning they bound him hands and feet, and fasten-
ing stones to his feet, threw him overboard.
“ On landing they announced the accomplishment of their purpose, and being now
joined by the rest of their party, proclaimed their leader Faruna successor to the mur-
dered prince, by the name of Sultan Mahomed Nooradeen. On his elevation he banished
to Suadiva Attol the son of the man whose place he filled, but after a few months
he himself was obliged to quit the station to which he had waded through crime, and to
abdicate in favour of a Prince of the royal blood, in consequence of the people not wishing
to have on the throne one who was not descended from the family which had so long
commanded their homage and allegiance. The son of the Sultan who was murdered by
drowning, and his offspring, lived nearly independent in the Southern Attols until the
year 1831. Some of his decendants are still alive [1836-81, and are permitted to visit
Male.”*
* Sultan’s letter, 1767. A free translation of the Arabic. f Idem.
I Sultan’s letter, 1771. (Dutch translation, dated August 27th, Colombo.)
§ Reply of Governor I. W. Falck, dated December 30th, 1771 :—“ Of schoon wy geen handel mogen
dyven in ammunetsie van oorlog heb ik echter aan Uwer Hoogheids afgezant een mortier met de daer toe
nodige bommen aengeboden ; maer by heeft zwarigheid gemaekt betzelve om den Imogen prys aen te
neemen.”
|| Sultan’s letter dated September 25th, 1772.
Lastletters of S. Ghazi Muhammad Ghiyas-ud-din, dated 4th November, 1773 (Colombo); November
20th, 1773, (Gallo).
** First letter of S. Ghazi Muhammad M’uizz-ud-din, dated November 2nd, 1774 (Colombo).
ff Trans. Bombay, Geog. Soc., 1836-8 (Reprint 1844) p. 73. Sec Note (8).