THE QUEEN OF PATTANI

The "Queen of Pattani" usually refers to one of the four successive female rulers who governed the Sultanate of Pattani (now in Southern Thailand) during its "Golden Age" in the 16th and 17th centuries.

These queens, all sisters or relatives from the Sri Wangsa dynasty, took the throne after a series of bloody internal conflicts among male heirs. Their reigns were marked by immense prosperity, international trade, and successful defense against the Siamese (Ayutthaya) Empire.

The Four Great Queens

Queen	Reign	Known For
Raja Hijau (The Green Queen)	1584–1616	The first queen. She restored stability after decades of violence and opened Pattani to Dutch and English traders.
Raja Biru (The Blue Queen)	1616–1624	Focused on diplomacy and infrastructure. She commissioned three legendary massive cannons to defend the city.
Raja Ungu (The Purple Queen)	1624–1635	A fierce leader who refused to pay tribute to Siam and formed strong alliances with the Sultanate of Johor.
Raja Kuning (The Yellow Queen)	1635–1651	The daughter of Raja Ungu and the last of the "Great Queens." Her reign saw the beginning of Pattani's economic decline.

KEY HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

• A Trading Powerhouse: Under these women, Pattani became one of the most important ports in Southeast Asia. It was a "polyglot" center where Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, English, and Portuguese merchants traded for pepper and silk.
• The Three Cannons: To protect the kingdom from Siamese invasions, Raja Biru ordered the casting of three enormous bronze cannons. One of them, the Phaya Tani, still stands today in front of the Ministry of Defence in Bangkok.
• Cultural Flourishing: This era wasn't just about trade; it was a peak for Malay-Islamic culture. The queens were famous for their grand processions—sometimes involving over 150 decorated elephants and thousands of armed guards.

Why were they all named after colors?

Tradition suggests their father, Sultan Mansur Shah, named them after the colors of the rainbow as a good omen. While it might sound poetic today, their names (Hijau, Biru, Ungu, Kuning) are iconic in Southeast Asian history as a rare example of sustained and successful female monarchical rule.

C&P

1 Mei 2026: 12.00 a.m