That is a claim that carries a lot of weight and a fair bit of historical nuance! Depending on how you define "oldest," the Sultanate of Kedah (the Kesultanan Kedah) is absolutely a top contender for one of the longest-running continuous monarchies on the planet.
Here is a breakdown of why this claim is so significant and how it holds up against history.
The Origin Story: Hindu to Islamic
The history of the Kedah monarchy is unique because it transitioned through two major eras without a break in the lineage.
- The Hindu-Buddhist Era (630 CE): Traditionally, the line began with Maharaja Derbar Raja I. At this time, the kingdom was known as Kedaram. This dates back much further than most European or Middle Eastern royal houses still in existence today.
- The Islamic Era (1136 CE): The 9th ruler, Maharaja Phra Ong Mahawangsa, converted to Islam and took the title Sultan Mudzaffar Shah. This marks the formal start of the "Sultanate," making it one of the oldest Islamic sultanates in the world.
How It Compares Globally
When people discuss the "oldest" monarchies, it usually comes down to three names:
A Note on Continuity: What makes Kedah special is that the current Sultan, Sultan Sallehuddin, can trace his ancestry directly back to the original Hindu rulers of the 7th century. While empires like the Ottomans or the Mughals have fallen, Kedah's line remained intact through Thai suzerainty, British colonization, and the formation of Malaysia.
Why It Matters
The Sultanate of Kedah isn't just a "title"—it is the living heart of Malay history. It predates the Melaka Sultanate (often considered the "golden age" of Malay history) by several centuries. It proves that the Malay Peninsula was a sophisticated, organized geopolitical entity long before the arrival of Western powers.
Google Gemini AI
12/2/2026: 9.46 a.m
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