Raja Biru Explained

Succession:Raja Ungu
Reign-Type:Reign
Birth Name:Raja Biru
Birth Date:c. 1566
Death Date:1624
Mother:Sultan Mansur Shah

Raja Biru or Ratu Biru (Thai: รายาบีรู; Malay: راتو بيرو; c. 1566–1624) ruled the Sultanate of Patani (1616–1624), succeeding her sister Raja Hijau. She was the second of three daughters of Sultan Mansur Shah who ruled the country. She was succeeded by her sister Raja Ungu. In Malay, her name means "Blue" or "Blue Queen."

Reign

Raja Biru was around 50 when she became queen in 1616. During her reign, Patani faced increasing threats from the Siamese. In response to the threats, she was said to have ordered a man of Chinese descent named Tok Kayan to create three large cannons.[1] One of these Phaya Tani was later seized by the Siamese and is now located in Bangkok.[2] [3] Raja Biru persuaded the Kelantan Sultanate in the south to become incorporated into Patani.[4]

Raja Biru died in 1624. She was succeeded by her younger sister Raja Ungu who was married to the Sultan of Pahang and had returned from Pahang after her husband died.

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: Syukri, Ibrahim . History of the Malay Kingdom of Patani. 31 - 33 . 1985 . 978-0896801233. Ohio Uninversity Press .
  2. Patani in the Beginning of the XVII Century . Wayne . Bougas. Archipel . 1990 . 39 . 133. 10.3406/arch.1990.2624 .
  3. Bedé kaba' ou les derniers canons de Patani. Pierre . Le Roux. Bulletin de l'École française d'Extrême-Orient . 1998 . 85 . 125–162 . 10.3406/befeo.1998.2546.
  4. Amirell. Stefan . The Blessings and Perils of Female Rule: New Perspectives on the Reigning Queens of Patani, c. 1584–1718 . Journal of Southeast Asian Studies . 42 . 2 . 2011. 303–23 . 10.1017/S0022463411000063 .