Sejarah Ringkas Kesultanan Negeri Terengganu

Pengasas Kesultanan Terengganu hari ini ialah Sultan Zainal Abidin 1. Baginda ialah putera Tun Habib Abdul Majid (Bendahara Padang Saujana). Mengikut buku Tuhfat al-Nafis karangan Raja Ali Haji, Tun Zainal Abidin ditabalkan sebagai Sultan Terengganu oleh Daeng Menampuk (Raja Tua) di atas perintah Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah. Sumber yang lain menyatakan Tun Zainal Abidin ditabalkan di atas takhta kerajaan Terengganu oleh Phra Nang Chau Yang, Raja Patani.

Mengikut Hikayat Johor Serta Pahang, Tun Zainal Abidin datang ke Patani setelah Paduka Raja Laksamana Wan Abdul Rahman dibunuh di Terengganu disekitar tahun 1688. Ketika berada di Patani, Tun Zainal Abidin dijadikan anak angkat oleh Raja Patani, Phra Nang Chau Yang.

Tun Zainal Abidin menjadi Sultan Terengganu pada tahun 1708, berdasarkan duit kupang emas Terengganu yang mencatatkan nama Sultan Zainal Abidin 1 tidak lama bersemayam di Tanjung Baru, Kuala Berang, berpindah ke Kota Batang Mahang, Langgar dan Pulau Manis. Kemudian berpindah lagi ke Chabang Tiga, Kuala Terengganu dan akhirnya di kawasan berhampiran Bukit Keledang (Kota Lama).

Sultan Zainal Abidin 1 digantikan oleh putera baginda, Ku Tana Mansur (Sultan Mansur I) pada tahun 1733, ketika berusia 7 tahun. Baginda memerintah Terengganu sehingga tahun 1794. Pada tahun 1739, Sultan Mansur Shah 1 berkahwin dengan Raja Bulang, anak Daeng Chelak, Yamtuan Muda Johor kedua. Berikutnya berkahwin pula dengan Raja Bakul, putera Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah. Ketika menduduki takhta kerajaan Terengganu, Sultan Mansur 1 telah menghabiskan empat belas tahun (1746 - 1760) daripada masa pemerintahannya di Riau, terlibat dalam persaingan di antara orang Melayu dengan orang Bugis. Apabila pulang ke Terengganu pada 1760, baginda terlibat pula dalam politik Kelantan membantu Long Yunus (Yang DiPertuan Kelantan), putera Long Sulaiman ibni Long Bahar menduduki takhta kerajaan Kelantan pada tahun 1776.

Sultan Mansur digantikan oleh putera baginda Sultan Zainal Abidin II (1794 - 1808). Pada masa pemerintahan baginda, berlaku peperangan dengan Kelantan yang dipimpin oleh Long Muhammad ibni Long Yunus, Raja Kelantan. Terengganu dikalahkan dan seterusnya Kelantan berjaya membebaskan diri daripada naungan Terengganu. Seterusnya takhta kerajaan Terengganu diduduki oleh Sultan Ahmad (1808 - 1830), Sultan Abdul Rahman (1830), Sultan Daud (1830-1831), Sultan Mansur II (1831 - 1837), Sultan Muhammad (1837 - 1839), Baginda Omar (1839 - 1876). Baginda Omar pernah menduduki takhta kerajaan Terengganu pada tahun 1831 menggantikan Sultan Daud. Tetapi baginda diturunkan dari takhta kerajaan oleh Tengku Mansur dan seterusnya sebagai Sultan Mansur II. Sultan Mansur II digantikan oleh putera baginda, Sultan Muhammad. Pada tahun 1839, Baginda Omar berjaya mengalahkan Sultan Muhammad dan seterusnya menduduki takhta kerajaan Terengganu. Ketika pemerintahan baginda, Terengganu berkembang maju.

Apabila Baginda Omar mangkat, takhta kerajaan Terengganu diduduki oleh Sultan Ahmad Shah II (1876 - 1881). Sultan Ahmad Shah pula digantikan oleh putera baginda, Sultan Zainal Abidin III (1881 - 1918). Ketika pemerintahan baginda, British beberapa kali cuba melibatkan diri dalam kerajaan Terengganu.

Sultan Zainal Abidin III 

Pada tahun 1911, Sultan Zainal Abidin III meluluskan Undang-Undang Bagi Diri Kerajaan Negeri Terengganu yang di antara lain menyatakan Sultan Yang DiPertuan Besar Terengganu memiliki kuasa kerajaan dan jajahan serta adalah ketua tertinggi kerajaan Terengganu. Seterusnya takhta kerajaan digantikan oleh Sultan Muhammad Shah II (1918 - 1920) dan Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah (1920 - 1942).

Menurut Warta Cahaya Timor No.38 bertarikh 29 September 1942, apabila Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah telah mangkat pada 26 September 1942, Tengku Ali, yang dirujuk sebagai putera sulong baginda telah dilantik sebagai "Pemangku Sultan Sementara" oleh pihak pentadbiran Jepun pada 29 September 1942. Seterusnya Tengku Ali telah diberikan gelaran "Sultan" pada 30 September 1942 oleh Gabenor Jepun. Walau bagaimanapun perlantikan ini dinyatakan tidak menurut Undang-Undang Diri Bagi Negeri Terengganu 1911.

• 1708 - 1733: Tun Zainal Abidin
• 1733 - 1794: Sultan Mansur I
• 1794 - 1808: Sultan Zainal Abidin II
• 1808 - 1830: Sultan Ahmad
• 1830: Sultan Abdul Rahman
• 1830 - 1831: Sultan Daud
• 1831 - 1837: Sultan Mansur II
• 1837 - 1839: Sultan Muhammad
• 1839 - 1876: Baginda Omar
• 1876 - 1881: Sultan Ahmad Shah II
• 1881 - 1918: Sultan Zainal Abidin III, putera Sultan Ahmad Shah II ;
• 1918 - 1920: Sultan Muhammad Shah II
• 1920 - 1942: Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah
• 1942 - 1945: Tengku Ali
• 1945 - 1979: Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah
• 1979 - 1998: Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
• 1998 - kini: Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin

Tengku Sri Paduka Raja, Tengku Ismail diisythiarkan sebagai Sultan Terengganu pada 16 Disember 1945. Baginda seterusnya ditabalkan pada tahun 1949 dengan gelaran Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah. Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin dilantik sebagai Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong ke-6 dari 21 September 1965 hingga 20 September 1970. Dalam tempoh itu Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Tengku Mahmud dilantik sebagai Pemangku Raja Terengganu. Apabila Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah mangkat pada tahun 1979, takhta kerajaan digantikan oleh putera baginda, Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Yang DiPertuan Muda Tengku Mahmud. Baginda menduduki takhta kerajaan Terengganu dengan gelaran Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah. Sultan Mahmud mangkat pada 15 Mei 1998 di Singapura. Dengan itu, takhta kerajaan Terengganu digantikan oleh putera baginda, Yang DiPertuan Muda Tengku Mizan.

Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin

Negeri Sembilan History & Culture

The Minangkabau People of Sumatra came to settle in Negeri Sembilan in the 15th century. In its early history, Negeri Sembilan as a unified State did not exist. It was rather a loose confederation of nine fiefdoms which developed in the secluded valley of the region. They were under the protection of the Melaka Sultanate until its collapse in 1511 when the Portuguese arrived.

Thereafter they became the vassal of the Johor Sultanate until the 18th century when it had become weak. Attacks by the Bugis forced the Minangkabaus to seek protection from a prince from their homeland. Raja Melewar of Pagar Ruyong. This resulted in the proclamation of Raja Melewar as the first Yam Tuan or the 'Yang Dipertuan Besar' (meaning 'He who is Greatest') of Negeri Sembilan in 1773. The fiefdoms of Sungai Ujong, Rembau, Johol, Jelebu, Naning, Segamat, Ulu Pahang,
Jelai and Kelang were brought together under his rule. Subsequent civil wars among the nine Malay chieftains resulted in the intervention of the British and in appointing a British Resident in 1895. Today Negeri Sembilan is still not ruled by a sultan but by the Yang Di pertuan Besar.

 Culture
The Minangkabau brought along with them a rich cultural heritage which is still preserved and practised today as the fascinating ‘Adat Pepatih’, a matrilineal system of inheritance and administration that is unique to the State. A maritrilineal system is one where the wife is the head of the household and inheritance passes from the mother to the daughter. The Minangkabaus are divided into twelve suku or clans, and marriage between between members of the same clan is forbidden. The Minangkabau influence in the state can be found in dances and food as well.
Cuisine
Traditional Negeri Sembilan food is hot and spicy, as one of the ingredients used is the chili padi, the hottest of chillies. Popular dishes include rendang, (pieces of beef cooked in coconut milk and chillies). One should experience the unique Minangkabau style of cooking, which sees generous portions of 'chili padi' (small & extremely hot chilies) being used. Try the "Masak Lemak Chili Padi - fish, meat, or vegetables cooked in coconut milk blended with turmeric and ground chili padi.

Another NS specialty is "Lemang", glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk in a bamboo stem over an open fire. This is normally served with Rendang, a deliciously thick, dry meat curry.
Dances
 Negeri Sembilan also boasts traditional music like the Caklempong, Dikir Rebana, Tumbuk Kalang, and Bongai.

Even the musical instruments used bear some semblance to Sumatra, the ancestral home of the Minankabau people. Dances like the tarian lilin (candle dance) and rentak kuda (beat of the horse) are popular. Not to mention the beautifully coordinated graceful movements of the dancers in their colorful costumes in the captivating Tarian Piring and the upbeat tempo of Tarian Randai. Unlike modern dance, each beat, rhythm and movement in these dances combine to form a story, maybe of a bygone myth or simply a reflection of the lifestyles of another era.

They are usually performed at traditional festivities, cultural events and dinner-cum-cultural shows. The movements of the dance with the music pulsating, create a joyous air of fiesta and revelry among the celebrants and are often rhythmically alluring..
Negeri Sembilan Museum & Crafts and Culture Complex
(Taman Seni Budaya)

The complex consists of several buildings like the State Museum, Teratak Perpatih, Rumah Negeri Sembilan (Negeri Sembilan House), Top-Spinning Court as well as replicas of the Megaliths found in Pengkalan Kempas.


Location: In Jalan Labu, near the main exit from the North-South Expressway
to Seremban town centre
Entrance to the compex is free and the opening hours are:
Saturdays through Thursdays, 10am to 6pm
Fridays, 10am to 12.15pm and 2.45pm to 6pm
State Museum (formerly Ampang Tinggi Palace)
The State Museum building is a historical artefact in itself. The building was originally the Ampang Tinggi Palace, built in the year 1861 by Yam Tuan Imam Sri Menanti at Ampang Tinggi, Kuala Pilah. Later in 1980, this beautiful building was moved to its present location at the Arts and Culture Complex

This palace was originally built as a gift to Tunku Chindai, the daughter of the 5th Yang Di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, when she married Tunku Muda Chik, the son of the 4th Yam Tuan, Yam Tuan Radin. Built without the use of any nails, this timber palace contains an unusual number of finely carved panels and a pair of heavy sliding doors.

Among others, this museum houses collections of artifacts from the Royal family such as artillery, copper and silver ware. The building overlooks a beautiful rectangular green lawn awhere you will find British and Malay-made canons referred to as the 'ekor lotong' and 'lela'.
Teratak Perpatih
Nearby, stands the Teratak Perpatih house, commanding a prominent presence in the complex. Its unique roof design, mimicking the two pointed ends of a buffalo's horns is typical of Minangkabau traditional house. Inside, you can find local crafts including porcelain, woodcraft and batik. Other exhibits available here include traditional musical instrument and Minangkabau costume.
Negeri Sembilan House
Yet another building found in this complex is the Negeri Sembilan House, originally built by a Malay prince in 1898 in Air Garam village in Mambau. Referred to as the 'Ghost House' (Rumah Berhantu) by local villagers, the interiors of this mysterious house is furnished with old furniture.