Raja Hijau facts for kids

Raja Hijau, also called Ratu Hijau, was a powerful queen of the Patani Kingdom. She ruled from 1584 to 1616. Her name means "the Green Queen." Many people called her the "great queen of Patani." Her time as ruler brought a "golden age" to Patani. This means it was a time of great peace and wealth.

Early Life of Raja Hijau

Raja Hijau was the oldest of three daughters. Her father was Sultan Mansur Shah. Historical records do not mention her being married. Her younger brother, Bahdur, became king when he was only 10 years old. However, he was killed in 1584. After this, Raja Hijau became the queen.

Raja Hijau's Reign

Raja Hijau became queen in 1584. This was after a time of trouble in Patani. The country had been unstable for about twenty years. There were not many male heirs to the throne. Many of them had been killed during this difficult period.

Raja Hijau took on the special title of peracau. This title came from the Siamese royal family. Early in her rule, she stopped an attempt to overthrow her. This was planned by her prime minister, Bendahara Kayu Kelat. She also ordered a dam to be built. This helped bring water to Patani through a new channel. She ruled for 32 years. During her time, she brought a lot of peace and order to the country.

Trade and Visitors

During Raja Hijau's rule, trade with other countries grew a lot. Traders from Europe, like the Portuguese and Dutch, came to Patani's port. Most of the merchants were Chinese. Some important Chinese traders, like Datu Sirinara, even became Muslim. They also adopted the customs of the Malay court.

The first Dutch trading agents visited Patani in 1602. English traders arrived in 1612. A Dutch writer named Jacob van Neck wrote about Patani in 1604. He said Patani was a rich place under Raja Hijau. He described her as "one well-disposed to merchants." This means she was kind and helpful to traders.

The arrival of Europeans also led to some conflicts. The Dutch attacked English ships in Patani. This caused the English to leave Patani. Even so, Patani became very rich because of all the new trade.

A Queen of Splendor

European visitors were very impressed by Queen Raja Hijau. They also admired the grand style of her court. An Englishman named Peter Floris visited Patani in 1612. He described the queen as a "comely oldewoman." He also said she was "tall of person and full of majestie." He felt he had not seen many like her in all of the Indies.

When she went hunting, over 600 boats went with her. A Dutchman named Roelof Roelofsz described a parade in Patani in 1602. He said the queen was greeted by about 4,000 armed men. The parade also had 156 large elephants. Some of these elephants were decorated very beautifully. Jacob van Neck said her palace had "golden panels and carved wooden decorations."

Under Raja Hijau, Patani became a center for culture. It produced excellent music, dance, and drama. People also made high-quality handicrafts. Peter Floris said a dance he saw in Patani was the best he had ever seen.

Death and Legacy

Raja Hijau passed away on August 28, 1616. She had ruled for 32 years. After her death, she was given the special title of Marhum Ketemangan. According to an old story called Hikayat Patani, all the men were told to shave their heads. All the women trimmed their hair as a sign of mourning. Her younger sister, Raja Biru, became the next queen.