Raja Kuning facts for kids
Raja Kuning, also known as Ratu Kuning, was a powerful queen who ruled the Patani Kingdom in the 1600s. Her name means "the Yellow Queen."
She became queen after her mother, Queen Raja Ungu. Raja Kuning was the last of four queens who ruled Patani one after another, starting in 1584. She is seen as the last true queen of Patani in old records. Because Patani became less popular for traders in the late 1600s, there are not many historical writings from that time. Historians are not sure exactly when her rule ended or who became ruler after her.
Early Life of Raja Kuning
Raja Kuning was the daughter of Queen Raja Ungu and the Sultan of Pahang. After her father, the Sultan of Pahang, passed away, she and her mother returned to Patani. People said she was named Kuning, meaning "Yellow," because her skin had a light, yellowish color.
When she was 12 years old, Raja Kuning married Okphaya Déca, the King of Bordelong Phatthalung. This marriage was meant to create a strong friendship between the Patani Kingdom and the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Later, Patani and Ayutthaya had problems. So, her mother, Queen Raja Ungu, arranged for Raja Kuning to marry Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah III of Johor in 1632. This new marriage made Okphaya Déca angry, and he encouraged Ayutthaya to attack Patani.
Raja Kuning's Time as Queen
About 18 months after the war between Patani and Ayutthaya, Queen Raja Ungu died in 1635. Princess Kuning then became the new queen of Patani. Ayutthaya was getting ready to fight Patani again in 1636. However, the Raja of Kedah stepped in to help Patani and Ayutthaya talk things out.
Raja Kuning decided not to continue the war. She made peace with Ayutthaya again and even visited the Ayutthaya court in 1641. She also started sending the bunga mas (a golden flower tribute) to Ayutthaya once more. However, it seemed she did not have a lot of political power herself. Important decisions were often made by the powerful leaders, known as the orang kaya, in the country. Five days after she became queen, her personal money was given to the state.
Her marriage to Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah III of Johor ended around 1642 or 1643. She then married the Sultan's brother. It is not clear if she chose to marry him or if she was forced. Her new husband seemed to take over her throne by 1644. This prince from Johor upset the Patani leaders. He demanded that their wives and daughters come to the palace to serve him. He even threatened to punish them if they refused.
Because of this, the Patani leaders attacked the prince of Johor. They killed many people who were with him and forced him to go back to Johor. In 1646, Patani joined other states to fight against Ayutthaya. Then, in 1649, Patani joined Songkla to capture Ligor (Nakhon Si Thammarat). The Siamese army fought back and took control of the southern states, making them pay tribute again.
The End of Her Rule
The exact details of how Raja Kuning's rule ended are not clear. Patani's own historical writings do not say much about it. According to records from Kelantan, Raja Kuning was removed from power in 1651. The Raja of Kelantan was angry because she would not accept his right to rule. The Raja of Kelantan then put his own son in charge of Patani.
However, a queen seemed to be ruling Patani again by 1670. When Phetracha took control of Ayutthaya in 1688, Patani refused to accept him as ruler and rebelled. Ayutthaya then invaded Patani with 50,000 soldiers and took control. Some people say Raja Kuning's rule ended in 1688. But it is more likely that the queen in 1670 was a different person, and Raja Kuning's rule truly ended in 1651. It is said that Raja Kuning died while traveling by sea to Johor to meet her husband. She was buried in Pancor in Kelantan.
