Siti Wan Kembang facts for kids

An artist's idea of what Siti Wan Kembang might have looked like.

Che Siti Wan Kembang was a brave and wise queen from a long time ago. She ruled a part of Malaysia called Kelantan, which is on the east coast. She was queen from 1610 to 1667.

People knew Che Siti for her great wisdom. She came from a royal family with roots in Champa, Kelantan, and Pattani.

She was also a strong warrior queen! She rode into battles on horseback with a sword. An army of female horse-riders joined her. Some stories say that she and her adopted daughter, Puteri Saadong, had special magical powers.

Who Was Che Siti Wan Kembang?

Her Early Life and Family

Cik Siti Wan Kembang was born in 1585. Her parents were Raja Ahmad and Cik Banun. Both of them came from royal families. Raja Ahmad became the Ruler of Kelantan in 1584.

Sadly, Raja Ahmad died in 1589. Cik Siti was only 4 years old then. Because she was so young, Raja Hussein of Johor became the temporary ruler of Kelantan.

Becoming Queen of Kelantan

Cik Siti Wan Kembang became the Queen of Kelantan in 1610 AD. This happened after Raja Hussein passed away. She was said to live in a place called Gunung Chinta Wangsa. This area is in Ulu Kelantan, about 40 kilometers from Kuala Krai.

Cik Siti never got married and did not have her own children. She adopted a girl named Puteri Saadong. Puteri Saadong was the princess of the ruler of Jembal. Cik Siti had a very close friendship with the Jembal royal family.

What Are Kijang Coins?

The Story Behind the Coins

The Kijang gold coins are very famous. Kijang means "muntjac" in the Malay language. A muntjac is a type of small deer. The coins got their name because they have pictures of this animal on them. These Kijang coins are often linked to Queen Cik Siti.

One popular story from Kelantan says that the muntjac was Cik Siti's favorite pet. She loved it very much since she was young. Another tale says an Arab trader visited her country. He wanted to trade and gave the Queen a muntjac as a gift. She liked the muntjac so much that she ordered its picture to be put on her country's gold coins.

The Strong Jelasin Fort

Protecting Kelantan from Attacks

Jelasin Fort, also known as Kota Jelasin, was a very important building. It was located in the southern part of Kota Bharu, which is the capital city of Kelantan. The fort was about 4 to 8 kilometers from the town center.

The fort was built in 1563. It was made for Cik Siti Wan Kembang, her adopted daughter Puteri Saadong, and Puteri Saadong's husband, Raja Abdullah.

The Fort's History

People believe Jelasin Fort was on the eastern side of the Kelantan River. It was built from thick wood and had beautiful carvings. The fort was very well-known when Che Siti was queen. Its main job was to protect Kelantan from attacks by other kingdoms.

History tells us that the King of Thailand once attacked Jelasin Fort. After this attack, Puteri Saadong disappeared. The fort started to fall apart after she was gone. Today, it is hard to see the ruins of the fort. Not much has been done to save it.

What Happened to Queen Che Siti?

Her Mysterious Disappearance

Many legends say that Che Siti never truly died. Instead, she "disappeared" into a mystical world. People believe she sometimes reappears from time to time.

After her "disappearance," her adopted daughter, Puteri Saadong, became the next ruler. Puteri Saadong was the youngest daughter of Raja Jembal.

See also

In Spanish: Siti Wan Kembang para niños