Sultanate of Kedah: Map & History
The Kedah Sultanate is a Muslim dynasty located in the Malay Peninsula.
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The Kedah Sultanate is a Muslim dynasty located in the Malay Peninsula. It was originally an independent state, but became a British protectorate in 1909. Its monarchy was abolished after it was added to the Malayan Union but was restored and added to the Malayan Union's successor, the Federation of Malaya.
Modern Countries Once Part of Sultanate of Kedah
At its mapped extent, Sultanate of Kedah covered territory in 2 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Sultanate of Kedah's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Sultanate of Kedah in Depth
History
By around 788 BCE, a systematic government of a large settlement of Malay native of Kedah had been established around the northern bank of the Merbok River. The state consisted of a large area of the Bujang Valley, covering the Merbok and Muda River branches in an approximately 1,000-square mile area. The capital of the settlement was built at the estuary of a branch of the Merbok River, now known as Sungai Batu. Around 170 CE, groups of Hindus arrived at Kedah, who were soon joined by peoples from nearby islands and from the northern Mon-Khmer region. At the same time, traders from India, Persia and the Arabian Peninsula arrived at the brink of the Malacca Strait, using Gunung Jerai (the Kedah Peak) as a marking point.
Culture
The nobat musical instruments of Nagara and Nepiri were introduced to Kedah by Maharaja Derbar Raja. The instrument is also called semambu. The band is led by the king, and it consists of drums, a gong, a flute and a trumpet. Today, nobat is a royal orchestra, played only during royal ceremonies such as inaugurations, weddings, and funerals. The building which houses the instruments and where the ensemble rehearses is known as the Balai Nobat, literally the Office of Nobat, in Alor Setar city proper.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Kedah Sultanate (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Sultanate of Kedah: Key Facts
| Founded | 1136 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 1909 |
Preceded by
- Early history of Kedah
Facts from Wikidata Q1317579 (CC0).
Sultanate of Kedah Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Sultanate of Kedah appears, with the other states of the time.
Sultanate of Kedah Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 18,586 km² in 1334 CE.
Sultanate of Kedah: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Sultanate of Kedah exist?
The Sultanate of Kedah is dated to 1139 CE – 1910 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of the Sultanate of Kedah?
The capital of the Sultanate of Kedah was Alor Setar, Anak Bukit.
How large was the Sultanate of Kedah at its peak?
At its peak in 1334 AD the Sultanate of Kedah covered about 18,586 km².
How did the map of the Sultanate of Kedah change over time?
The Sultanate of Kedah appears on 9 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1200 CE to 1900 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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