Sultan Kudarat
1581 - 1671
Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat or better known as Sultan Kudarat is the seventh Sultan of the Maguindanao Sultanate. During his rule he successfully resisted the Spaniards trying to occupy his land and prevented the spread of Christianity on the island of Mindanao. He came from the family of Shariff Kabungsuwan, a Muslim missionary who brought Islam to the Philippines between the 13th and the 14th centuries. His name is named after the province of Sultan Kudarat, as well as the town of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, where the descendants of the Datu and leaders are the current political leaders. Under the leadership of Ferdinand Marcos Sultan Kudarat became a national hero.
The Spaniards considered him a major obstacle to the spread of Christianity in Mindanao. Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat was so smart and brave that he overcame the conquerors. The sultan's subjects were so confident that no one betrayed him.
Sultan Kudarat or Corralat for the Spaniards led the Sultanate of Maguindanao from 1619 to 1671. He was born in the last decade of the sixteenth century. He is the son of Datu Buisan, an Iranun and Ambang. His name Dipatuan is derived from the Malay word meaning "ruler", and Kudarat is the Arabic word for "strength". Respected by all the inhabitants of the Maguindanao Sultanate in his leadership, he has united the culture of Lanao, Cotabato, Dabaw and Zamboanga. They united in protesting the Spanish occupation.
In 1637 Governor General Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuero sent an invasion expedition over the land of Kudarat. Enemies overthrew his fortress at Lamitan. But Kudarat escaped to the mountains and there gathered strength and force to continue his fight against the invaders.
In 1638, on his disappearance in Maguindanao, Corcuero attempted to persuade the Rajah of Buena Rajah Rajah White to claim that the towns were within Kudarat's power. The Spaniards failed in this plan because they eventually had misunderstandings about certain aspects of the treaty.
Corcuero next married Maputi's rival Datu Manakior the Taulanen leader. Corcuero's plans to suppress the two leaders thus weakened Kudarat's influence which was his main aim. Maputi's forces were defeated and he fled to the Desert.
Kudarat returned to Simuay. Kudarat's scope and influence continued to expand after a two-year stay in Lake Lanao, something that was unexpected and deeply frustrated by the Spaniards.
In 1645, despite several conflicts between Kudarat's forces and the Spanish, an agreement was reached that would improve relations between the two sides. He allowed the Jesuits to come in and freely express their faith. In the meantime, he used this peace to further strengthen his influence in the Visayas and even other Sultanates in Southeast Asia such as Johore, Ternate, Sulu and Brunei. Rajah Maputi and Datu Manakior arranged for Kudarat. As a result, Maguindanao and Bayan were reunited.
In 1655, ten years after the peaceful settlement, the hostile relations of both sides returned. The Maguindanao and Buayan Sultanates have rejected Jesuit missionaries for showing improper conduct. Baratamay, the new Sultan of Buayan, kills two Jesuits because one of them insults him and insists on being baptized as a Catholic. Kudarat wrote to all the leaders and warned them to prepare for possible widespread revenge by the Spaniards. Their hopes were never met because the Spanish realized the extent and strength of Kudarat's forces.
In 1663, the Spanish left Zamboanga and the native Catholics converted to Islam. There was a long peace between Kudarat and the Spaniards while maintaining their distances.
Enemies never captured Kudarat. He is a very religious man and fulfills all his Islamic duties. Courageous and achieved remarkable victories in war. He is also known as Nasir uddin or the "Servant of Faith."
When he died in 1671, his son Datu Dundang Tiidulay succeeded him as sultan. He was buried near the sea at Simuay.
sources:
• "Manobo".
