Sultanate of Maldives

1153-1968 state in the Indian Ocean

"Monarchy of the Maldives" redirects here. For Rulers of the Maldives, see List of Maldivian monarchs.

Sultanate of Maldives

Dhivehi Raajje (Dhivehi)

* 1153–1953
* 1954–1968

Top: Flag
(1926–1953)
Bottom: Flag
(1954–1965)

Emblem
(1940–1968)

Maldives (bottom left) in 1920.

Status| Sovereign state
(1153–1558, 1573–1600s, 1965–1968)
Arakkal vassal
(1757–1759, 1766–1773)
Portuguese colony
(1558–1573)
Dutch protectorate
(1600s–1796)
British protectorate
(1796–1965)
Capital| Malé
Common languages| Dhivehi
Government|

* Hereditary absolute monarchy (1153–1932)
* Elective constitutional monarchy (1932–1953, 1954–1968)

Sultan|

• 1153–1165

| Muhammad al-Adil

• 1954–1968

| Muhammad Fareed Didi
History|

• Established

| 1153

• Portuguese expelled

| 1573

• First republic declared

| 1 January 1953

• Sultanate restored

| 6 March 1954

• Independence from the United Kingdom

| 26 July 1965

• Dissolved

| 11 November 1968

Preceded by | Succeeded by

|

|  | Kingdom of Maldives

|

| Republic of Maldives |

|

United Suvadive Republic |

The Sultanate of Maldives[a] (Dhivehi: Dhivehi Raajje, "the country of the Dhivehi people")[1] was an Islamic monarchy that controlled the Maldivian Archipelago for 815 years (1153–1968), with interruption.

Maldives was a Buddhist kingdom until its last monarch, King Dhovemi, converted to Islam in the year 1153; thereafter he also adopted the Muslim title and name Sultan Muhammad al-Adil. Six dynasties would rule over the Maldives until the Sultanate become elective in 1932.

From the 16th century, the Sultanate increasingly came under European influence, starting with a 15-year period of Portuguese rule. After the expulsion of the Portuguese, the Maldives became subject to Dutch hegemony before finally becoming a British protected state in 1796.[b] Following an abortive attempt at forming a republic in 1953, the emergence of a short-lived breakaway state, and the establishment of independence from the United Kingdom, the Sultanate was abolished following a successful referendum in 1968, and the Maldives became a republic.

## History[edit]

Main article: History of the Maldives

### Introduction of Islam[edit]

Prior to Islamic rule, the Maldives had been united under a Buddhist monarchy since the third century BCE. Maldivan exposure to Islam originated from Middle Eastern sailors and merchants; the Maldivan archipelago's strategic location in the Indian Ocean and abundance of cowrie shells, a popular currency, proved lucrative.[2][3]

In 1153, Sunni Muslim visitor Abu al Bar-akat converted the last Buddhist monarch of the Maldives, King Dhovemi, to Islam. This would mark the beginning of the Sultanate. For the next four centuries, the Sultanate would experience an era of peace and prosperity as its important Indian Ocean location allowed it to trade with much of Asia and Africa.[2]

### Portuguese and Dutch hegemony[edit]

The Portuguese arrived in the Maldives in 1507 and forced Sultan Kalu Muhammad to deliver an annual tribute of coir rope. In 1558, a Portuguese garrison was established on Malé and the Sultan was overthrown. Thus, the Maldives were administered from Portuguese Goa for the next 15 years, during which Christianity was imposed on the locals. In 1573, a popular revolt led by Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-Auzam drove the Portuguese away from the islands and reestablished Maldivan sovereignty. The struggle against colonial rule left a lasting impression on the native Maldivians and was a formative moment in the realization of a Maldivan identity. The liberation of the Maldives is still celebrated as the national day of the country.[3][4]

In the mid-seventeenth century, the Dutch would govern the Maldives from their colony of Dutch Ceylon. However, their form of rule was indirect; they did not involve themselves in the local affairs of the Sultanate.[4][5]

### British protection and dissolution[edit]

In 1796, the British Empire expelled the Dutch from Ceylon and included the Maldives as a British protected area. The status of the Maldivan sultanate as a British protectorate was confirmed in an 1887 agreement. Like the Dutch, the British left the local customs of the Maldivians alone, allowing independent internal administration of the islands. However, the British era was one in which the power and influence of the Sultan was progressively weakened; thus, the British encouraged the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.[2][4]

In 1932, the first constitution of the Maldives was put into effect. It limited the absolute powers of the Sultan, created the People's Majlis, and made a number of reforms; however, fears that this constitution favored British officials rather than the Maldivian people resulted in the constitution being torn up by an angry mob.[4] A second constitution was resultantly published in 1937, and a third constitution was created in 1953. This document dissolved the Sultanate, replacing it with a presidential republic under Mohamed Amin Didi.[6]

This system proved unpopular, however, and Amin Didi was ousted and later killed by a mob. A referendum resulted in the restoration of the Sultanate in 1954.[2]

In 1959, the three Southern atolls of the Maldives (Addu Atoll, Huvadhu Atoll, and Fuvahmulah) declared independence from the Sultanate of the Maldives and established the United Suvadive Republic. These atolls seceded over the issues of the centralization of power in Malé, restrictions on travel and trade, and the presence of the British military. The republic was reannexed into the Maldives in 1963.[6][7]

In July 1965, the Maldives gained full independence from the United Kingdom. Three years later, a final referendum was held and resulted in the establishment of a presidential republic, putting an end to the 815-year-old Sultanate.[7]

## See also[edit]

* Buddhism in the Maldives
* List of Maldivian monarchs

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ Also known as the Sultanate of Maldive Islands or Mahaldib (Arabic)[1]
2. ^ De jure 1887

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom, Barcelona 1999, ISBN 84-7254-801-5
2. ^ a b c d Metz; Chapin, Helen (1995). Indian Ocean: five island countries. Library of Congress. Federal Research Division. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
3. ^ a b Yang, Bin (7 December 2018). Cowrie Shells and Cowrie Money. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780429952333. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
4. ^ a b c d Maldives Investment and Business Guide (August 2013 ed.). International Business Publications USA. 20 March 2009. pp. 33–34. ISBN 9781438768137. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
5. ^ "Maldives profile - Timeline". BBC. BBC. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
6. ^ a b Chen, Ying-Yu; Porsche-Ludwig, Markus (2021). Handbook of Asian States. Lit Verlag. pp. 373–374. ISBN 9783643911001. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
7. ^ a b Tan, Kevin; Hoque, Ridwanul (28 January 2021). Constitutional Foundings in South Asia. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781509930265. Retrieved 14 December 2022.

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Maldives articles

History|

* Museum
* Folklore
* Buddhism
* Koimala
* Sultanate
* Dynasties
* Monarchs
* 1952 republic referendum
* 1953 monarchy referendum
* 1968 republic referendum
* 1988 coup d'état attempt
* 2003 civil unrest
* 2004 Black Friday
* 2005 civil unrest
* 2008 Multi-party democracy
* 2011–13 political crisis

Geography|

* Atolls
* Channels
* Climate
* Climate change
* Islands
* Towns and villages
* Wildlife
* Baa Atoll UNESCO biosphere reserve

Politics|

* Administrative divisions
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* Judiciary
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* Military
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* President

Economy|

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