The Maldivian Sultanate: Eight Centuries of Monarchy
Between the conversion to Islam in 1153 CE and the referendum of 1968, the Maldives was governed as a sultanate. Across those eight centuries the throne passed through several dynasties, survived a Portuguese occupation and a British protectorate, and was even briefly interrupted by a republic before being restored — and finally abolished by popular vote.
Origins of the sultanate
The first sultan was the converted king of 1153, remembered as Sultan Muhammad al-Adil. From the outset the sultanate blended Islamic kingship with older Maldivian traditions of island governance, in which each inhabited island managed much of its daily life under appointed headmen.
Dynasties and notable rulers
Several dynasties held the throne over the centuries, and the succession was not always smooth — rivalries, depositions and restorations recur throughout the chronicles. Notably, the Maldives was among the Muslim states ruled at times by women: three sultanas reigned in the fourteenth century, the best known being Sultana Khadijah, whose reign was recorded by the traveller Ibn Battuta during his time in the islands.
The national hero: Muhammad Thakurufaanu
The sultanate's gravest crisis came in the sixteenth century, when Portuguese forces seized Malé and held it for roughly fifteen years. In 1573 Muhammad Thakurufaanu, from the island of Utheemu in the north, led a guerrilla campaign that expelled the occupiers. He subsequently ruled as sultan and founded the Utheemu dynasty. His memory is honoured today at the Utheemu Ganduvaru, his preserved childhood residence, and in annual National Day commemorations.
The sultanate under British protection
In 1887 the sultan signed an agreement placing the Maldives under British protection. Crucially, this was not colonisation: Britain took charge of defence and external affairs, while the sultanate continued to govern internally. Written constitutions began to appear in the twentieth century, gradually formalising and limiting royal power.
Interruption and restoration
In 1953 the monarchy was briefly abolished in favour of a first republic under President Mohamed Amin Didi, but the experiment lasted less than a year before the sultanate was restored. The final sultan reigned until the country, having gained full independence in 1965, voted in a 1968 referendum to become a republic once more.
The end of the monarchy
On 11 November 1968 the second republic was declared, ending the sultanate after more than eight hundred years. The anniversary is marked annually as Republic Day. The royal era survives in Malé's historic sites — the Old Friday Mosque, the royal cemetery and the Muleeaage palace — and in the ceremonial memory of the nation.
FAQ
How long did the Maldivian sultanate last?
From the conversion to Islam in 1153 CE until the republic referendum of 1968 — more than eight hundred years, with one brief republican interruption in 1953.
Did the Maldives ever have female rulers?
Yes. Three sultanas reigned in the fourteenth century, including Sultana Khadijah, noted by the traveller Ibn Battuta.
Who was Muhammad Thakurufaanu?
The national hero who expelled the Portuguese occupiers in 1573 and founded the Utheemu dynasty of sultans.
