Siti Wan Kembang
Encyclopedia
Che Siti Wan Kembang is the legendary queen regnant over a region in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia
, which is now encompassed within Kelantan
state. She is believed to have ruled from 1548 to 1580, while other accounts state that she ruled in the 14th century.
Che Siti was famous for her beauty and wisdom. According to one account by the famous Muslim traveller Ibn Battuta
, who visited Siti Wan Kembang in 1345, he was enchanted by her "fair complexion" and "appearance of a Turkish princess". In his records, he identified her as Urduga. This description was said to fit Che Siti as she was of Arab blood and was descendant of the royal lineage of Champa
-Kelantan
-Patani. Ibn Battuta
mentioned in his records that the queen was able to converse in fluent Turkish.
She was also known as a warrior princess and was said to be able to enter battle on horseback with a sword with an army of female horseriders. It was said that she and her adopted daughter, Puteri Saadong
had mystical powers.
Kelantanese are very proud of their history and the deer generally symbolises Che Siti Wan Kembang as it was her favourite pet. The current state emblem of Kelantan
has two deers which represents Kelantan's rich history which can be traced back to the popular queen.
However, Raja Ahmad died in 1589, when the princess was only 4 years old. Therefore Raja Hussein of Johor
was made Regent of Kelantan. Che Siti Wan Kembang ascended to the throne of Kelantan in 1610 AD upon the death of Raja Hussein. She was said to have resided in Gunung Chinta Wangsa, Ulu Kelantan, located approximately 40 km from Kuala Krai
.
Che Siti never married, and therefore never had children of her own. She adopted Puteri Saadong
as her daughter. Puteri Saadong
was the princess of the ruler of Jembal, whom Che Siti had close ties with.
and derives its name from the deer engraving on the coin. The Kijang coins are generally associated with Che Siti.
According to Kelantanese folklore, some Arab traders presented a Kijang to the Queen. She became very fond of her pet and had it inscribed on the gold coins.
Another version was linked to the influence of Saivite Hinduism
. The connection was based on the fact that the earliest issue of Kijang coins resembled the Indian humped-back bull and the bull motif was depicted on ancient Hindu coins which were circulated in the Northern Malay States.
, the state capital of Kelantan
. It was built in 1563 for Cik Siti Wan Kembang, her adopted daughter Puteri Saadong
and Puteri Saadong's husband, Raja Abdullah.
The fort was made from thick wood with beautiful carvings and was very famous during the reign of Che Siti. It was used to defend Kelantan
from outside attacks. According to history, Jelasin Fort was attacked by the King of Siam and Puteri Saadong
disappeared after that. The condition of the fort soon deteriorated after her disappearance and the ruins of the fort is hardly noticeable nowadays as not much effort has been taken to conserve it.
, who was the youngest daughter of Raja Jembal.
Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia , also known as West Malaysia , is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula. Its area is . It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore. Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra...
, which is now encompassed within Kelantan
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
state. She is believed to have ruled from 1548 to 1580, while other accounts state that she ruled in the 14th century.
Che Siti was famous for her beauty and wisdom. According to one account by the famous Muslim traveller Ibn Battuta
Ibn Battuta
Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta , or simply Ibn Battuta, also known as Shams ad–Din , was a Muslim Moroccan Berber explorer, known for his extensive travels published in the Rihla...
, who visited Siti Wan Kembang in 1345, he was enchanted by her "fair complexion" and "appearance of a Turkish princess". In his records, he identified her as Urduga. This description was said to fit Che Siti as she was of Arab blood and was descendant of the royal lineage of Champa
Champa
The kingdom of Champa was an Indianized kingdom that controlled what is now southern and central Vietnam from approximately the 7th century through to 1832.The Cham people are remnants...
-Kelantan
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
-Patani. Ibn Battuta
Ibn Battuta
Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta , or simply Ibn Battuta, also known as Shams ad–Din , was a Muslim Moroccan Berber explorer, known for his extensive travels published in the Rihla...
mentioned in his records that the queen was able to converse in fluent Turkish.
She was also known as a warrior princess and was said to be able to enter battle on horseback with a sword with an army of female horseriders. It was said that she and her adopted daughter, Puteri Saadong
Puteri Saadong
Puteri Saadong or Mariam , was the adopted daughter of Siti Wan Kembang , the legendary Queen of Kelantan. Her full title is Tuan Puteri Saadong binti Raja Loyor, Puteri Vijaya Mala, Raja of Jembal, daughter of Raja Loyor bin Raja Sakti, Raja of Jembal.Puteri Saadong was brought up in Bukit Marak...
had mystical powers.
Kelantanese are very proud of their history and the deer generally symbolises Che Siti Wan Kembang as it was her favourite pet. The current state emblem of Kelantan
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
has two deers which represents Kelantan's rich history which can be traced back to the popular queen.
Background
According to certain historical records, Che Siti Wan Kembang was born in 1585. Her parents were Raja Ahmad and Cik Banun, both of royal lineage. Raja Ahmad was crowned Ruler of Kelantan in 1584.However, Raja Ahmad died in 1589, when the princess was only 4 years old. Therefore Raja Hussein of Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
was made Regent of Kelantan. Che Siti Wan Kembang ascended to the throne of Kelantan in 1610 AD upon the death of Raja Hussein. She was said to have resided in Gunung Chinta Wangsa, Ulu Kelantan, located approximately 40 km from Kuala Krai
Kuala Krai
Kuala Krai is a territory and town in the interior of the State of Kelantan in the north-east of Malaysia.-Kuala Krai territory:...
.
Che Siti never married, and therefore never had children of her own. She adopted Puteri Saadong
Puteri Saadong
Puteri Saadong or Mariam , was the adopted daughter of Siti Wan Kembang , the legendary Queen of Kelantan. Her full title is Tuan Puteri Saadong binti Raja Loyor, Puteri Vijaya Mala, Raja of Jembal, daughter of Raja Loyor bin Raja Sakti, Raja of Jembal.Puteri Saadong was brought up in Bukit Marak...
as her daughter. Puteri Saadong
Puteri Saadong
Puteri Saadong or Mariam , was the adopted daughter of Siti Wan Kembang , the legendary Queen of Kelantan. Her full title is Tuan Puteri Saadong binti Raja Loyor, Puteri Vijaya Mala, Raja of Jembal, daughter of Raja Loyor bin Raja Sakti, Raja of Jembal.Puteri Saadong was brought up in Bukit Marak...
was the princess of the ruler of Jembal, whom Che Siti had close ties with.
Kijang Coins
Differing views are given regarding the origin of the Kijang gold coins. Kijang means deer in the Malay languageMalay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
and derives its name from the deer engraving on the coin. The Kijang coins are generally associated with Che Siti.
According to Kelantanese folklore, some Arab traders presented a Kijang to the Queen. She became very fond of her pet and had it inscribed on the gold coins.
Another version was linked to the influence of Saivite Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
. The connection was based on the fact that the earliest issue of Kijang coins resembled the Indian humped-back bull and the bull motif was depicted on ancient Hindu coins which were circulated in the Northern Malay States.
Jelasin Fort
Jelasin fort is situated approximately 4 to 8 km from Kota BharuKota Bharu
Kota Bharu is a city in Malaysia, is the state capital and Royal City of Kelantan. It is also the name of the territory in which Kota Bharu City is situated. The name means 'new city' or 'new castle/fort' in Malay. Kota Bharu is situated in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, and lies...
, the state capital of Kelantan
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
. It was built in 1563 for Cik Siti Wan Kembang, her adopted daughter Puteri Saadong
Puteri Saadong
Puteri Saadong or Mariam , was the adopted daughter of Siti Wan Kembang , the legendary Queen of Kelantan. Her full title is Tuan Puteri Saadong binti Raja Loyor, Puteri Vijaya Mala, Raja of Jembal, daughter of Raja Loyor bin Raja Sakti, Raja of Jembal.Puteri Saadong was brought up in Bukit Marak...
and Puteri Saadong's husband, Raja Abdullah.
The fort was made from thick wood with beautiful carvings and was very famous during the reign of Che Siti. It was used to defend Kelantan
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
from outside attacks. According to history, Jelasin Fort was attacked by the King of Siam and Puteri Saadong
Puteri Saadong
Puteri Saadong or Mariam , was the adopted daughter of Siti Wan Kembang , the legendary Queen of Kelantan. Her full title is Tuan Puteri Saadong binti Raja Loyor, Puteri Vijaya Mala, Raja of Jembal, daughter of Raja Loyor bin Raja Sakti, Raja of Jembal.Puteri Saadong was brought up in Bukit Marak...
disappeared after that. The condition of the fort soon deteriorated after her disappearance and the ruins of the fort is hardly noticeable nowadays as not much effort has been taken to conserve it.
Succession
Legend has it that Che Siti never died but instead "disappeared" into the mystical world, and reappears from time to time. After her "disappearance", she was succeeded by her adopted daughter, Puteri SaadongPuteri Saadong
Puteri Saadong or Mariam , was the adopted daughter of Siti Wan Kembang , the legendary Queen of Kelantan. Her full title is Tuan Puteri Saadong binti Raja Loyor, Puteri Vijaya Mala, Raja of Jembal, daughter of Raja Loyor bin Raja Sakti, Raja of Jembal.Puteri Saadong was brought up in Bukit Marak...
, who was the youngest daughter of Raja Jembal.