Patani Kingdom

Patani, also called the Sultanate of Patani, was a Malay Muslim state in the historical Patani region, covering approximately the area of the modern Thai provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat together with part of Kelantan in Malaysia. Its predecessors included the Hindu-Buddhist kingdom of Langkasuka, which had flourished as a trading centre from the second century and reached its height in the sixth and seventh centuries before silting and changing trade routes reduced its importance. The immediate origin of Patani is uncertain: the Hikayat Patani names Kota Mahligai as its predecessor, and the foundation may have occurred between 1350 and 1450, while some scholars identify Patani with the earlier state the Chinese called Pan Pan. The sultanate's golden age began under Raja Hijau, the first of four successive queens, who came to the throne in 1584; she was followed by Raja Biru, Raja Ungu and Raja Kuning. During this period Patani's economic and military strength grew sharply, and it repelled four major Siamese invasions. The kingdom declined in the late seventeenth century and was invaded by Siam in 1786. Its last raja was deposed in 1902, when the state was finally absorbed into Siam. Patani's court, Malay manuscript culture and long-distance trade made it one of the most important Malay sultanates of the eastern peninsula.