The
Old Pahang Kingdom appeared in foreign records from as early as 5th century and at its height, covered much of the modern state of
Pahang and the entire southerly part of the peninsula. Throughout its pre-Melakan history, Pahang was established as a
mueang or
naksat of some major regional Malayic
mandalas including
Langkasuka,
Srivijaya and
Ligor. Around the middle of the 15th century, it was brought into the orbit of
Melaka Sultanate and subsequently established as a
vassal Muslim Sultanate in 1470, following the coronation of the grandson of the former
Maharaja as the first Sultan of Pahang. Over the years, Pahang grew independent from Melakan control and at one point even established itself as a rival state to Melaka until the latter's
demise in 1511. At the height of its influence, the Sultanate was an important power in Southeast Asian history and controlled the entire Pahang basin, bordering to the north, the
Pattani Sultanate, and adjoins to that of
Johor Sultanate to the south. To the west, it also extends jurisdiction over part of modern-day
Selangor and
Negeri Sembilan. During this period, Pahang was heavily involved in attempts to rid the
Peninsula of the various foreign imperial powers;
Portugal,
Holland and
Aceh. After a period of
Acehnese raids in the early 17th century, Pahang entered into the amalgamation with the successor of Melaka,
Johor, when its 14th Sultan,
Abdul Jalil Shah III, was also crowned the 7th
Sultan of Johor. After a period of union with Johor, it was eventually revived as a modern sovereign Sultanate in the late 19th century by the
Bendahara dynasty. After a period of union with Johor, the autonomous
Pahang Kingdom came into existence with the consolidation of power by the
Bendahara family, following the gradual dismemberment of
Johor Empire. A self rule was established in Pahang in the late 18th century, with Tun Abdul Majid declared as the first Raja Bendahara. The area around Pahang formed a part of the hereditary domains attached to this title and administered directly by the
Raja Bendahara. The weakening of the Johor sultanate and the disputed succession to the throne was matched by an increasing independence of the great territorial magnates; the
Bendahara in Pahang, the
Temenggong in Johor and Singapore, and the Yamtuan Muda in Riau. In 1853, the fourth Raja Bendahara
Tun Ali, renounced his allegiance to the Sultan of Johor and became independent ruler of Pahang. He was able to maintain peace and stability during his reign, but his death in 1857 precipitated civil war between his sons. The younger son
Wan Ahmad challenged the succession of his half-brother
Tun Mutahir, in a dispute that escalated into a
civil war. Supported by the neighbouring
Terengganu Sultanate and the Siamese, Wan Ahmad emerged victorious, establishing controls over important towns and expelled his brother in 1863. He served as the last Raja Bendahara, and was proclaimed Sultan of Pahang by his chiefs in 1881. ==List of rulers==