SULTAN KUDARAT
Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat was a Muslim ruler who reigned the Sultanate of Maguindanao from 1625 to 1671.
Known for bravery, leadership, and defending the Islamic faith and Philippine liberty, he embodied the idea of basic unity, oneness and freedom among the people of the Sultanate. For this reason, he was honored as National Hero of the Filipino people by the late President Ferdinand Marcos.
His legacy: responsible for keeping Mindanao united while Filipino Muslims fought against Spanish invaders.
HISTORY
Introduction of Islam and its institution has been credited to SHARIFF MUHAMMED KABUNGSUWAN. A Johore Muslim who re –settled in Mindanao in the Philippines and established the Sultanate of Maguindanao sometime in 1515. The Maguindanao were converted to Islam by Shariff Kabungsuwan, a Muslim Prince, who claimed to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammad s.a.w. In time, he married into the established Local Royalty.
Nine years after the coming of the Spanish colonizer to the Philippines, precisely, in the year 1580, SULTAN MUHAMMAD DIPATUAN KUDARAT WAS BORN. This great Muslim leader ruled over his Sultanate of Maguindanao (Now Mindanao) in a span of 52 years (1619-1671).
He was a fearless fighter and Filipino Hero in defense of Islamic faith and Philippine liberty. His reign covered the first half of the 17th century,. Brave, wise and benevolent. He was the greatest and strongest Mindanao Sultan.
The Unbroken Royal Lineage of the Sultanate of Maguindanao begins with the coming of SHARIFF KABUNGSUWAN. To validate family stories,this genealogical accounts excerpt from the original Tarsila of the Maguindanao Sultanate traces direct lineal descent(from Father-to-Son) through generation and usually sustained by agnation. The table of lineage will illustrate this point.