Maldives was turned into a Sultanate in 1153 when the Buddhist King Dhovemi converted to Islam. Prior to that the Maldives was a Buddhist Kingdom, a Hindu Kingdom and before that a matriarchal societies across the different atolls in the country. All the rulers before King Koimala only ruled over parts of the Maldives or Deeva Maari (and Dheeva Mahal) as it was known then. Koimala was the first king to rule over all the islands of the Maldives.
The formal title of the Sultan up to 1965 was, Sultan of Land and Sea, Lord of the twelve-thousand islands and Sultan of the Maldives. After independence in 1965 the Sultan assumed the title King with the style Majesty. This style was used until 1968, when the Maldives became a republic for the second time. The main official Royal residence of the Sultan was the Etherekoilu, a palace in Malé.
The reigns of Sultans are from three sources. Taarikh (also known as the Tarikh lslam Diba Mahal) by Maldivian chronicler Hasan Taj Al-Din written in Arabic which covers 670 years of Maldives history, the Loamaafaanu copper plates and the third source called Raadhavalhi which was written in 1757 using both Dhives Akuru and Thaana.
The seven dynasties of Maldives were: Theemuge dynasty Hilaalee dynasty Utheemu dynasty Dhevvadhoo dynasty Isdhoo dynasty Dhiyamigili dynasty Huraa dynasty
Kingdom of Aditta Vansa to Theemuge dynasty Solar dynasty (Aditta Vansa) Name Monarch from Monarch until Notes Sri Soorudasaruna Adeettiya 573 BCE530 BCE King Sri Soorudasaruna Adeettiya is remembered in Maldivian tradition as the founder of the ancient monarchy, reigning from 573 to 530 BCE. He is said to have been the son of a Kalingan (eastern Indian) royal father and a royal mother from Sarunadipa (Sumatra).Unknown number of rulers The Mapanansa, the copper plates on which the history of the Kings of Solar Dynasty was written were lost quite early on.A 4th century notice written by Ammianus Marcellinus (362 CE) speaks of gifts sent to the Roman emperor Julian by a deputation from the nation of "Divi". The name "Divi" is very similar to "Dheyvi" who were the first settlers of Maldives. Srimati Damahara 953990 She is also spelled as Damahaar. Last ruler of the Solar Dynasty. It is unclear from the records how many other rulers ruled between the reigns of King Sri Soorudasaruna Adeettiya and Queen Damahara. Married Prince Sri Mahabaladitya from the Kalinga kingdom who later became the first king of the Lunar Dynasty. Al-Jawaliqi, writing in 1135 CE looking at earlier records, describes a queen of Maldives named "Danhara" ruling on an island called "Abannba".
Lunar dynasty (Soma Vansa) Name Monarch from Monarch until Notes Sri Mahabaladitya around 990unknown Prince from Kalinga kingdom of India. Married Queen Damahara of the Solar dynasty to become the ruler of Dheeva Maari. Early during his reign King Rajaraja I of Chola captured the northern atolls Minicoy and Thiladhummathi. Although some sources indicate the start of the reign as when Rajaraja I invaded Maldives, a Chinese document from the Tang dynasty, records the visits of people from Mo-lai (Maldives) to China bringing with them gifts from their king, Che-p'o-lo-ti-to (Sri Mahabalāditya) in 658 CE and also in 662 CE. The king mentioned must have been a king of the Solar dynasty. Sri Laukabarana 11th cent.11th cent. King of the Lunar dynasty. He is son or grandson of Queen Damahara. His name is alternatively written as Sri Loaka Abaaruna. Sri Maha Sandura ~11th cent.unknown Son of King Laukabarana. He had a daughter Princess Kamanhaar (also known as Kamanaar or Rehendihaar), who was banished to the island then called Is-Midu (Addu Meedhoo today). With her she took the Mapanansa, the copper plates in which the history of the kings of Solar dynasty was written. The Mapanansa were later buried by a certain Al-Muhaddith Hassan, and this is why such little information survived about the Solar dynasty. Sri Bovana Ananda unknownbefore 1117 Son of King Laukabarana and brother of King Maha Sandura. He is the father of King Koimala.
Theemuge dynasty (1121–1388)
NameRegnal NameDuration of ReignMonarch fromMonarch untilNotesKing Mahaabarana Adeettiya (Koimala)Suvasthi Shri Theemuge Rannafireyru Mini Mahaabarana Mahaaradhun21 years11211141The first king of the Royal House of Theemugey.King Dhovemi Later Sultan Muhammad al-AdilSiri Bavanditta Maha Radun35 years11411176Reigned as a Buddhist until 1153. Son of Henevi Maava Kilege, sister of Koimala. A member of the Soma or Homa (Lunar) dynasty. Converted to Islam in 1153, assumed the title Sultan and founded the Theemuge dynasty. He was the famous Dharumavantha Radun or the Benevolent King.Sultan MutheyBavana Abaruna Maha Radun8 years11761184Mother's sister's son of DhovemiSultan Ali b. Reke HiriyaDammara-nanda Maha Radun8 years11841192Sultan DineiFanaditta Maha Radun6 years11921198The Lōmāfānu was written during Sultan Dhinei's reign.Sultan DiheiDagata Abaruna Maha Radun15 years11981213Brother of Sultan Dhinei ISultan WadiDagata Suvara Maha Radun19 years12131232Brother of Sultans Dhinei I and Dhinei IISultan Valla DioRada-rada Suvara Maha Radun25 years12321257Brother of Sultans Dhinei I, Dhinei II and WadiSultan HudeiVira Abaruna Maha Radun6 years12571263Sultan AimaLoka Suvara Maha Radun2 years12631265Sultan Hiley (Ali)Sinja Abaruna Maha Radun2 years12651267Sultan Kalaminja b. AydageMadini Survara Maha Radun1 year12671268Sultan Uda (Auda)Arida Suvara Maha Radun9 years12681277Son of Sultan WadiSultan Ali IIArida Suvara Maha Radun10 years12771287Son of Sultan AudhaSultan YoosufBavana Aditta Maha Radun6 years12871293Brother of Sultan Hali IISultan Salah al-Din b. YusufSome Sivara Maha Radun8 years12931301Son of Sultan Yoosuf ISultan Da'ud b. YusufSundura Bavana Maha Radun5 years13011306Son of Sultan Yoosuf ISultan Umar Vira (Abu Fath Jalal al-Din)Loka Abaruna Maha Radun34 years13061340Son of Sultan SalisSultan Shihab al-Din AhmadLoka Aditta Maha Radun7 years13401347 Deposed and assassinatedSon of Sultan Omar I, deposed, banished and assassinated by sister Khadijah.Sultana Rehindi Kabadi Kilege (Khadija)Rada Abaruna Maha Radun15 years13471362 DeposedDeposed by her first husband Mohamed el-Jameel.Sultan Mohamed el-JamilBavana Suja Maha Radun1 year13621363 Deposed and assassinatedFirst Husband of Sultana Khadijah. Assassinated by estranged wife Khadijah. He was nicknamed Handsome Mohamed.Sultana Rehendi (Khadijah)Rada Abaruna Maha Radun10 years13631373 DeposedSecond reign on assassination of first husband Sultan Mohamed el-Jameel. Deposed for a second time by her second husband Abdullah.Sultan Abdullah KilegeDammaru Aaditta Maha Radun3 years13731376 Deposed and assassinatedSecond husband of Sultana Khadijah. Assassinated by wife Khadijah.Sultana Rehendi (Khadijah)Rada Abaruna Maha Radun3 years13761379Third reignSultana Radafati (Adafate) Kabadi KilegeSoma Aburana Maha Radun1 year13791380 DeposedDaughter of Sultan Omar I, half sister of Sultana Khadijah. Deposed by husband Mohamed.Sultan Mohamed ISundura Abaruna Maha Radun4 years13801384Husband of Sultana Raadhafathi. Son of Kaeumani Kaulhanna Kilege. He is from the island of Maakurathu in Raa Atoll hence he is also known as Maakurathu Mohamed Rasgefaan.Sultana Da'inu Kabadi KilegeNatta Abaruna Maha Radun3 years13851388 DeposedDaughter of Sultan Mohamed I. Deposed by husband Abdullah.Sultan AbdullahSoma Abaruna Maha Radunless than 1 year13881388Husband of Sultana Dhaain. Some records call him a regent (Henevi-rasge).Sultan Uthman al-FahandaviSundura Aditta Maha Radunless than 1 year13881388Sultan Usman I Former Imam to Raadhafathi and Dhaain Last of the Lunar dynasty.
Grave found in Thaa Atoll, Guraidhoo by H.C.P Bells expedition.
Hilaalee dynasty (1388–1632)
NameRegnal NameDuration of ReignMonarch fromMonarch untilNotesSultan Hasan IBavana10 years13881398First of the Hilaaly dynasty Son of Golhaavahi Kambulo (Kalavahi Kabulo) and Kulhiveri Hilaalu Kaeulhanna Kaloge son of Muslim Abbas of HulhuleSultan Ibrahim IDhammaru Veeruless than 1 year13981398 DeposedSon of Sultan Hassan I Deposed by his uncle Hussain.Sultan Husayn ILoka Veeru11 years13981409Brother of Sultan Hassan I Assumed the throne after deposing his nephew Sultan Ibrahim I.Sultan Nasir al-Din al-GulavihiVeeru Abaarana2 years14091411Introduced the Islamic penal code. Possibly a member of the Lunar dynastySultan Hasan HilaliKeerithi Maha Radun (no coronation)less than 1 year14111411 Accidental deathSultan Hassan II. Drowned in a tank. Grave found in Thaa Atoll, Guraidhoo by H.C.P Bells expedition.Sultan IsaBavana Sundhuraless than 1 year14111411Brother of Sultan Hassan IISultan Ibrahim IDhammaru Veeru10 years14111421Second reign, first reigned in 1398.Sultan Uthman IIDhammaru Loakaless than 1 year14211421Son of Sultan Osman ISultan MuhammadRaadha Bavanaless than 1 year14211421Uncle of Sultans Hassan I and Hussain I Prime Minister to Osman ISultan Yusuf IILoka Aananadha22 years14211443Son of Sultan Hassan I Sultan Abu Bakr IBavana Soojaless than 1 year14431443 Killed in battleSon of Sultan Hassan I Half brother of Sultan Yoosuf II Killed in battle with the Portuguese who came to summon the Council of Ministers of the Maldives to Cochin.Sultan Hasan IIIRaadha Veeru24 years14431467Son of Sultan Aboobakuru I Deposed by Sayyid Mohamed while abroad.Sultan al-Sayyid MuhammadKeerithi Maha Radun (no coronation)less than 1 year14671467 DeposedPossible descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Deposed by Sultan Hassan III upon returning to Maldives.Sultan Hasan IIIRaadha Veeru1 year14671468Second reignSultan Muhammadh IIBavana Abaarana12 years14681480Son of Sultan Hasan IIISultan Hasan IVRaadha Lokaless than 1 year14801480 DeposedSon of Sultan Mohamed IIDeposed by Omar II.Sultan Umar IILoka Sundhura4 years14801484Son of Sultan Yoosuf II Sultan Hasan VRaadha Aanandha1 year14841485Son of Sultan Omar II Sultan Hasan IVRaadha Loka6 years14851491Second reign Sultan al-Shaykh Hasan VIRaadha Fanaveeru1 year14911492Grandson of Sultan Aboobakuru I Sultan Ibrahim IIBavana Furasuddhaless than 1 year14921492Son of Omar II Sultan Kalu MuhammadDhammaru Bavanaless than 1 year14921492 DeposedSon of Sultan Omar IIDeposed by his brother Yoosuf.Sultan Yusuf IIIVeeru Aanandha1 year14921493Son of Sultan Omar II Sultan Ali IIAudha Veeru2 years14931495Grandson of Sultan Hassan I Sultan Kalu MuhammadDhammaru Bavana15 years14951510 DeposedSecond reign Son of Sultan Omar II Deposed for a second time, this time by his nephew Hassan.Sultan Hasan VIISinga Veeeru1 year15101511Son of Sultan Yoosuf IIISultan al-Sharif Ahmad al-MakkiSuddha Bavana2 years15111513An Arab from Mecca Possible descendant of MuhammadSultan Ali IIIAanandhaless than 1 year15131513 KilledKilled in a duel with his sister Burecca (Buraki Raani). Grandson of Sultan Aboobakuru ISon of Mohamed Farhana Kalo and Recca daughter of Aboobakuru ISultan Kalu MuhammadDhammaru Bavana16 years15131529Third accession assisted by his wife Queen Burecca who killed her brother Ali III.Sultan Hasan al-Shirazi VIIIRan Mani Loka20 years15291549Son of Sultan Kalu Mohamed and Fatuma Dio a concubine from Shiraz in PersiaSultan Muhammad IIISinga Bavana2 years15491551 AssassinatedAssassinated by his brother Hassan who succeeded him. Son of Golhavahi Aysha Rani Kilege and Omar Maafaiy Kilege son of Kalu Mohamed and Aysha Rani Kilege daughter of Korari Kilege therefore grandson of Sultan Kalu Mohamed Sultan Hasan IXDhirukusa Loka1 year15511552 DeposedBrother of Mohamed III He was the first Maldivian and only member of its royalty to renounce Islam and convert to Christianity. He was deposed upon conversion, and known subsequently by the Lusitanian name of Dom Manoel.Interregnum 2 years15521554Maldives ruled by a Council of Ministers.Sultan Abu Bakr IIAsaalees Loka3 years15541557Son of Ibrahim Faarhana Kilege and Sanfa Dio Former Prime Minister to Dom ManoelSultan Ali IV (Ali Rasgefaan)Audha Siyaaka Katthiri1 year15571558