The following is a listing of the sovereigns of the kingdoms in the Philippine archipelago before their dominions fell to either the Kingdom of the Spains and the Indies (mostly in the 16th or 17th century) or the United States of America (in the 20th century), and of their non-sovereign descendants that kept honorary titles.
Mentions of the King of Luzon by the Spanish king Charles V in a decree and correspondences and of the King of Cebu by Hernan Cortes, Spanish governor of New Spain, in his letter to him are found in Spanish records; these occurred in the first half of 16th century.
After the fall of particular Philippine dominions to the Kingdom of the Spains and the Indies which started in 1565, due to the much earlier Spanish royal authorization given to the royal audience and chancery of New Spain on 26 February 1538 to prohibit the title of "lord" from being adopted by the nobles of acquired overseas dominions, since, according to its author the Spanish queen Isabella, "it is convenient for our service and royal preeminence that they are not called [lords]" but principals, the particular Philippine nobles who swore allegiance to Spain became part of the "principalia" or Philippine principality and came to be considered as "principal Indians". This same authorization formed part of the Spanish Laws of the Indies as Law 5 of Title 7 of Book 6. The ranks in nobility were also reduced to practically the lowest one based on the truly common designation of "datu" equating it fully to being a "cabeza de barangay" or head of a barangay or town district, with an opportunity for a noble to be elected as "gobernadorcillo" or town governor by the same nobles. Nonetheless, they were given privileges comparable to Spanish nobility such as exemption from taxation, authority of governance, and inheritance of title and privileges; these had also been part of their previous powers albeit reduced. Upon converting to Christianity, these same nobles adopted the initially fairly exclusive titles of "don" and "doña". The occurrence of a Philippine noble becoming a "principal" was only mutually recognized by both the Spanish king and that noble after the noble swore allegiance to the Spanish king. In insular Spanish records, the principalia was also sometimes referred to as nobility, and principals also as nobles.
In Luzon and its peripheries Kingdom of Luzon The Kingdom of Luzon was described as one of the more powerful and wealthier kingdoms in the archipelago. It was noted for its commerce, literacy, diplomacy, navy, and use of artillery. Its influence ranged at least from Mindoro to Kapampangan lordships, with possibilities of greater extent suggested by the name of the kingdom. The kingdom and its subjects began to fall under the Kingdom of the Spains and the Indies, starting in 1570, just as the Kingdom of Luzon was starting to adopt Islam. Name Title From Until EventsSeri LailaRaja (King)1400sbefore 1521Known in Tagalog as "Sala Lila" (or "Salalila"); died many years before the first Castilian voyage to Ternate, leaving his son, the very young crown prince, to the queen regent in Manila.AcheRaja (King)after 15211571Married a princess of Brunei in 1521 while he was the Crown Prince of Luzon and the grand admiral of Brunei; was given the epithet "the Old" (Matanda); witnessed the fall of Manila on 24 May 1570; uncle of Sulayman, the heir apparent (raja muda).
In the Visayan islands Kingdom of Cebu The Kingdom of Cebu was known for its military achievements and for having a large army. The male citizens of the kingdom were tattooed as marks of honour. Its dominion became a protectorate of the Kingdom of the Spains and the Indies in 1565 but fell to the said kingdom after 1570. Name Title From Until EventsLumaySri (Lord)(no given date)(no given date)(no given events)HumabonRaja (King)before 1521c. 1570Received the first Castilian voyage to Ternate; was baptised as a Christian king in 1521 as Carlos, while his wife was baptised as Juana, the same names as the King and the Queen of the Spains and the Indies; received a letter from Hernan Cortes, Marquess of Oaxaca, in the name of the Kingdom of the Spains and the Indies in 1527 regarding the possession of some of the crew left by this voyage; witnessed the fall of Cebu on 8 May 1565; uncle of Tupas, the heir apparent (raja muda)
Principality of Mactan Mactan is known to have had several rulers at the same time, unlike most principalities in the neighbouring Cebu. Mactan is assumed to have had its own sovereign. Name Title From Until EventsZulaDatu (Lord)before 1521after 1521Received the first Castilian voyage to TernateLapu-lapuDatu (Lord)before 1521after 1521Defeated the forces from the first Castilian voyage to Ternate under its General Ferdinand Magellan in a battle on 27 April 1521, as Ferdinand Magellan acted under the request of Humabon of Cebu
Lordship of Bohol Name Title From Until EventsKatunaRaja (King)unknown1565Under the Kingdom of Bohol until 1563; received the sixth Castilian voyage to Ternate in 1565
Lordship of Baclayon Name Title From Until EventsPagbuayaDatu (Lord)(no given date)1563Co-ruled with his brother Dailisan; supposedly founded Dapitan in northern MindanaoDailisanDatu (Lord)(no given date)1563Co-ruled with his brother Pagbuaya; his death during a Portuguese raid dissolved the lordship
Kingdom of Limasawa Name Title From Until EventsKulamboRaja (King)before 1521after 1521Received the first Castilian voyage to Ternate; accompanied this fleet to Cebu on 7 April 1521
In Mindanao and its peripheries Kingdom of Butuan and Caraga Name Title From Until EventsKilingRaja (King)9891009Received the embassy of Li Shu-Han (李竾罕)Sri Bata ShajaRaja (King)c. 10111000sReceived the mission of Li Kan-Hsieh (李于燮)AwiRaja (King)before 1521after 1521Received the first Castilian voyage to Ternate
Kingdom of Dapitan Name Title From Until EventsPagbuayaDatu (King)1563after 1563Converted to ChristianityManoocDatu (King)after 15631595Was baptised as Pedro Manuel Manooc
Sultanate of Cotabato Name Title From Until EventsPiangSultan1899after 1900Contemporary of late Spanish rule, the first Republic of the Philippines, and early American rule; became the first Governor of Cotabato under American rule
Maguindanao Sultanate The dominion of the Sultanate of Maguindanao gradually fell to the United States of America in the 1900s. ReignTitle and NameOther name(s)1515-1543Shariff Muhammed Kabungsuwan1543–1574Sultan Maka-alang Sari Pada 1574–1578Sultan Bangkaya 1578–1585Sultan Dimasangcay Adel1585–1597Sultan Gugu Sari KulaDatu Salikala1597–1619Sultan Laut BuisanDatu Katchil1619–1671?Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan KudaratDatu Qudratullah Katchil1671?–1678?Sultan Dundang TidulaySultan Saif ud-Din (Saifud Din)1678?–1699Sultan BarahamanSultan Muhammad Shah Minulu-sa-Rahmatullah1699–1702Sultan Kahar ud-Din KudaMaulana Amir ul-Umara Jamal ul-Azam1702–1736Sultan Bayan ul-AnwarMaruhom BatuaDipatuan Jalal ud-DinMupat Batua (posthumously)1710–1736(in Tamontaka)Sultan Amir ud-DinPaduka Sri Sultan Muhammad Jafar Sadiq ManamirShahid Mupat (posthumously)1736–1748(in Sibugay, Buayan, Malabang)Sultan Muhammad Tahir ud-DinDipatuan MalinugMuhammad Shah Amir ud-Din1733–1755Sultan Raja Muda Muhammad Khair ud-DinPakir Maulana KamsaAmir ud-Din ItamzaAzim ud-Din Amir ul-M'umimin1755–1780?Sultan Pahar ud-DinDatu Panglu/PonglocMupat Hidayat (posthumously)1780?–1805?Sultan Kibad SahriyalMuhammad Azim ud-Din Amir ul-Umara1805?–1830?Sultan Kawasa Anwar ud-DinMuhammad Amir ul-Umara Iskandar Jukarnain1830–1854Sultan Qudratullah UntungIskandar Qudratullah Muhammad Jamal ul-AzamIskandar Qudarat Pahar ud-Din. Properly place, his name was Ullah Untong and seated as Sultan Ashrf Samalan Farid Quadratullah or better known as Sultan Qudarat.1854–1884Sultan Muhammad Makakwa1884–1888Sultan WataSultan Muhammad Jalal ud-Din Pablu1888–1896(Interregnum)Sultan Anwar ud-Din contested Datu Mamaku (son of Sultan Qudratullah Untung) of Buayan for the throne versus the then sultan Datu Mangigin of Sibugay.1896–1898 Sultan Taha ColoSultan Rabago sa Tiguma1908–1933Sultan Mastura KudaratSultan Muhammad Hijaban Iskandar Mastura Kudarat; Sultan Mastura; Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat
Kingdom of Basilan and the Yakans Name Title From Until EventsKalunDatu (King)before 1900after 1900Was born Pedro Cuevas Javiér on 6 May 1845 from Bacoor, Cavite; defeated the real Datu Kalun after a battle between the Chavacanos and the Yakans; assumed the title and name and ruled over Basilan island and the Yakans in Mindanao; converted the dominion to Catholic Christianity; founded the city of Lamitan
Tausug Sultanate (Sultanate of Sulu) In English toponymy, borrowed from Spanish toponymy, Sulu is the term that refers to the Sultanate of the Tausugs, with this term being an approximation (perhaps Spanish) of the root term "Sulug" in Tausug which is also pronounced as "Suluk" in Malay. Both these terms refer to the Tausug people, the first being an endonym and the second an exonym, besides being the name of the sultanate itself. Jolo is another term that serves this approximation (initially pronounced as /Sho-lo/ in Spanish).
The primary language of the Sultanate of Sulu is Tausug, with Malay and Arabic as secondary languages. The dominion of the sultanate stretched from Sulu in what is now the Philippines to Sabah in what is now Malaysia. From its dominion, the side on the American reckoning of the Philippine islands gradually fell to the United States of America within the first half of the 20th century. The Sabah territory was continually leased by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the Sultan of Sulu, and was then transferred by that kingdom to Malaysia, which continued to pay for the lease.
Part of the legacy of this sultanate is the presence of around 1,200,000 Tausugs in the Philippines and around 700,000 Tausugs in Malaysia at the present time. The royal family of the Sultanate of Sulu still maintains its lineage well-documented. Title and Name Flag From UntilSultan Sharif ul-Hashim14801505Sultan Kamal ud-Din15051527Sultan Amir ul-Umara18931899Sultan Jamal ul-Kiram I18931899Sultan Mahakuttah Kiram19741986Sultan Muedz ul-Lail Tan Kiram1986Present
In Palawan and its peripheries
Chiefdom of Southern Palawan Name Title From Until EventsHarun Ar-RashidDatu (Lord) and Sultan18941899On December 16, 1893, Harun Ar-Rashid, who was involved in a power succession dispute in the Sultanate of Sulu, was forced to be exiled to Palawan.Bataraza NarrazidDatu (Lord)1899Succeeding his father as the Muslim leader of Palawan under the American Governor-General of Palawan, Edward Y. Miller.Jolkipli NarrazidDatu (Lord)Bataraza Narrazid's younger brother who replaced his older brother's position. He officially took over custody of his sister's children, while also becoming the Muslim leader of Palawan.Sapiodin NarrazidDatu (Lord)Son of Bataraza Narrazid who became the first mayor of Brooke's Point and also became an influential leader of the Muslim community in southern Palawan.
Seignory of the Tagbanwas of Coron Name Title From Until EventsMacarereApo (Sire)(no given date)(no given date)(no given events)
Appendix
Non-sovereign lordships
Lordship of Tondo Name Title From Until EventsUnnamedPamegat (Prince);Senapati (Duke)before 900900sGranted a certificate of debt clearance to Lady Angkatan and Lord Bukah, son of Lord Namwaran, in the form of a copper tablet, concerning the debt of Lord Namwaran to the Prince of Dewata; the lordship was a duchy called Tundun in the said documentLuntokRaja (King)Unknownc. 1450(No given events) KalangitanDayang (Lady)c. 1450c. 1500Lady of Namayan and Tondo BanawLakan (Lord)before 15701571From the House of Lakandula; Lord of Tondo and Sabag AgustinDon (Lord; honorary and unofficial)1575 1588Had the full name Agustin de Legaspi
Title-bearing aristocratic descendants in Philippine republican rule
Principalities (Datu)