Page 23 - Hikayat-Patani-The-Story-Of-Patani 1

14 HIKAYAT PATANI
taking of political risks on the part of Patani. Good relations with
Ayudhya, once the kingdom had recovered from the wars with Burma,
would have ensured Patani the protection it required to ensure the
continuity of its trade. Floris goes so far as to state that “Thus by Pegu’s
destruction was Siam received [ric; revived], and has since brought in
subjection the Kingdomes of Cambaya [Cambodia], Lanjanh [Lan Xang,
Laos], Jagomai [Chiangmai], Lugor [Nakhqn Si Thammarat], Patane,
Teneserin [Tenasserim] and divers others”55 before 1605, although
whether the subjection of Patani was brought about by force is doubtful.
Patani certainly did have enemies to worry about and fear. Acheh,
Johore, and Pahang were embroiled with each other, as well as with
the Portuguese, and their separate attacks northwards along the east
coast of the peninsula are attested in both European and Thai
accounts.56 To complicate matters still further, Japanese traders and
mercenaries twice burned Patani in the first years of the seventeenth
century,57 and a rebellion of Javanese slaves in 1613 burned the town
yet again.58
Already in the reign of Raja Ijau, Patani was involved in the politics
of her Malay neighbours. At the beginning of her reign, her sister Raja
Ungu was married to Sultan cAbdul-Ghafur Mohaidin Syah (1590—
1614) of Pahang.59 60 Given the close connections between Pahang and
Johore during this period, it is not surprising that Patani should have
become closely involved with Johore as well, and increasingly so as
Johore’s initiative soon came to outweigh that of Pahang. In these
affairs, the Dutch quickly became involved. In 1602 Raja Bungsu, the
brother of the ruler of Johore, came aboard Heemskerck’s ship when in
Patani (!) to ask for help against Patani.69 A few years later, in 1609,
the Dutch were informed of a quarrel between Patani and Johore.
During a visit to Johore in January, 1609, Admiral Matelieff was visited
by the king’s brother, Raja Saberang; and “among other secrets” con­
fided to the admiral was a story that the youngest brother of the sultan
of Johore, “the king of Patani”, had been robbed of his kingdom and his
life by the ruling queen of Patani on account of his adultery with his
concubine. Raja Saberang asked the Dutch to help him expel the queen

55 Moreland, 1934, p. 35.
50 Moreland, 1934, pp. 41,63,72—73,77, 82, 86; and see note 39 above.
57 Moreland, 1934, p. 36.
58 Moreland, 1934, p. 94.
60 Linehan, 1936, p. 33.
60 Winstedt, 1932, p. 36.