Raja bendahara (Jawi: راج بندهار) was a Malay title for the monarch of the Pahang Kingdom that existed from 1770 to 1881. The title is a combination of the Sanskrit word raja ('king') and bendahara ('grand vizier'). The successive bendaharas of the Johor Empire ruled Pahang as a fief from the late 17th century. By the end of 18th century, the Bendahara emerged as an absolute ruler over the fief, carrying the title 'Raja',[1] following the decentralisation of Sultan's power and the dismemberment of the empire.[2]
In classical Malay kingdoms, a bendahara was the most important and highest administrative position in royal court, serving as the chief of all ministers. As a royal adviser, a bendahara was appointed by the raja and was dismissible only by the raja himself. The position was hereditary and candidates were selected from the male descendants of the Bendahara family.
The transition of the bendahara into royalty began in the late 17th century, when the last ruler of Johor from the Malacca dynasty, Mahmud Shah II died without a male heir. Tun Abdul Jalil, the Bendahara of Johor, became the next Sultan of Johor, assuming the title Abdul Jalil Shah IV. During his reign, the eastern state of Pahang was established as a special province of the Bendahara family and ruled directly by the successive bendaharas of the empire. Self-rule was established during the reign of Tun Abdul Majid when the state's status was changed from a tanah pegangan (a fief) to tanah kurnia ('granted land'),[3] thus the ruling bendahara acquired the title raja ('king') in Pahang, also known as raja bendahara'.[4]
| Name | Jawi Name | Reignal title | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tun Abdul Majid II | تون عبد المجيد | Sri Paduka Dato' Bendahara Paduka Raja | 1770–1802 |
| Tun Muhammad II | تون محمد | Sri Paduka Dato' Bendahara Sri Maharaja | 1802–1803 |
| Tun Koris I | تون قرظ | Sri Paduka Dato’ Bendahara Paduka Raja | 1803–1806 |
| Tun Ali | تون علي | Sri Paduka Dato’ Bendahara Sewa Raja | 1806–1847 |
| Tun Muhammad Tahir II | تون محمد طاهر | Sri Paduka Dato’ Bendahara Sri Maharaja | 1847–1863 |
| Tun Ahmad | تون أحمد | Sri Paduka Dato’ Bendahara Sewa Raja | 1863–1881 |
