Sultan Kudarat a.k.a. Muhammad Dipatuan Qudarat

Wise and Courageous Leader

(Cotabato, c. 1663)
1580-1671

A direct descendant of Sharif Kabungsan who propagated Islam in Mindanao. He was able to defend successfully his domain from Spanish incursion. He was a wise ruler and a good administrator. He encouraged his people to develop agriculture and to trade with non-Muslim Filipinos,

     Muhammad Dipatuan Qudarat (or Kudarat) is believed to have been born in 1580. He was the son of Sultan Buisan died in 1602, Kudarat became Sultan.

     Wise and courageous, Kudarat was considered by the Spaniards as a true leader of the Muslims of Mindanao. He was the leader of three Muslim territories: Maguindano, Simuay and Lamitan. There was a lively trade during his reign with other kingdoms. He built a navy for the security of his realm.

     Sultan Kudarat was successful with his fight against the Spaniards. However, in 1637, he was defeated in a battle. His wife, decided to commit suicide rather than to be captured by Spaniards. She jumped off a cliff, but her dress was caught in the overhanging trees. She was saved.

     Because he could not totally defeated, the Spaniards decided to offer a treaty of peace with him; first, in 1638, second, in 1645. They recognized his leadership over a vast area of Mindanao.

     His love for the freedom of his realm prompted Sultan Kudarat to attack the Spaniards in 1655. He asked for help and additional warriors from all over his territories as well as from the Muslims of Ternate and Macassar. The battles were fierce and bloody, but in 1663, the Spaniards left Mindanao to augment their defense of Manila from an attack of the Chinese from Taiwan.

     Sultan Kudarat died in 1671. He was in his 90's. For his courage, he was considered a national hero in 1975.


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(Tagalog Translation)

 Si Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat ay pinaniniwalaang isinilang noong 1580. Anak ni Sultan Buisan,  Sultan ng Maguindanao. Nang mamatay si Sultan Buisan noong 1602, si Kudarat ang pumalit sa Sultan.

     Matalino at matapang si Kudarat kaya kinilala ng mga Kastila na tunay na pinuno ng mga Muslim sa Mindanao. Pinuno siya ng tatlong lupaing Muslim: ang Maguindanao, Simuay at Lamitan. May maunlad na kalakalan sa nasasakupan niya. Bumuo siya ng hukbong dagat na mangangalaga ng kanyang sultanato.

     Si Sultan Kudarat ay tagumpay sa pakikibaka sa mga Kastila na ibig sumakop sa Mindanao. Ang mga Kristianong Pilipino'y kaanib ng mga Kastila. Subalit noong 1637 ay nakaranas siya ng pagkatalo. Nagtangkang magpakamatay ang asawa niya kaysa mahuli ng mga Kastila. Siya ay tumalon sa bangin, ngunit ang damit niya ay nakasabit sa mga punong kahoy. Siya ay nakaligtas.

     Dahil hindi lubusang magapi, minabuti ng mga Kastila na makipagkasundo kay Sultan Kudarat, una noong 1638, at noong 1645. Kinilala nila ang pamumuno niya sa malaking bahagi ng Mindanao.

     Dahil sa marubdob na pagmamahal sa kalayaan ng kanyang lupain, sinalakay ni Sultan Kudarat ang mga Kastila noong 1655. Humingi siya ng tulong at dagdag na sundalo sa lahat ng Muslim hanggang Ternate at Macassar. Madugo ang mga labanan, ngunit noong 1663, nilisan ng mga Kastila ang Mindanao upang madagdagan ang depensa sa Manila sa pagsalakay ng mga Tsino mulang Taiwan.

     Namatay si Sultan Kudarat noong 1671, sa gulang na 90. Dahil sa kanya kagitingan, kinilala siyang bayani ng bansa noong 1975.