Awang Alak Betatar

Awang Alak Betatar

According to the national history of Brunei that includes a number of unverified facts and a number of chronological errors, Sultan Muhammad Shah allegedly was the first Sultan of Brunei. He ruled Brunei from 1363 to 1402. He was the first Muslim ruler of Brunei as a result of his conversion to Islam in 1363 for his marriage to a Johorean-Temasik princess. Prior to conversion to Islam, he was known as Awang Alak Betatar. He was the first Muslim ruler of Brunei who hailed from Taif Arabia and was the son of Sultan Betatar. He married the daughter of the daughter of Iskander, a Johorean-Temasik princess introduced by Bal-Paki, her brother-in-law to be. Mohamad Shah established the Sultanate of Bruney a word supposedly derived from the noble and honorable race of Saudi Arabia called Buranun. In the 14th to 15th century, Bruney was referred to as Bulungan Johore due its territories stretching from Bulungan (North Borneo-Sabah) up to Johore, He was also known as Awang Alak Betatar. The national history claims that he sent a mission to China in 1371 by which his name is recorded in Ming historical record as Mo-ha-mo-sha and therefore the national history infers that Mo-ha-mo-sha (correct is Ma-he-mo-sha) was Sultan Muhammad Shah who died in 1402. He was allegedly succeeded by Sultan Abdul Majid Hassan.