The Silsilah Raja-Raja Perak, a historical and literary investigation into the political significance of a Malay court genealogy
Amelia Ceridwen’s 2001 study investigates the Maxwell 105 manuscript, known as the Silsilah Raja-Raja Perak I, within the volatile political landscape of early nineteenth-century Perak. The article argues that this genealogical text was not a neutral historical record but a strategic political instrument crafted by the descendants of Raja Bendahara Mahmud to legitimize their succession claims. By analyzing the manuscript’s literary structure and historical context, Ceridwen demonstrates how the text reinforced Perak’s Melaka lineage while promoting internal unity against foreign aggression.
Summary
The Maxwell 105 manuscript is a Jawi text described as well-worn and wrapped in an embroidered napkin, indicating its high value to its original owners (p. 24). Although acquired by W. E. Maxwell from Raja Bendahara Osman between late 1875 and late 1876, the text itself was likely composed shortly after the death of Raja Bendahara Mahmud in March 1815 (p. 51). This dating is significant because the manuscript concludes with Mahmud’s death, suggesting it was updated to reflect the most recent generation of the royal line (p. 51). The text was produced within a predominantly oral culture where written manuscripts held an enigmatic authority, and meaning was conveyed through aural recitation rather than silent reading (p. 37).
Literary analysis reveals that the text relies heavily on repetitive phrasing to emphasize royal succession, which occurs forty times throughout the manuscript (p. 44). Ceridwen identifies specific formulaic sequences regarding death and installation that create a standardized narrative of legitimacy (p. 45). The text selectively borrows from early versions of the Sejarah Melayu while disregarding the Misa Melayu, which claimed a different origin for the Perak dynasty (p. 46). Furthermore, the manuscript explicitly declares the Johor royal line broken due to a lack of heirs, thereby distinguishing the Perak line as the sole legitimate heirs to the Melaka dynasty (p. 48).
The political function of the Silsilah is tied to the precarious position of Raja Bendahara Mahmud’s sons following his death (p. 53). During this period, Perak faced severe external threats from Siam and Kedah, alongside internal challenges from the Laksamana and financial decline of the sultanate (p. 57). By promoting unity and loyalty to the throne, the text served to consolidate the authority of the Perak royal house against these destabilizing forces (p. 50). The emphasis on lineage and loyalty aligns with the interests of Raja Bendahara Mahmud’s offspring, who sought to secure their own political futures and the independence of the state (p. 71).
Key Findings
- The manuscript was presented to W. E. Maxwell by Raja Bendahara Osman, likely between November 1875 and November 1876, shortly before the Bendahara’s death (p. 27).
- Internal evidence suggests the text was completed after March 1815, following the death of Raja Bendahara Mahmud, as the narrative concludes with his passing (p. 51).
- Royal succession is described with high frequency and formulaic repetition, appearing forty times to reinforce the continuity of the royal line (p. 44).
- The text asserts that the Johor royal line ended without heirs, thereby establishing the Perak dynasty as the only true descendants of the Melaka sultans (p. 48).
- The manuscript emphasizes political unity and loyalty, associating disunity with social turmoil and divine will to discourage internal rebellion (p. 50).
- The text likely served the political interests of Raja Bendahara Mahmud’s sons, particularly Raja Ngah Laut and Raja Radin, during a period of foreign subjugation and court instability (p. 70).
Conclusion
Ceridwen concludes that the Silsilah Raja-Raja Perak I was composed with a distinct political purpose to legitimize the claims of Raja Bendahara Mahmud’s progeny to the Perak throne. The text functioned as a rhetorical tool to maintain the prestige of the Perak royal house and encourage loyalty among the court during a time of significant vulnerability to Siamese and Kedah influence. While definitive proof of authorship remains elusive, the correlation between the text’s themes and the historical priorities of the Bendahara’s family indicates that Malay genealogical texts should be understood as active agents of political communication rather than passive historical records.
Context
- W. E. Maxwell was a key figure in the British colonial administration of Perak who collected numerous Malay manuscripts, including this genealogy, which are now held in the Royal Asiatic Society archives.
- The Maxwell 105 manuscript is part of a broader collection of Malay historical texts preserved by the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, which serves as a vital resource for understanding pre-colonial Malay political structures.