Rajah Sulaiman III
Rajah Sulaiman III (1558 – 1575, سليمان in Arabic), was the last native Muslim king of Maynila, a Kapampangan & Tagalog kingdom on the southern delta of the Pasig River which would later be the site of the capital of the Philippines, Manila.
Along with Rajah Matanda, and Rajah Lakan Dula, he was one of three chieftains who played significant roles in the Spanish conquest of the Kapampangan/Tagalog kingdoms of the Manila Bay-Pasig river area; first by Martín de Goiti, and Juan de Salcedo in 1570; and later by Miguel López de Legazpi in 1571.
Spanish sources say his Tagalog subjects also called him "Rajah Mura" or "Rajah Muda" (a Malayan title for a Prince or unmarried sovereign). The Spanish transcription of "Rajah Mura" is Young Rajah, a reference to the fact that he was Rajah Matanda's nephew, and heir to the throne. The Spaniards called him "Rajah Solimano el Mow".
After making peace with the Spaniards in 1571, Rajah Sulaiman III led a minor revolt against them in 1574, which historians refer to as the first battle of Manila Bay, but is also known as the Sulaiman Revolt.
Rajah Sulaiman III is believed by some to be the leader of the Macabebe forces that fought the Spaniards during the Battle of Bangkusay, but there is disagreement among historians about that claim.
Sulaiman revolt
When López de Legazpi died in 1572, his successor, Governor-General Guido de Lavezaris, did not honor the agreements with Rajah Sulaiman, and Rajah Lakan Dula. He sequestered the properties of the two rulers, and tolerated Spanish abuses.
In response, Rajah Sulaiman, and Rajah Lakan Dula headed a native revolt in the northern town of Navotas in 1574, taking advantage of the confusion brought about by the attacks of Chinese pirate Limahong. This is often referred to as the "Manila Revolt of 1574" but is sometimes referred to as the "Sulaiman Revolt", the "Lakan Dula Revolt", and, since it involved naval forces, the "First Battle of Manila Bay".
Fray Geronimo Marian, and later Juan de Salcedo were tasked with pursuing conciliatory talks, and Rajah Lakan Dula yielded first. Rajah Sulaiman followed suit on Salcedo's assurance that the Spanish government would give the rebels' complaints due attention.
Tarik Sulaiman, and the Battle of Bangkusay
Some controversy exists about the identity of the young leader of the Macabebe forces that initiated the Battle of Bangkusay in 1571. That chieftain, is referred to by Pampangan historians as Tarik Sulayman. In some versions of the Battle of Bangkusay, Tarik Sulayman of Macabebe, and Rajah Sulaiman of Manila are the same person. Other versions contend that they are different people with the same name. Some have even suggested that the two men were related.
Spanish records do not identify the leader of the Macabebe forces by name, but record that he died during the Battle of Bangkusay, resulting in a Macabebe retreat, and a Spanish victory. Rajah Sulaiman of Manila is clearly recorded as participating in the battle in 1574.
Rajah Matanda
Rajah Matanda was a native muslim king of Manila, a Tagalog kingdom on the southern delta of the Pasig River in the 16th century; which would later become the capital of the Philippines.
Along with Rajah Sulaiman III, and Rajah Lakan Dula, he was one of three rulers who played significant roles in the Spanish conquest of the Tagalog kingdoms of the Manila Bay-Pasig River area, first by Martín de Goiti, and Juan de Salcedo in 1570; and later by Miguel López de Legazpi in 1571.
The name "Rajah Matanda" or "Rajang Matanda" simply means "old chief" in the Tagalog language, and various sources suggest his actual name was either "Mohammad" and "Laya". The Spaniards called him "Rajah Ache el Viego".
By the time the Spanish first arrived in 1570, he had already ceded much of his authority to his nephew and heir, Rajah Sulaiman III, but still had considerable influence, as did his brother Rajah Lakandula, who was chief of the neighboring Kingdom of Tondo across the river.
Rajah Lakan Dula
Rajah Lakan Dula was a native muslim king of Tundun (a large area covering most of what is now present-day Metro Manila), when the Spanish colonization of the Philippine Islands had began. He ruled a community of Muslim people who lived north of the Pasig River.
Rajah Lakan Dula was one of three Muslim chieftains in the Manila during the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors led by Martín de Goiti, and Juan de Salcedo in 1570.
Descendants
In 1587 Magat Salamat, one of the children of Rajah Lakan Dula, and Augustin de Legazpi, Rajah Lakan Dula's nephew, and the chieftains of modern Tondo, Pandacan, Marikina, Candaba, Navotas and Bulacan were executed for secretly conspiring to revolt against the Spanish settlements.
A mestizo by the name of David Dula y Goiti, a grandson of Rajah Lakan Dula with a Spanish mother escaped the persecution of the descendants of Lakan Dula by settling in Isla de Batag, Northern Samar and settled in the placed now called Candawid. Due to his hatred for the Spaniards, he dropped the name Goiti in his surname and adopted a new name David Dulay [2]. He was eventually caught by the Spanish Guardia Civil based in Palapag and was executed together with several followers. They were charged of conspiracy with planning to attack the Spanish settlement.