TUN SRI LANANG:

Tun Muhammad bin Tun Ahmad, better known as Tun Sri Lanang,[1] is
the Bendahara (Grand Vizier) of the royal Court of Johor Sultanate who lived
between the 16th and 17th centuries.[1] He served under two Sultans of Johore
namely; Sultan Ali Jalla Abdul Jalil Shah II (1570–1597) and Sultan Alauddin
Riayat Shah III (1597–1615) and also advisers to 3 Acheh sultans namely; Sultan
Iskandar Muda (until 1636), Sultan Iskandar Thani (1636–1641) and Sultana
Tajul Alam Safiatuddin Shah (1641–1675). He had two honorific titles throughout
his lifetime; as the Bendahara of Johor, Bendahara Paduka Raja Tun Mohamad,
[2]
while he was given the title of Orang Kaya Dato' Bendahara Seri Paduka Tun
Seberang after settling in Aceh.

Early life and events in Johore

Tun Sri Lanang was born in 1565 in Seluyut, Johore, and was descended from
Tun Tahir, a brother of Bendahara Tun Mutahir of Malacca.[3] There are not many
records about his period as Bendehara in Johore. However during the rule of
Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah III, he shouldered a heavier burden on the affairs of
the state as the Sultan is a weak ruler. He shared the responsibility with the
Sultan's brother Raja Abdullah (later to become Sultan Abdullah Maayah Shah
which reigns between 1615 to 1623).

During the period the Dutch were attacking the Portuguese for the port of
Malacca. The Dutch signed a friendship treaty with the Johor Sultanate (in 1606)
with Tun Sri Lanang as a representative. Tun Sri Lanang refused the Dutch
request of helping the Dutch to blockade the port of Malacca preferring the Dutch
do it themselves.
In 1612, at the request of Raja Abdullah to pen the Malay Annals to ensure " ...
all the adat, the rules and the ceremonies of the Malay Sultans and Rajas to be
heard by our descendants and is made known all utterances so that it may
benefit them". At this time, under the orders of Sultan Alauddin Riaayat Shah,
Tun Sri Lanang oversaw the editorial and compilation process[4] of the Malay
Annals, better known as Sejarah Melayu in Malay.

In 1613, Acheh attacked Johore and in the battle of Batu Sawar. Johore was
defeated and the Royal Family and Tun Sri Lanang was captured and brought to
Acheh. The Bendaharaship was continued by his descendants. His notable
descendants include Bendehara Tun Habib Abdul Majid and the Raja
Temenggung of Muar.[5][6]
[edit]Later life in Acheh
In Aceh a brief "reeducation" the Johor Royal Family was returned to Johore. Tun
Sri Lanang elected to stay in Acheh. He became advisor to the third Sultan of
Acheh and was bestowed an Acheh honorific title. He was awarded a personal
fief in Samalanga, Aceh in 1613 and held the title Uleebalang of Samalanga. He
died in 1659 in Samalanga.[7]

[edit]Legacy

Some of Tun Sri Lanang's descendants rule as the Uleebalang of Samalanga

until 1949, when Indonesia was formed in the same year. Many of his
descendants are fervent nationalists including the female warrior Pocut Meuligo,
[8]
Teuku Muhammad Daud, Teuku Abdul Hamid Azwar and Teuku Hamzah
Bendehara. Some of his descendants carry the "Bedahara" suffix to their names
indicating their ancestry.

His legacy is not only the magnum opus "Sejarah Melayu" but also includes the
strongly Islamic flavor of Samalanga. Samalanga is also known as "Kota Santri",
[7]
or "Town of Medrassas" is the centre of Islamic propagation in Acheh until
today. Samalanga was also among the last town to fall to the Dutch during the
time of the last Sultan of Acheh, Sultan Muhammad Daud Shah and also one of
his strongholds.
[edit]Places named in honour of Tun Sri Lanang
[edit]Buildings and Institutions

 Laman Tun Sri Lanang, Kota Tinggi[9]

 Perpustakaan Tun Seri Lanang, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia[10]
 Tun Seri Lanang Secondary School, former Secondary school
in Singapore[11]

[edit]Roads

 Jalan Persiaran Tun Sri Lanang, Johor Bahru[12]

 Jalan Tun Sri Lanang, Malacca[13