Sultanate of the Maldives
Sultanate
Level 2
★ Major power
c. 1153 – 1968
Island sultanate after conversion to Islam; a British protectorate 1887-1965.
- Capital
- Malé
- Region
- Islands
- Duration
- 815 years
- Main period
- Regional Kingdoms & Ghaznavid/Ghurid Expansion
Approximate extent.
Rulers
- Muhammad al-Adil (Dhovemi) Sultanc. 1153 – c. 1166First Muslim ruler.
- Muhammad Thakurufaanu Sultan1573 – 1585Expelled the Portuguese.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1153 | The Maldives converts to Islam | Malé |
| 1343 | Ibn Battuta serves as qadi in the Maldives | Malé |
| 1573 | Muhammad Thakurufaanu frees the Maldives The Portuguese were expelled after fifteen years. |
Malé |
| 1887 | Maldives becomes a British protectorate | Malé |
| 1965 | Maldives becomes independent | Malé |
Sites & monuments
Malé Friday Mosque
Religious monument · 1658
Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Sultanate of the Maldives for a significant part of its history.
Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Shakambhari ★
West · c. 650 CE – c. 1194
Chola Empire ★
South · c. 848 CE – 1279
Ghaznavid Empire ★
Northwest · c. 977 CE – c. 1186
Polonnaruwa Kingdom ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1070 – 1232
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Delhi Sultanate ★
North · 1206 – 1526
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Vijayanagara Empire ★
South · 1336 – 1646
Bahmani Sultanate ★
Deccan · 1347 – 1527
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Kingdom of Kandy ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
British East India Company ★
Pan-Indian · 1600 – 1858
Maratha Empire ★
Deccan · 1674 – 1818
Nawabs of Bengal ★
East · 1717 – 1765
Hyderabad State (Nizams) ★
Deccan · 1724 – 1948
Sikh Empire ★
North · 1799 – 1849
Kingdom of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1816 – 2008
British Raj (Crown Rule) ★
Pan-Indian · 1858 – 1947
Kingdom of Bhutan ★
Himalaya · 1907 – present
Kalachuris of Tripuri
Central · c. 675 CE – 1212
Guhilas of Medapata
West · c. 728 CE – 1303
Thakuri Kingdom of Nepal
Himalaya · c. 750 CE – 1200
Paramara Dynasty
Central · c. 800 CE – 1305
Chandela Dynasty
Central · c. 831 CE – 1315
Chaulukyas (Solankis) of Gujarat
West · c. 940 CE – 1244
Western Chalukyas of Kalyani
Deccan · c. 973 CE – c. 1189
Hoysala Empire
South · c. 1026 – 1343
Soomra Dynasty
Northwest · c. 1026 – 1351
Sena Dynasty
East · c. 1070 – 1230
Eastern Ganga Dynasty
East · c. 1078 – 1434
Gahadavala Dynasty
Gangetic Plain · c. 1089 – c. 1197
Khasa Malla Kingdom
Himalaya · c. 1100 – c. 1400
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Kakatiya Dynasty
Deccan · c. 1163 – 1323
Ghurid Empire
Northwest · c. 1175 – 1206
Seuna (Yadava) Dynasty
Deccan · c. 1187 – 1317