Abdullah al-Mu'tassim Billah Shah

Sultan Abdullah Al-Mutassim Billah Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Ahmad Al-Muazzam Shah (Jawi: ; 12 October 1874 – 22 June 1932) was the third modern sultan of Pahang, reigning from 1917 to 1932.

Early life

Born at the Royal Palace, Pekan Lama, on 12 October 1874, he was the third son of Sultan Ahmad Muʽazzam and Cik Kusuma Sokma binti Tok Minal Daeng Koro. He was a stepbrother of Mahmud Shah II who was the raja bendahara.

Reign During his reign, Pahang was immersed in several political developments. The British government introduced legislation to modernize the Malay states, creating the Federated Malay States in 1896 and establishing the Federal Council in 1909. In 1932, at the age of 20, Tengku Abu Bakar, son and heir of Abdullah was installed as the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, the first time a prince ever had this title conferred to them.

Personal life Abdullah first married a woman known as Che' Endut. His second wife was Sultanah Che Kalsum binti Tun Abdullah, daughter of the Terengganuan nobleman Tun Abdullah bin Tun Abdul Rauf, who later was made the Sultanah of Pahang (the first sultanah titleholders). His first son from this marriage was Abu Bakar, who later succeeded him as sultan. Abdullah's third marriage was with Cik Wan Chantik binti Wan Muhammad Amin, daughter of a Pattani nobleman Wan Muhammad Amin. He had a total of ten sons and seven daughters from his wives.

Death and succession By 1931, Abdullah's health had begun to fail, yet he still managed to attend the Durbar held in August that year. He died at the Istana Kuning, Pekan on 22 June 1932 and was buried at the Royal Cemetery, Kuala Pahang. He was succeeded by his second son, Tengku Mahkota Abu Bakar.