An Islamic Tausug state that ruled over many of the islands of the Sulu Sea, in the southern Philippines and certain portions of present-day Sabah (then North Borneo)
The Sultanate was founded
1457
Founder
Sayyid Abu Bakr Abirin, a Johore-born Arab explorer and religious scholar
Founding of the Sultanate
1. Abu Bakr settled in Banua Buansa Ummah, Sulu
2. Abu Bakr married local dayang-dayang (princess) Paramisuli
3. Abu Bakr assumed the title Paduka Mahasari Maulana al Sultan Sharif ul-Hashim
The Sultanate's temporal power was relinquished
March 1915
Relinquishment of temporal power
American commanders negotiated with Sultan Jamalul Kiram on behalf of then Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison
An agreement called the "Carpenter Agreement" was signed
The Sultan relinquished all temporal power over territory within the Philippines (except for certain specific land granted to Sultan Jamalul Kiram and his heirs)
The Sultan retained his rights of sovereignty over the territory of North Borneo and his religious authority as titular head of the Islamic Church in Sulu
The legitimate heirs of the Sultan have still not relinquished the North Borneo territorial claim despite the apparent disinterest of the Philippine government
