Established historical studies pertaining to Negeri Sembilan’s pre-Islamic origins are unanimous on the point that the earliest inhabitants of Rembau are aboriginal Malay horticulturist largely of Jakun stock.
It is well known that Negeri Sembilan became a permanent settlement of Minangkabau from Sumatra Island.
Around 1500s and perhaps even earlier, Indonesian immigrants – mostly Minangkabau navigated the Straits of Malacca, sailed up the Linggi and Rembau rivers and founded settlements both in Negeri Sembilan and just across its southern border in Naning.
They initially lived under the protection of the rulers of Malacca, but with fall of Malacca to the Portuguese, the Minangkabau sought protection from the sultans of neighboring Malay rulers of the Johor-Riau Empire.
Minangkabau rulers made no effort to summon their people back, but a sense of a group identity remained strong and still in the late eighteenth century Minangkabau communities in the peninsula received their leaders from their original homeland.
The royal families of Negeri Sembilan still regard themselves as descendants of royal families from Pagaruyung.
In 1773, Raja Melewar, a Minangkabau prince from Sumatera, was appointed the first head of state (yang di pertuan besar) of Negeri Sembilan.
Out of this initial union emerged a loose confederation of nine luak (fiefdoms).
As late as 1824 the kings of Negeri Sembilan were taken directly from the royal house in Pagaruyung.
After Raja Melewar’s death, the titles of yang di pertuan besar was taken by a succession of Sumatera chiefs, until a series of protracted tin-related wars in 1824-32 led to severance of political ties with Sumatera.
History of Negeri Sembilan
