Ibrahim, 22nd Sultan of Johor

Sultan Sir Ibrahim. Sultan Johor 1895-1959.

Sultan Sir Ibrahim Al-Masyhur ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar Al-Khalil Ibrahim Shah GCMG GBE (17 September 1873 – 8 May 1959) was a Malaysian sultan and the 22nd Sultan of Johor and the 2nd Sultan of modern Johor. He was considered "fabulously wealthy."

Sultan of Johor
Reign 7 September 1895 – 8 May 1959
Coronation 2 November 1895
Predecessor Abu Bakar
Successor Ismail

Sultan Ibrahim was the only son of Che Wan Abu Bakar, Temenggung of Johor by Che Puan Besar Zubaidah (née Cecilia Catharina Lange, 1848–1936).[57] Zubaidah was the daughter of Mads Johansen Lange; a Balinese-based Danish businessman[58] and his Chinese wife, Nonna Sang Nio[59] (born Ong Sang Nio). Nonna, who was born in Southern China, lived in East Java for a time prior to her marriage to Lange.[60] He had one sister, Mariam (born 1871).[61]

Sultan Ibrahim married at least four official wives who became sultanahs of Johor. They were:

1. Ungku Maimunah Binti Ungku Abdul Majid (died 1909); married 5 October 1892, they had one son, Tunku Ismail (Sultan of Johor) (28 October 1894–10 May 1981).[citation needed]
2. Enche' Rogayah (died 1926); married in 1920, they had one son, Tunku Haris Abu Bakar (Tunku Aris Bendahara of Johor) (17 February 1898–1 May 1956).[citation needed]
3. Enche' Hasnah Binti Dato' Ja'afar: Hasnah was the daughter of Dato' Ja'afar bin Haji Muhammad, the first Johor Menteri Besar, and the younger sister of Dato' Onn Bin Ja'afar, He also had a son by Hasnah Binti Dato' Ja'afar: Tunku Ahmad (Tunku Temenggong of Johor) (28 July 1898–26 October 1983).[citation needed]
4. Ungku Intan Binti Ungku Ahmad: Married in 1926, Ungku Intan was the daughter of Ungku Ahmad bin Ungku Muhammad.[citation needed]
5. Helen Bartholomew Wilson (1899–1977), former wife of William Brockie Wilson; married 15 October 1930, divorced 30 March 1938.[citation needed]
6. Marcella Mendl (1915–1982), daughter of Edgar Mendl from Romania and cousin of British diplomat Sir Charles Mendl.[62] Upon converting to Islam, she took the name Fawzia binti 'Abdu'llah and was known as Lady Marcella Ibrahim (1940–1955) and Her Highness Sultana Fawzia binti 'Abdu'llah (1955–1982). Married in 1940, they had one daughter, Tunku Meriam (18 September 1950–4 July 2014)[63][64] (married, 1976–1980, to British rock star Barry Sapherson, aka Barry Ryan)[65] Besides Malay, she was fluent in several European languages such as German, French, and English.[66]

Sultan Ibrahim spent the last two years of his life at his apartment at Grosvenor House Hotel in London. He spent most of his time watching television and visiting theatres and enjoyed the company of his sixth wife, Marcella Mendl and their beloved daughter, Tunku Meriam.[67] The Sultan died on 8 May 1959 at his apartment, with his wife reportedly at his bedside during his last hours.[68] Tunku Ismail was appointed as the Sultan of Johor in place of his father, and many Malay and British leaders who have worked with him publicly expressed their condolences to the late Sultan within the first two weeks of his death.[69] The Sultan's body was shipped back to Johor Bahru and arrived the following month, whereby he was given a state funeral and his body lay in state between 4–6 June at Istana Besar.[70][71]

At the time of his death, Sultan Ibrahim was the longest reigning Johor sultan in history (having ruled 64 years).

References

1. Wikipedia contributors, "Ibrahim of Johor," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, < link > (accessed February 19, 2024).