Raja bendahara (Jawi: راج بندهار) was a Malay title for the monarch of the Pahang Kingdom that existed from 1770 to 1881. The title is a combination of the Sanskrit word raja ('king') and bendahara ('grand vizier'). The successive bendaharas of the Johor Empire ruled Pahang as a fief from the late 17th century. By the end of 18th century, the Bendahara emerged as an absolute ruler over the fief, carrying the title 'Raja',[1] following the decentralisation of Sultan's power and the dismemberment of the empire.[2]
- ^ Linehan 1973, pp. 51–52
- ^ Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid 2011, p. 82