The Sultanah of Johor

Here is the list of HRH The Sultanah of Johor since 1886.

SULTANAH FATIMAH (1886 - 1891)

Sultanah Fatimah was the third wife of Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor. Her real name was Wong Ah Gew and later changed into Fatimah after converted into Islam. She was a Chinese woman with Cantonese heritage. She was crowned as Sultanah of Johor in 1886. She died in 1891.

SULTANAH KHADIJAH (1894 - 1895)

Sultanah Khadijah was the fourth wife of Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor. Her real name was Khadijah Khanum. She was a woman with Circassion Heritage. She married to Sultan Abu Bakar in 1893 during the Sultan’s visit to the Ottoman Empire. She was crowned as the Sultanah of Johor in 1894. She had a daughter named Tunku Fatimah.

SULTANAH MAIMUNAH (1895 - 1909)

Ungku Maimunah binti Ungku Abdul Majid was the first wife of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor. Ungku Maimunah was married to Sultan Ibrahim in 1892. She was a mother of Sultan Ismail. She was granted the title of Tengku Ampuan Besar (Crown Princess of Johor) in 1893 and later crowned as Sultanah of Johor in 1895. She died in 1909.

SULTANAH ROGAYAH (1920 - 1926)

Sultanah Rogayah was the second wife of Sultan Ibrahim. She was married to Sultan Ibrahim in 1897. She had a son, Tunku Abu Bakar. She was crowned as Sultanah of Johor in 1920. She died in 1926.

SULTANAH HELEN (1931 - 1938)

Sultanah Helen was the fifth wife of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor. Her real name was Helen Bartholomew Wilson and former wife of William Brockie Wilson. She was married to Sultan Ibrahim in 1930. She was crowned as the Sultanah of Johor in 1931. The couple divorced in 1938.

SULTANAH FAWZIA (1955 - 1959)

Sultanah Marcella or also known as Lady Marcella was the sixth wife of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor. Marcella Mendl was a daughter of Edgar Mendl from Romania and a cousin of British Diplomat, Sir Charles Mendl. She later took the name Fawzia upon converting into Islam. She was married to Sultan Ibrahim in 1940 and had a daughter, Tunku Miriam. She was known as Lady Marcella Ibrahim (1940 - 1955) and crowned as the Sultanah of Johor in 1955. She died in 1982.

SULTANAH AMINAH (1959 - 1977)

Sultanah Aminah was the first wife of Sultan Ismail of Johor. She was born as Ungku Aminah binti Ungku Ahmad. She is the second cousin to Sultan Ismail. She married to Sultan Ismail in 1920. She was granted the title as Sultanah of Johor in 1959 and been crowned alongside with her husband in 1960. She died in 1977 after suffered a road accident in 1976.

SULTANAH NORA (1978 - 1981)

Sultanah Nora was the third wife of Sultan Ismail of Johor. She was born as Tengku Nora binti Tengku Ahmad (an elder sister of Sultanah Zanariah). She was married to Sultan Ismail in 1978. She rose to the title of Sultanah of Johor in 1978. On 17th February 2011, she was demoted from the title Sultanah and is addressed as Tunku Puan.

SULTANAH ZANARIAH (1981 - 2010)

Sultanah Zanariah was the second wife to Sultan Iskandar al-Haj of Johor. She was born as Tengku Zanariah binti Tengku Ahmad, a member of Kelantan royal family. She is a younger sister of Sultanah Nora. She was married to Sultan Iskandar in 1961. She was granted the title of Sultanah of Johor in 1981. From 1984 to 1989, she was styled as Her Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong. She was probably the longest holder of the Sultanah of Johor title in history.

By Sharia Court ruling on 20th January 2014, she was divorced by Sultan Iskandar on 23rd January 2009. Nevertheless, she still officially holds the title as the Sultanah of Johor until the demise of Sultan Iskandar on 22nd January 2010. The Government of Johor had issue the stripping of the Sultanah title on 9 December 2010. On 17th February 2011, she was demoted from the title Sultanah and is addressed as Tunku Puan.

(2010 - Present)

Currently, there are still no holder for the position of Sultanah of Johor. The possible candidate for the title is HRH Tuanku Raja Zarith Sofia ibni Sultan Idris Shah, the consort of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor. Up until now, she are still not yet to be crowned as the Sultanah of Johor. 

The coronation ceremony of the Sultan Ibrahim as the Sultan of Johor will be held on 5th May 2014.

HRH RAJA ZARITH SOFIA

HRH Raja Zarith Sofia is the wife of Sultan Ibrahim Ismail of Johor. She was born as Raja Zarith Sofia Ibni al-marhum Sultan Idris Shah, a member of Perak Royal family. She was married to Sultan Ibrahim Ismail in 1982. She was granted the title of Tuanku styled as Her Royal Highness during the birthday celebration of the Sultan of Johor on 22nd November 2010.