Samuderan royal family

The Samuderan royal family (꧋ꦏꦼꦭꦸꦮꦂꦒꦏꦼꦫꦗꦄꦤ꧀ꦱꦩꦸꦣꦺꦫ, keluarga kerajaan Samudera) is the dynastic family of the monarch of Samudera Darussalam. There is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member of the Samuderan royal family, and apart from the monarch themself, different lists may include different people. All members of the royal family, however, are noted to be belonging to the House of Jayanegara, the ruling royal house of Samudera and its realm that was founded in 1470. Despite at times being regarded as synonymous with the royal family, the House of Jayanegara actually covers more than what is usually considered as "core members" of the royal family itself.

Members of the Samuderan royal family with the exception of the monarch bear the title Rajaputera/rajaputeri Samudera (Prince/Princess of Samudera). The children of the monarch and the heir apparent are accorded the title Yang Dipertuan (His/Her Royal Highness), while Yang Mulia (His/Her Highness) would be given to other members of the dynasty. The monarch of Samudera themself would be addressed as Yang Dipertuan Agung (His/Her Majesty).

Historically, the monarch of Samudera has been seen as a symbol of national unity, though as per post-1928 constitutional amendment, they are relegated to a mostly ceremonial role. Other members of the royal family also perform ceremonial and social duties, though they have no say in government affairs. The Samuderan royal family is considered as one of the country's cultural icons, and they receive relatively high national approval ratings ranging between 68% and 78% in 2019, while the rest of the population tend to be indifferent towards it.

Members
In a memoir published by Khabar Samudera in 2015 on the reaction of the royal family to the Troubles, Princess Aziza mentioned her aunts and uncles along with their spouses as part of the Samuderan royal family. However, in the "Members of the Royal Family" list provided by the website of the Darul Iman Royal Palace, those listed appear to be only the reigning monarch along with their spouse and immediate descendants. The constitution itself, as per the 2018 amendment, only described the Samuderan royal family as comprised of "...the monarch of the Crowned Federation of Samudera Darussalam and his/her close relations." As such, a more generally accepted list of members of the royal family consists of:


 * The core of the royal family is made up of King Iskandar II and Queen Nirmala; Princess Aleisha, Crown Princess (Puteri Mahkota) and Prince Qamaruddin, Prince Consort (Putera Suri); Prince Muhammad, the first issue of the heir apparent; and the heir apparent's sibling Prince Hakim and his spouse Princess Nurul. They carry out royal duties full-time.


 * Lower profile relatives who perform some duties, consisting of the monarch's sibling Prince Kemal and his spouse Princess Azmi; and Princess Faradina, the second issue of the heir apparent.


 * Other members of the royal family with official rank who do not carry official duties, consisting of Princess Halimah, Queen Mother (Ibu Suri); and Princes Daniyal and Darmawan, the heir apparent's nephews.

Members of the extended royal family
While there is no official written rule, it is generally agreed by custom that those recognized as members of the royal family are the ones related to the reigning monarch within the second degree of consanguinity and their spouses. As a result, the children of the monarch's sibling Prince Kemal are not traditionally included within the definition of the Samuderan royal family, as their relation to King Iskandar II as his nephews is within the third degree of consanguinity. However, they are still included within the definition of the House of Jayanegara, and as a result are entitled the usage of the surname "Jayanegara", although they are not accorded with any royal honorifics (prince, princess) as opposed to recognized members of the royal family. Throughout history, however, either by marriage or other circumstances, rajaputeri (princesses) or rajaputera (princes) may lose their titles and membership in the royal family. In this case, they may be recognized as part of nobilities, either as part of the House of Jayanegara, or as its cadet branch.

Datu and Datu Puteri of Jayanegara
The title Datu (count) of Jayanegara are created in 1658 through the application of the "Laws for the Noble Houses" to accommodate members of the House of Jayanegara who have lost his rights to succession due to distant familial relationship with the reigning monarch. In 1891, this title is then extended to female members of the House of Jayanegara with the creation of the position of Datu Puteri (countess) of Jayanegara, although the previous strict inheritance of the title through the male-line is retained. As part of Samudera's Westernizing reforms in the 19th century, holders of the two titles, just like the rest of Samuderan nobility, are also not entitled to any territorial privilege anymore. Based on the customs, Datus and Datu Puteris are styled as "His/Her Excellency" (Yang Terhormat).

Holders of these two titles are not entitled to marry without consent of the Royal House, otherwise they and their descendants may lose the title and membership in the House of Jayanegara. Current members of this rank, along with their spouses and descendants, include:


 * Datu Puteri Aziza and Datu Darmawira of Jayanegara (King Abdurrahman III's sibling and her husband, her first cousin once removed)
 * Datu Rafiuddin and Datin Kirana of Jayanegara (Datu Puteri Aziza's son and his spouse)
 * Datu Samsulbahri of Jayanegara (son of Datu Rafiuddin)
 * Datu Puteri Rahmawati and Datin Putera Selahuddin of Jayanegara (King Iskandar II's cousin and her spouse)
 * Datu Puteri Mariam of Jayanegara (King Iskandar II's cousin)
 * Datu Abdullah and Datin Rohana of Jayanegara (King Iskandar II's nephew and his spouse)
 * Datu Puteri Amalia of Jayanegara (Datu Abdullah's daughter)
 * Datu Safiuddin and Datu Puteri Juwita of Jayanegara (King Iskandar II's nephew and his spouse, his first cousin once removed)

Datu and Datu Puteri of Muara
Samuderan princes who marry without consent of the monarch and/or the Majelis lose their succession rights and membership in the Royal Family, as do their descendants, although they still retain their place in the Royal House. They are then given the title "Datu of Muara" (Count of Muara), a position originated from a royal decree in 1891 that accorded the title to Prince Muningsyah who married a noblewoman from the Muara region without consent of the reigning monarch, King Abdurrahman II. The position is inherited hereditarily solely through the male-line, and holders of the title are entitled to the style "His/Her Excellency" (Yang Terhormat). Current members of this rank, along with their spouses and descendants, are as follows:


 * Datu Zakaria and Datin Sarah of Muara (King Iskandar II's cousin and his spouse)
 * Datu Johan and Datin Mayangsari of Muara (Datu Zakaria's son and his spouse)
 * Datu Puteri Inara of Muara (Datu Zakaria's daughter)
 * Datu Khairuddin and Datin Nurlaila of Muara (Datu Puteri Mariam of Jayanegara's son and his spouse)
 * Datu Puteri Maymuna of Muara (daughter of Datu Khairuddin)
 * Datu Andika of Muara (son of Datu Khairuddin)

Wijayaputeri clan
The Wijayaputeri clan have been the descendants of King Badrul Alam with his long-term favored concubine, Siti Wijayaputeri, whom the monarch elevated to the rank of nobility as the first Datu Puteri (Countess) Wijayaputeri in 1796 upon his ascension to the throne. As the rights to succession of children born out of legal marriage are explicitly not recognized by Samudera's constitution by this time, this caused conflicts by the time of the king's sudden death, which ended with mutual agreement to create the Wijayaputeri noble clan as a cadet branch of the House of Jayanegara, albeit without recognizing their rights to succession. Regardless, the clan and its descendants are recognized by regulation as one of the highest-ranking nobles in Samudera, third only to the Datus and Datu Puteris of Jayanegara and Muara whom also descend from the monarchs of Samudera. Instead of Datu, however, heads of the clan usually would hold the equivalent title Megat according to the customs as recognized descendants of the original holder of the title, a woman. Inheritance of titles and property in the clan are through the female-line, where the first son of the elder sister of the head would inherit the title, although property rights would be relegated to his sister, if there is any. Members of the clan are entitled to the style "His/Her Excellency" (Yang Terhormat). Some of the current members of this rank, along with their spouses and descendants, are as follows:
 * Mualim Wijayaputeri, Megat Wijayaputeri and Citra Wijayaputeri, Megat Puan Wijayaputeri (current head of the clan and his spouse)
 * Salsabila Wijayaputeri and Yusrizal Wijayaputeri-Tanjuang (elder sister of the current head and her spouse)
 * Yanuar Wijayaputeri (son of Salsabila Wijayaputeri and heir apparent to the clan's head position)

Line of succession
Succession was governed by the Constitution, and may only change through acts of parliament with consent from the Parameswara Council. According to the constitution, rights to the throne shall descend by heredity to the legitimate descendants of King Iskandar I, with the order of succession originally followed male-preference primogeniture. However, the publication of the Royal Decree of 1996, which was then finally implemented in the the 2002 constitutional amendment following a referendum, changed the order of succession to absolute cognatic primogeniture, in which the eldest child of the reigning monarch shall inherit regardless of sex. These changes were made to accommodate Crown Princess Aleisha, who was the sole heir of age at the time and remains in effect to this day. As of recently, the line of succession was:


 * 1) Crown Princess Aleisha
 * 2) Prince Muhammad
 * 3) Princess Faradina
 * 4) Prince Hakim
 * 5) Prince Daniyal
 * 6) Prince Darmawan
 * 7) Prince Kemal
 * 8) Datu Abdullah of Jayanegara
 * 9) Datu Puteri Amalia of Jayanegara
 * 10) Datu Safiuddin of Jayanegara