Dayang Kalangitan

Dayang Kalangitan (r. 1450–ca. 1515) is the only recorded Queen regnant and the last animist ruler of the Kingdom of Tondo. The eldest daughter of Rajah Gambang and co-ruler with her husband, Rajah Lontok, she was considered one of the more powerful rulers of the kingdom, whose territory once encompassed land along the banks of the Pasig River in Metro Manila.

Life

Dayang Kalangitan was the daughter of Rajah Gambang who was then king of Tondo. Since her father died without leaving a male successor, she was appointed Queen regnant. Kaylangitan married to Gat Lontok, (later Rajah Lontok), King of Tondo. Believing that she bore the talents of Urduja she proved to be a strong ruler, and ruling jointly with her husband, Kalangitan established a small kingdom around the historical Bitukang Manók (now the polluted "Parian Creek" of Pasig City).

Around 1450, she become the sole ruler of both Bitukang Manók and Tondo. In order to maintain power and influence as queen, Kalangitan agreed to the marriage of one of her daughters, Dayang Panginoon, to Prince Balagtas of Namayan, the son of Empress Sasaban.

Dayang Kalangitan's son Salalila succeeded her as monarch of Tondo; after converting to Islam, he adopted his more famous name Sulaiman.

Issue

Dayang Kalangitan had four children:

• Dayang Panginoon, married Gat Balagtas of Sapa (now Sta. Ana, Manila);
• Dayang Lahat, married Gat Timog;
• Raha Salalila, later Rajah Sulaiman I, King of Maynila;
• Gat Kahiya

See also

• Kingdom of Tondo
• Kingdom of Namayan
• Queen regnant

References