negeri sembilan root

Negeri Sembilan was settled between the 15th and the 16th century by the Minangkabau people
of West Sumatra who migrated to the region during the height of the Malay Sultanate in Malacca.

The Minangkabau brought along with them a rich cultural heritage which is still preserved
and practised today as the fascinating ‘Adat Pepatih’, a matrilineal system of inheritance and administration that is unique to the State.

In its early history, Negeri Sembilan as a unified State did not exist. It was rather a
loose confederation of nine fiefdoms which developed in the secluded valley of the
region. It was only in 1773 when Raja Melewar became the Yam Tuan that the
fiefdoms of Sungai Ujong, Rembau, Johol, Jelebu, Naning, Segamat, Ulu Pahang,
Jelai and Kelang were brought together under his rule.

The history of modern Negeri Sembilan began with British intervention
in the districts of Sungai Ujong, Rembau and Jelebu. In Sungai Ujong,
the British intervened to stop the conflict between Dato’ Kelana
and Dato’ Bandar which was affecting the tin trade along
Sungai Linggi (Linggi River). The British supported
Dato’ Kelana and appointed W.A. Pickering as the British resident in 1874.

By 1889, a treaty was made between the Yam Tuan Seri Menanti and
the four Datuk Undang wherein the Yam Tuan was installed
as the ruler of the state of Negeri Sembilan. The same
year saw the appointment of the first British Resident of
Negeri Sembilan, Martin Lister.