| Elizabeth I the Virgin Queen of England | | | | older contemporary of Wan Kembang, also |
| was not alone as a woman ruler who | | | | ruled Pattani as an unmarried queen. |
| remained unmarried throughout her life. | | | | She was Raja Hijau or the Green Queen. |
| Let's begin with the death of Elizabeth | | | | She was chosen as a ruler under tragic |
| in 1603. Seven years after her death, a | | | | circumstances, after all male heirs in |
| Malay princess ascended the throne of | | | | her family died as a result of power |
| Kelantan to eventually reign longer than | | | | struggle. The people preferred her to |
| Elizabeth. She was Princess Wan | | | | her predecessors, praising her for |
| Kembang. | | | | making prices of food cheaper. Unlike a |
| When Wan Kembang was born, Kelantan was | | | | movie which portrayed the Green Queen |
| so prosperous that foreign merchants | | | | competing with others to obtain some |
| were said to intentionally destroy their | | | | cannons under the sea, the historical |
| own vessels upon arrival so that they | | | | Green Queen actually made Pattani a |
| could have an excuse to stay there | | | | prosperous trading center in which one |
| forever. Wan Kembang's father died | | | | of its hot items was - firearms. |
| when she was about four years old and | | | | Disputes among traders from Japan and |
| the sole heiress. A cousin of Wan | | | | Holland might had tested Her Majesty's |
| Kembang's mother, a prince of Johor, was | | | | diplomatic skills. However, it was |
| appointed to be the Regent. Wan | | | | these traders who helped defend Pattani |
| Kembang's royal uncle handed over the | | | | against a formidable threat, Siam. |
| throne only at the time of his death, by | | | | Raja Hijau was succeeded by her sister |
| then she was in her thirties. | | | | Raja Biru, the Blue Queen who was also |
| Wan Kembang was apparently well-groomed | | | | unmarried. Raja Biru died after ruling |
| for her job: Kelantan continued to | | | | for only eight years. She was succeeded |
| prosper under her rule. Arab traders | | | | by another sister Raja Ungu, the Purple |
| bestowed upon her the title "Paduka Cik | | | | Queen. Raja Ungu passed the throne to |
| Siti" in which Siti means honourable | | | | her daughter Raja Kuning, the Yellow |
| woman. Henceforth, the Queen of | | | | Queen. I can assure you this is not |
| Kelantan came to be known as Cik Siti | | | | fairy tale. This was the golden era of |
| Wan Kembang. Like Elizabeth I, Wan | | | | Pattani under the four rainbow queens : |
| Kembang turned down marriage proposals | | | | Raja Hijau, Raja Biru, Raja Ungu and |
| to remain single for the throne. Her | | | | Raja Kuning. These ladies ruled Pattani |
| favourite companion was an adorable | | | | for almost a century. |
| barking deer which she immortalized by | | | | If only Elizabeth I were able to |
| stamping its likeness on her royal | | | | communicate with the Malay speaking |
| coins. The name Cik Siti Wan Kembang | | | | world, she would have found quite a few |
| and her beloved barking deer became | | | | women in the same shoes as she was. |
| synonymous with Kelantan until this very | | | | For the Malay language version of this |
| day. Wan Kembang probably retired in | | | | story go to |
| her nineties and was succeeded by her | | | | Copyright 2008 - Wan Yee. All Rights |
| adopted daughter, Princess Saadong. | | | | Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You |
| After this point, she became a legend | | | | may reprint this article as long as you |
| because nobody knows where and when she | | | | leave all of the links active, do not |
| died. | | | | edit the article in any way, give author |
| It is believed that the mother of Wan | | | | name credit and follow all of terms of |
| Kembang was a princess of Pattani. An | | | | service for Publishers. |