Dhovemi of the Maldives

Who is Dhovemi of the Maldives?

Dhovemi Kalaminja Siri Thiribuvana-aadiththa Maha Radun or Donei Kalaminjaa was the second king of the Maldives from 1141 to 1166 or 1176 according to the Raadhavalhi and the Loamaafaanu copper plate writings. The Taarikh chronicles. however calls this king Sultan Muhammad ibn Abdullah which is probably the Muslim name of the king after his conversion to Islam in the 12th year of his reign. Later on the title of Dharumavantha Rasgefaanu or 'the benevolent king' was bestowed upon him. He is also known as the first ruler of the Theemuge Dynastry. This name was derived from his house's name, Theemuge, some sourced refer to the royal house as the Maalei Dharikolhu. Though it was being called Theemuge Darikolhu they were descendents of the Buddhist Kings of the Lunar Dynastry or Soma Vansa.

Dhovemi was the son of Henevi Maavaa Kilage the sister of the first King Koimala of all the Maldives. He ruled for 25 years, 12 years as a Buddhist and 13 years after his conversion to Islam. The conversion of Dhovemi and later the whole Maldivian Kingdom to Islam was accredited by Ibn Batuta, after visiting the Kingdom and staying there for some time, to Abu al Barakat al-Barbari. Later sources claim that a Persian from the Tabriz, called Yusuf Tabrizi was responsible for the conversion of the Maldivian Kingdom to Islam in the year 1153. The newly converted king became the first sultan of the Maldives. The governace of the country is said to have been carried out by the king as advised by Yusuf Tabrizi. King Dhovemi sent emissaries to the different atolls to convert all the inhabitants without exception to the Muslim faith. The king himself sailed to the island of Nilandhoo in North Nilande Atoll and converted them to Islam. He is also said to have built a mosque there. The conversion of the whole country is said to have taken place on the 2nd day of Rabi'-ul-Akhir 548 AH on the 17th year of Al-Muqtafi, the Caliph of Baghdad, and since then the Maldives has been a predominantly Islamic country. By the order of the king as his brother Siri Kalo the first Friday mosuque of Male' was built by Al-Wazir Shanivirazaa. The Dharumavantha Miskyii -the oldest mosque in Male'- is said to have been built by King Dhovemi.