The Lanao Group of RoyaltiesThe emergence of Lanao group of royalties as we have known it today could be traced from the advent of two Muslim brother missionaries Sharif Muhammad Kabungsuan and Sharif Muhammad Alawi who arrived in Mindanao in 1515. The later settled in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental and Sharif Kabungsuan in the present site of Malabang, Lanao. Sharif Kabungsuan married the daughter of Macaapun Rajah Simbaan of Malabang. The couple was blessed with two children, Sharif Macaalang, and his Sister Daragat. The wife died and Sharif Kabungsuan married his wifes niece, they begot eleven children.In 1543, when Sharif Kabungsuan reached old age, he installed his son Sharif Macaalang to the throne, the second Sultan of Maguindanao. The latter married Bae Ble and begot Sharif Bangkaya. Sharif Bangkaya was enthroned as the third Sultan of Maguindanao (1574-1578). He married Bae sa Sulangan who bore him a son, Sharif Dimasangcay Adel. The latter was enthroned as the fourth Sultan of Maguindanao (1579-1585). The present-day Lanao group of royalties is a descendant of Dimasangcay Adel. Later on, Sharif Bangkaya took a second wife, Bai Bezaton, with whom he had four children - Datu sa Palao a Pekong, Rajah Muda a Mala sa Kalibo, Pinayongan Bae a Labi of Rabangon in Pagadian and Sharif Gugu Sarikula. In 1585, Sharif Sarikula who had married a Sulu princess was enthroned as fifth Sultan of Maguindanao.Sharif Bangkaya had two children with his third wife Bae sa Matampay - Dakung of Malabang and Sharif Laut Buisan. Sharif Laut Buisan was installed as the sixth Sultan of Maguindanao in 1597, and was married to the sister of Sultan Batara Shah Tengah of Sulu. Sharif Laut Buisan fathered Gayang and Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat (The famous Sultan Kudarat). Gayang was married to the grandson of Dimasangcay Adel, Sharif Matonding whose children are now the reigning Sultans and Baes a labi of Lanao group of royalties.In other words, along the genealogical line of Sharif Matonding there exists today 16 higher-prestige sultanates (pagawian) known as the Royal Highness Sultanates and 28 lower-prestige sultanates (pagawid) collectively considered as the Legislative Assembly. Source: Jamel R. Cayamoden, The Pat a Pengampong a Ranao: a study on the emergence of Lanao Sultanate in the 21stcentury. Thesis (M.A. Islamic Studies)University of the Philippines, Diliman. 2007