History of Pahang dates back to the Mesolithic era, when nomadic tribes used to reside in the state. Later on, in the eighth and ninth centuries, the marine traders of Srivijaya Empire got attracted to the tin and gold deposits of the Tembeling River. The fortune of Pahang changed rapidly with the collapse of the Srivijaya Empire, the state was first captured by Siam, followed by the Sultanate of Malacca.
During the 16th century the European forces came into the fray and the Portuguese and the Dutch along with Johor and Aceh continuously fought to take control of the state. The residents of Pahang had to bear the brunt of this continuous battle and most of them were either killed or enslaved. The incessant attempts to capture the state also had a deep impact on the overall condition of the state; its ruler was killed and the economy of the state was ruined.
During the mid-17th century the empire of Aceh declined and Pahang came under the rule of Johor. But then, the sultans of Pahang, who had descended from Malacca and Bendahara Johor royal dynasties, recovered autonomy to great extent. The 19th century saw the state of Pahang got embroiled in a civil war between the two sons of the reigning sultan. The war ended in the year 1887, when the Wan Ahmad became the new sultan; however, by that time the British had already arrived in the state. They forced him to sign a treaty that transferred the control of the state to a British citizen.
In the year 1896 Pahang became a part of the Federated Malay States that included Selangor, Perak, and Negeri Sembilan. This federation became the Federation of Malaya in the year 1948 and later on became the Federation of Malaysia in the year 1963.
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