Dynasties
The third great dynasty was known as the Hilali Dynasty. There were 24 Sultans who held the throne twenty nine times and ruled for 170 years 1 month and 15 days. The Hilali Dynasty came to an end with the death of Sultan Ali VI, and the eventual occupation of the country by the Portuguese.

It may be noted here that the Portuguese, after a rule which lasted 15 years 6 months, were defeated in 1573 by the three famous brothers from Utheemu island in North Thiladhunmathi Atoll. Although the eldest of them Ali Thakurufaanu was captured and beheaded, the remaining two managed to wage a guerilla warfare that ended with the annihilation of the Portuguese governor and the eventual extermination of his entire militia.  The elder of the remaining two brothers, Muhammad Thakurufaanu the Great was invited to be the next ruler. He accepted the offer and hence the great dynasty, namely the House of Utheemu, was founded in 1573. There were 07 rulers in this dynasty, and they ruled for a total of 121 years 8 months 25 days.

Upon liberating the country, Muhammad Thakurufaanu the Great set about introducing reforms in every field. Predominant among these services were the reformation of the administrative machinery, minting of coins (for the first time) to replace the cowrie shells, and the setting up of a well organised standing militia. It could be said that "under his brilliant rule the Realm remained wholly peaceful and free from all injustice".
With the closing of Utheemu Dynasty which produced many eminent rulers, and hence the most illustrious came the short lived Isdhoo Dynasty. It lasted for 5 years 7 days and produced only 03 rulers.

Dhiyamigili Dynasty was the next. There were 4 sultans whose reigns lasted a total of 64 years 4 months and 19 days. The rule of this dynasty came to an end following the sacking and occupation f Malé by the South Indian Moplas. Their occupation lasted only 3 months and 20 days. This time the country was liberated by Hassan Izzuddeen who founded Huraage Dynasty. This Dynasty ruled until the country became a Republic in 1968. The 13 Sultans of this dynasty occupied the throne for 15 times and ruled for 196 years 2 months and 16 days. It was also during this period that the short lived First Republic was declared on January first of the year nineteen hundred and fifty three. The Republic lasted only for 7 months.

The dynastic frame outlined above contains many sub divisions, and also a number of rulers who, strictly speaking, do not belong to any of the major divisions. This is again an indication that the Maldivians were very free-thinking in choosing and accepting their rulers.

Outstanding Heroes
It may be totally unnecessary to give a full account of all the 93 sultans and sultanas and about their reigns. But to name the great and most outstanding Sultans will not be out of place. The king who accepted the Islamic religion was Sultan Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (1141-1166 A.D.) Many legends stand around this ruler. His qualities as a just Sultan are quite famous.

Sultan Ali VI (1557-1558) who fell while defending the country against the Portuguese is referred as "Ali the Martyr".

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