INTRODUCTION

Before the arrival of the Minangkabau peoples from Sumatra, Negri Sembilan was a large piece of virgin rainforest with only few areas inhabited by tribes although many of the areas were already in the possession of Malay chiefs. The original people of Negri Sembilan were made up of three indigenous tribes, that is; the Biduanda, the Bersisi and the Jakun. 

History of Negri Sembilan can be traced back to the 15th and 16th centuries when Minangkabau settlers from Sumatra migrated to the region during the era of the Melaka Sultanate. These settlers initially settled in the regions of Naning, Sungei Ujong and Rembau, which at the time were parts of the Johor-Riau Empire. In the early centuries, Malaysia was dissected into little kingdoms ruled by Sultans who often fought amongst themselves for power and position. The Johor-Riau Empire at one time ruled lands from the Riau islands to districts in Negri Sembilan.

The Empire eventually went into decline and this together with the rise of the Bugis Sultanate in Melaka caused insurrections in the districts of Rembau, Sungei Ujong, Johol and Ulu Muar in 1770. Following these insurrections, the people of those regions invited a ruler from the royal house of Pagar Ruyong in their Sumatra homeland to rule them. Raja Melewar was proclaimed the first Yang Dipertuan Besar in Negri Sembilan in 1773. This dynasty prevailed and sits on the throne to this day.

Trade with the Straits Settlement flourished when tin was found. This however, led to fighting and unrest in Sungei Ujong, Rembau and Jelebu paving the way for British intervention and ultimately a British presence in the State in the form of the first British Resident, Martin Lister. With the use of treaties, the British brought the separate states closer to a federation and in 1889, Yam Tuan Seri Menanti was installed as the ruler of all Negri Sembilan. In 1896 Negri Sembilan became one of the Federated Malay States and in 1948 became part of the Federation of Malaya which finally achieved independence in 1957.

Negri Sembilan literally means "Nine States" reflecting the historical confederation of nine states, which were finally unified under the Yam Tuan in 1889. Today, only seven out of the nine districts remain; comprising Jelebu, Jempol, Kuala Pilah, Port Dickson, Rembau, Seremban and Tampin. Seremban is the capital of modern Negri Sembilan while its royal capital is Seri Menanti.