In 1627, Raja Yusuf or Raja Bongsu who was the younger brother of Sultan Alauddin Shah was appointed as the 8th sultan of Perak.[4] Sultan Iskandar Muda of Aceh, crowned Raja Yusuf as the Sultan of Perak to replace Sultan Mansur Shah II.[5]
Raja Yusuf used the title of Sultan Mahmud Shah when holding the throne of the Perak Sultanate and ruled the Perak for three years from 1627 to 1630.[6]
It is said that Sultan Mahmud Shah's residence during his reign was located in the Geronggong area close to Kampung Gajah.[7]
Sultan Mahmud Shah died in 1630 and was buried on the banks of the Perak River, Kampung Tok Melor. After almost 300 years, Sultan Mahmud Shah's tomb was moved from its original location because the original location of his tomb was located so close to the Perak River that it almost sank into it. The tomb was moved to Kampung Melayu. Now the location of the tomb is located in Pulau Tiga, the same area as the tomb of Sultan Muhammad Shah, the fourteenth Sultan of Perak.[8][9][10]
There is not much information available regarding the story of Sultan Mahmud Shah I.[11]
He had a son named Raja Kobat, who would later be known as Sultan Salehuddin who succeeded him after his death.[12][13]