After the death of Hasanuddin in 1570 at some seventy years of age, Maulana Yusuf ascended to the throne when he was about 40 years of age. He was already an experienced ruler as co-sovereign with his late father. During Yusuf's reign, his younger brother Pangeran Japara returned from Jepara in Central Java. The name of this prince describes that he had spend his life in Jepara, the late king Hasanuddin has entrusted his younger son under the care of Queen Kalinyamat of Jepara.