Brunei V41 and Its Historical Heritage

Sultanate of Brunei at Its Peak in the 15th and 16th Centuries

 Brunei was a powerful kingdom in the15th and 16th centuries. It ruled over all of Sarawak, Sabah and Borneo and part of the Sulu Islands and the Philippines. Two great leaders from this period were the fifth ruler Sultan Bolkiah and the ninth ruler Sultan Hassan. The empire’s vast wealth, derived from international commerce, created a strong impression on early European explorers. They returned to Europe with stories of gold, regalia and majestic ceremonies.

 According to Netty Royalty: “The Sultanate of Brunei was powerful from the 14th to the 16th century. In this period, its origin. According to the national epic poem, the origins of the present sultanate started when Dewa Emas Kayangan came down from heaven in an egg. One of his children converted to Islam and became the first sultan. We do not know much about the first sultans. Under the reign of the 5th Sultan Bolkiah (1485-1521), the influence of the Sultanate was extended. This prosperous era continued until the end of the reign of the 9th Sultan, Hassan. After his death, the country entered a period of decline. [Source: Netty Royalty]

 According to Royal Ark: “Chinese, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish sources from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries frequently tell of the wealth and power of the sultanate. By at least the fifteenth century, the Brunei sultan had virtually controlled all of the coastal regions along the northern coastline of Borneo, Sulu, parts of Mindanao, and even Luzon in the Philippines. This wealth and power naturally brought European traders, with whom the Portuguese were content to trade. The Spanish, however, established themselves in Luzon. Proximity, religious differences, and trading aims soon caused friction between Brunei and Spain. Skirmishes turned to hostility and eventually war. [Source: Royal Ark]

http://motherearthtravel.com/brunei/history.htm

Historians believe there was a forerunner to the present Brunei Sultanate, which the Chinese called Po-ni. Chinese and Arabic records show that this ancient trading kingdom existed at the mouth of the Brunei River as early as the seventh or eighth century A.D. This early kingdom was apparently conquered by the Sumatran empire of Srivijaya in the early ninth century and later controlled northern Borneo and the Philippines. It was subjugated briefly by the Java-based Majapahit Empire but soon regained its independence and once again rose to prominence.

The Brunei Empire had its golden age from the 15th to the 17th centuries. During this time, its control extended over the entire island of Borneo. It also extended north into the Philippines. Brunei was mighty under the fifth sultan, Bolkiah (1473-1521). He was famed for his sea exploits and even briefly captured Manila. Under the ninth sultan, Hassan (1605-19), Brunei fully developed an elaborate Royal Court structure. Elements of this structure remain today.

After Sultan Hassan, Brunei entered a period of decline. Internal battles over royal succession contributed to this decline. European colonial powers were also rising in the region. These influences disrupted traditional trading patterns. This disruption destroyed the economic base of Brunei and many other Southeast Asia Sultanates. In 1839, the English adventurer James Brooke arrived in Borneo and helped the Sultan put down a rebellion. As a reward, he became governor of Sarawak in northwest Borneo. Later, he was titled “Rajah” and gradually expanded the territory under his control.

Meanwhile, the British North Borneo Company was expanding its control over territory in northeast Borneo. In 1888, Brunei became a protectorate of the British Government, keeping internal independence but with British control over external affairs. In 1906, Brunei accepted more British control. Executive power was transferred to a British resident. The resident advised the ruler on all matters except local customs and religion.

In 1959, a new constitution was written. It declared Brunei a self-governing state. Brunei’s foreign affairs, security, and defense remained the responsibility of the United Kingdom. In 1962, there was an effort to introduce a partially elected legislative body with limited powers. This attempt was abandoned after the opposition political party, Partai Rakyat Brunei, launched an armed uprising. The government, with the help of British forces, put down the uprising. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the government faced a lot of pressure. They resisted joining neighboring Sabah and Sarawak in the newly formed Malaysia. The Sultan eventually decided that Brunei would remain an independent state.

In 1967, Sultan Omar abdicated in favour of his eldest son, Hassanal Bolkiah, who became the 29th ruler. The former Sultan remained Defense Minister and assumed the royal title Seri Begawan. In 1970, the national capital, Brunei Town, was renamed Bandar Seri Begawan in his honour. The Seri Begawan died in 1986.

On January 4, 1979, Brunei and the United Kingdom signed a new treaty of friendship and cooperation. On January 1, 1984, Brunei Darussalam became a fully independent state.

The History of Borneo Island from 45.000BC – 2017

SOURCE: U.S. Department of State

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