Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with its territory bifurcated by the Sarawak district of Limbang. Brunei is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo; the remainder of the island is divided between its multi-landmass neighbours of Malaysia and Indonesia. As of 2020, the country had a population of 460,345, of whom approximately 100,000 resided in the capital and largest city of Bandar Seri Begawan. Its official language is Malay and Islam is the state religion of the country, although other religions are nominally tolerated. The government of Brunei is an absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan of Brunei, and it implements a fusion of English common law and jurisprudence inspired by Islam, including sharia.
The national emblem of Brunei is a national symbol featured prominently on the flag of Brunei. It was adopted in 1940. There are five main components to the national emblem: the flag, the royal parasol, the wings, the hands, and the crescent.
Mohamed Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III is a member of the royal family of Brunei. He is the second son of Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, and Raja Isteri (Queen) Pengiran Anak Damit. He is the Head of the Brunei’s Viziers. After Brunei’s independence in 1984, he became the country’s first foreign minister, serving from 1 January 1984 until 22 October 2015. He served in the cabinet as the Minister of the Brunei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade alongside the second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Lim Jock Seng.
Ahmad Tajuddin Akhazul Khairi Waddien was the 27th Sultan of Brunei from 1924 until his death in 1950. He was succeeded by his younger brother Omar Ali Saifuddien.
Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin was the 25th Sultan of Brunei from 1885 to 1906.
Muhyiddin ibni Abdul Jalilul Akbar was the 14th Sultan of Brunei and the fourth son of Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar. He took the throne after defeating his opponent, Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin during the Brunei Civil War. Notably, he also attempted to return the throne back to the origin bloodline via Sultan Muhammad Ali's family.
The Bruneian Civil War was a civil war fought in the Bruneian Sultanate from 1660 to 1673. During Sultan Muhammad Ali's reign, a dispute led to the killing of Pengiran Muda Alam by Pengiran Muda Bongsu. In retaliation, Abdul Hakkul Mubin killed Muhammad Ali and declared himself the fourteenth sultan. A civil war ensued, with Abdul Hakkul Mubin fleeing to Kinarut. Sultan Muhyiddin sought help from the Sultan of Sulu, promising the area of Kimanis as a reward. As it turns out the Sulu Sultanate made a false claim over the entire Sabah. The dispute over eastern Sabah remains a legacy of this civil war.
Abdul Hakkul Mubin ibni Muhammad Panjang, also known as Abdul Mubin or Al-Marhum di Pulau, was the 13th Sultan of Brunei. He was involved in the Brunei Civil War and ruled the sultanate from 1660 to 1673, after killing his uncle, Sultan Muhammad Ali.
The Royal Brunei Mausoleum is a Royal Mausoleum of Brunei located at Jalan Tutong, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. The Mausoleum is the main resting place and burial ground for several Sultans of Brunei and members of the Royal Family. The Royal Mausoleum was opened during the reign of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin I who later became the first monarch to be buried in the Mausoleum when he died in 1795.
Pengiran Anak Mohamed Alam OBE was a nobleman and politician whom became the fourth Speaker of the Brunei Legislative Council, serving from 14 July 1971 until 30 November 1974. He was the father of Pengiran Anak Saleha, the queen consort of Hassanal Bolkiah, the current Sultan of Brunei. He was also the uncle and father-in-law of the Sultan. He was also a maternal grandfather of Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince.
Pengiran Muhammad Yusuf CBE, pen name Yura Halim, was a Bruneian nobleman, politician, civil servant, diplomat, and writer. He served as the Chief Minister of Brunei from 1967 to 1972. He wrote the lyrics for Brunei's national anthem, "Allah Peliharakan Sultan," in 1947. The song was adopted as the country's official national anthem in 1951, when it was still a British protectorate. He was longtime member of the Legislative Council of Brunei, serving on the council until his death in 2016.
Marianne Elisabeth Lloyd-Dolbey was a personal secretary to Sultan of Brunei Omar Ali Saifuddien III.
Pengiran Anak Damit was Queen of Brunei as the wife of the 28th Sultan of Brunei, Omar Ali Saifuddien III.
The Cheteria are a group of royal dignitaries within the Sultanate of Brunei whose position ranks below the Royal Wazir but above the Manteri. Each carry specialized tasks and report directly to the Sultan of Brunei. The Cheteria hierarchy is structured around what is known as the Four Fold system which expands up to 32 folds. The title of Cheteria are only bestowed upon the Pengiran, especially to the caste of Pengiran known as the Pengiran Peranakan. The awarding of such titles are held in a ceremony called "mengangkat".
The Wazir are a group of royal dignitaries within the Sultanate of Brunei whose position ranks the second-highest official in the country behind the Sultan. The vizier had formerly held the position of the Sultan's highest official in the administration of the then-reigning government throughout Brunei's history, particularly during the times prior to and after the British protectorate. The core of Brunei's nobility consisted of this class of governmental offices, and it consists of a Perdana Wazir, and four Wazir under him, namely Bendahara, Di-Gadong, Pemancha and Temenggong. Notably, they are sometimes referred to as and acted as senior ministers.
Pengiran Bahrin sometimes spelled Abas, is a lawyer and politician in the Government of Brunei whom formerly took office as the first Minister of Law from 1984 to 1998, the first Minister of Communications from 1984 to 1986, and the sixth Attorney General of Brunei from 1978 to 1998.
Pengiran Mohamed Ali bin Pengiran Mohamed Daud, simply known as Pengiran Ali, was a Bruneian nobleman, teacher and politician whom formerly held the position of Deputy Menteri Besar from 1962 to 1965, Legislative, Executive, and Privy Councils. He emphasized the significant impact he played in Brunei's history, notably from the 1950s to 1960s, and was also the first of the "three M's" that the British government dreaded.
Pengiran Anak Hashim, also simply referred to as P. M. Hashim, was a Bruneian nobleman and politician who formerly held several high-ranking positions which included being a member of the Privy Council, Legislative Council, and the Islamic Religious Council.
Pengiran Anak Khamis or also spelled Kamis, was a Bruneian nobleman and politician who formerly held several high-ranking positions which included being a member of the Privy Council, and the Islamic Religious Council. He is the son of Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin.
Pengiran Muhammad Salleh was a Bruneian nobleman and politician who formerly held several high-ranking positions which included being a member of the State Council, Privy Council, Legislative Council, and the Chief Kadi.
Bruneian Empire (later protectorate), 1368–1906
Brunei Darussalam, 1959–present
