Sultan of Brunei Darussalam | |
---|---|
Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam | |
Incumbent | |
Hassanal Bolkiah since 5 October 1967 | |
Details | |
Style | His Majesty |
Heir apparent | The Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah |
First monarch | Sultan Muhammad Shah |
Formation | 1368 |
Residence | Istana Nurul Iman, Bandar Seri Begawan |
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The Sultan of Brunei is the monarchical head of state of Brunei and head of government in his capacity as prime minister of Brunei. [1] Since independence from the British in 1984, only one sultan has reigned, though the royal institution dates back to the 14th century. [2] The Sultan of Brunei can be thought of as synonymous with the ruling House of Bolkiah, with generations being traced from the first sultan, Muhammad Shah, temporarily interrupted by the thirteenth sultan, Abdul Hakkul Mubin, who in turn was deposed by a member of the House of Bolkiah. The sultan's full title is His Majesty The Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. [1]
No. | Portrait | Name | Reign start | Reign end | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Muhammad Shah / Awang Alak Betatar | 1363 [3] or 1368 | 1402 | Established the Sultanate. [3] | |
2 | Abdul Majid Hassan / Maharaja Karna | 1402 | 1408 | Died in Nanjing, China. | |
3 | Ahmad / Awang Pateh Berbai | 1408 | 1425 | ||
4 | Sharif Ali / Sultan Barkat (Blessed Sultan) | 1425 | 1432 | Previously the Sharif of Mecca of the Mamluk Sultanate and has no direct genealogical relation to the predecessor, but was selected as he was the son-in-law of the previous sultan (Ahmad) and was well versed in Islam. | |
5 | Sulaiman | 1432 | 1485 | Son of the previous sultan, Sharif Ali. Abdicated to allow his son Bolkiah to become sultan. | |
6 | Bolkiah / Nakhoda Ragam (The Singing Captain) | 1485 | 1524 | Son of the previous sultan, Sulaiman and the first Sultan to have used cannons during his reign. | |
7 | Abdul Kahar | 1524 | 1530 | Son of the previous sultan, Bolkiah | |
8 | Saiful Rijal | 1533 | 1581 | Nephew and adopted-son of the previous sultan, Abdul Kahar. Castile War broke out between Brunei and Spain. | |
9 | Shah Berunai | 1581 | 1582 | Eldest son of Sultan Saiful Rijal | |
10 | Muhammad Hassan | 1582 | 1598 | Younger brother of Shah Berunai. | |
11 | Abdul Jalilul Akbar | 1598 | 1659 | ||
12 | Abdul Jalilul Jabbar | 1659 | 1660 | ||
13 | Muhammad Ali | 1660 | 1661 | Garroted by his future successor Abdul Hakkul Mubin, sparking the Brunei Civil War. | |
14 | Abdul Hakkul Mubin | 1660 | 1673 | Started the Brunei Civil War by killing his predecessor Muhammad Ali and was in turn killed by Muhyiddin who succeeded him as Sultan. | |
15 | Muhyiddin | 1673 | 1690 | Son of Abdul Jalilul Akbar who avenged the death of his father-in-law Muhammad Ali by killing Abdul Hakkul Mubin, thus ending the Brunei Civil War. He also bought Gunpowder from the Sultanate of Jambi during the Brunei Civil War. | |
16 | Nasruddin | 1690 | 1710 | ||
17 | Husin Kamaluddin | 1710 | 1730 | First reign. He ruled for the second time between 1737 and 1740. | |
18 | Muhammad Alauddin | 1730 | 1737 | Instructed Datu Imam Yaakub to write the Salsilah Raja-Raja Berunai or the Genealogy of the Sultans of Brunei. | |
(17) | Husin Kamaluddin | 1737 | 1740 | Second reign | |
19 | Omar Ali Saifuddin I | 1740 | 1778 | ||
20 | Muhammad Tajuddin | 1778 | 1807 | Ordered Khatib Abdul Latif to inscribe Batu Tarsilah or Stone Tablet. | |
21 | Muhammad Jamalul Alam I | 1804 | 1804 | ||
22 | Muhammad Kanzul Alam | 1807 | 1826 | ||
23 | Muhammad Alam | 1826 | 1828 | ||
24 | Omar Ali Saifuddin II | 1828 | 1852 | Brunei ceded some territories of Sarawak to James Brooke. Brunei ceded Labuan to the British. | |
25 | Abdul Momin | 1852 | 29 May 1885 | Brunei ceded northwestern part of Borneo to the British. The declaration of Amanat took place in 1884 that vowed not to cede more Brunei territories to foreign powers. | |
26 | Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin | 29 May 1885 | 10 May 1906 | United Kingdom established protectorate over Brunei in 1888. | |
27 | Muhammad Jamalul Alam II | 10 May 1906 | 11 September 1924 | An outbreak of malaria claimed his life as well as three members of his family. | |
28 | Ahmad Tajuddin | 11 September 1924 | 4 June 1950 | Japanese occupation of Brunei took place. | |
29 | Omar Ali Saifuddien III | 4 June 1950 | 5 October 1967 | Signed the Brunei Constitution of 1959. Abdicated voluntarily in favor of his eldest son, Hassanal Bolkiah. Became Brunei's first Minister of Defence after independence in 1984. | |
30 | Hassanal Bolkiah | 5 October 1967 | Incumbent | Brunei regained independence from the United Kingdom in 1984. |
The Sultan has a private fleet of VIP aircraft since 1979. [4] consisting of Boeing 747-8(V8-BKH) Boeing 767-200 (V8-MHB) and Boeing 787-8 (V8-OAS), [5] as well as helicopters such as Sikorsky S70 and S76.
The aircraft fleet are not part of the nation’s Air Force. Other than the 747-8, the other two aircraft sport Royal Brunei Airlines colours.
The earliest historical record of the Sultans of Brunei is not clearly known due to the poor early documentation of Brunei history. In addition there has been an effort to Islamise the history, with the "official history" not matching up with verifiable foreign sources [6] The Batu Tarsilah - the genealogical record of the kings of Brunei - was not started until 1807. Therefore, much of the interpretation of history relied on earlier Chinese sources and legends. It seems that the early Sultanate of Brunei was dependent on Chinese support, [3] [7] [8] and perhaps early Sultans were of Chinese origin. [3] Furthermore, the earliest Sultans may have been practicing the Hindu or Buddhist religions, with early names indicating this origin. [6]
Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam and the State of Brunei, 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 2023, the country had a population of 455,858, of whom approximately 180,000 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 a constitutional absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan, and it implements a fusion of English common law and jurisprudence inspired by Islam, including sharia.
Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital and largest city of Brunei. It is officially a municipal area with an area of 100.36 square kilometres (38.75 sq mi) and an estimated population of 100,700 as of 2007. It is part of Brunei-Muara District, the smallest yet most populous district which is home to over 70 per cent of the country's population. It is the country's largest urban centre and nominally the country's only city. The capital is home to Brunei's seat of government, as well as a commercial and cultural centre. It was formerly known as Brunei Town until it was renamed in 1970 in honour of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei and the father of the current Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Royal Brunei Airlines Sdn Bhd (RB) is the flag carrier of Brunei, headquartered in the RB Campus in Bandar Seri Begawan. It is wholly owned by the Government of Brunei. Its hub is Brunei International Airport in Berakas, just to the north of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei.
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. After Brunei's independence in 1984, he became the country’s first foreign minister, serving from 1 January 1984 until 22 October 2015, alongside the second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Lim Jock Seng.
Sultan Sir Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien was the 28th Sultan of Brunei, reigning from 1950 until his abdication in 1967 to his oldest son, Hassanal Bolkiah.
Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni Hassanal Bolkiah is the eldest son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his wife Queen Saleha. He is the Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam, and is first in the line of succession to the Bruneian throne. He will eventually lead the state and government and is regarded as the second most significant figure in the political hierarchy.
Bendahara is an administrative position within classical Malay kingdoms comparable to a vizier before the intervention of European powers during the 19th century. A bendahara was appointed by a sultan and was a hereditary post. The bendahara and the sultan shared the same lineage.
The prime minister of Brunei is the head of government of Brunei. Concurrently, the title is held by the sultan of Brunei, who as sultan is also the head of state of the country. The prime minister, minister of foreign affairs, minister of finance and economy, and minister of defence are all the Sultan of Brunei. He is Brunei's Supreme Executive Authority in his capacity as the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan. The Privy Council, the Council of Succession, the Religious Council, the Council of Cabinet Ministers, and the Legislative Council support him in carrying out his responsibilities.
Islam is Brunei's official religion, 82.70 percent of the population is Muslim, mostly Sunnis of Malay, Arab and Indian origin who follow the Shafi'i school (76%) Hanafi and Maliki school (6%) of jurisprudence. Most of the other Muslim groups are Malay Kedayans, local Chinese and Dayak Iban converts. Islam was introduced to Brunei by traders arriving from Persia, Arabia, China and the Indian subcontinent. Therefore, other religions can be practiced freely.
The Sultanate of Brunei or simply Brunei, also known as the Brunei Empire, was a Malay sultanate, centered around Brunei on the northern coast of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Brunei became a sovereign state around the 15th century, when it substantially expanded after the fall of Malacca to the Portuguese, extending throughout coastal areas of Borneo and the Philippines, before it declined in the 17th and 18th centuries. It became a British protectorate in the 19th century.
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), also natively known as Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB), is the collective term for all of the military forces or service branches of the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. The RBAF consists of three primary military branches; the Royal Brunei Land Force, the Royal Brunei Navy, and the Royal Brunei Air Force.
The House of Bolkiah is the ruling royal family of Brunei Darussalam. It is composed of the descendants of the 1st sultan Sultan Muhammad Shah and his family. The Sultan of Brunei is the head of state and absolute monarch of Brunei. He is also head of government in his capacity as Prime Minister.
Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III is the Sultan of Brunei since 1967 and the prime minister of Brunei since independence from the United Kingdom in 1984.He is one of the few absolute monarchs in the world. The eldest son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit, he is the 29th sultan to ascend to the Bruneian throne, following the abdication of his father in 1967. The sultan has been ranked among the wealthiest individuals in the world. As of 2023, Hassanal Bolkiah is said to have a net worth of $30 billion. He is the world's longest-reigning current monarch and the longest-serving current head of state. On 5 October 2017, Bolkiah celebrated his Golden Jubilee to mark the 50th year of his reign.
Halbi bin Mohammad Yussof is a Bruneian nobleman, military officer, and politician, who currently serves as a Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Defence II. He is a former member of the Legislative Council of Brunei, and previously served as the Minister of Defence II from 2018 to 2022, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from 2015 to 2018, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), and Commander of the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF).
The Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam, officially abbreviated as MinDef, is a cabinet-level ministry of the Government of Brunei. It is responsible for the national security and its military forces within the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam; the latter collectively known as the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF); Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei, (ABDB). MinDef is Brunei's ministry of defence; and was established on 1 January 1984, when Brunei Darussalam achieved independence from the United Kingdom. The Ministry of Defence leadership presently consists of a minister ; its incumbent is the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, who is also the Supreme Commander of the RBAF / ABDB. A deputy minister is second-in-command at the Ministry of Defence.
The Most Esteemed Family Order of Laila Utama is an order of Brunei. It was established on 1 March 1954 by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III. The order carries the post-nominal letters "DK" or "DK I" as well as the title "Dato Laila Utama".
The Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei is an order of Brunei. It was established on 15 August 1982 by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The order carries the post-nominal letters "DKMB".
The Istana Darussalam is the former residence of Omar Ali Saifuddien III and birthplace of Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah. The palace is located at Jalan Darussalam, Sumbiling Lama, Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. The building has become a tourist attraction and currently under the protection of the Antiquities and Treasure Trove Act of the Museums Department.
Muara Naval Base is a naval base which serves as the headquarters and main operating base for the Royal Brunei Navy. It is situated approximately 4 kilometres from Muara Town, Brunei-Muara District, in the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. The naval base is located near the mouth of the Brunei River, which flows into the Brunei Bay.
Bolkiah Garrison, also referred to as Bolkiah Camp from its original name, is one of the military bases in Mukim Berakas 'A', Bandar Seri Begawan. It contains the main building for the Ministry of Defence (MinDef), and is also the headquarters of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF). International defence collaborations, meetings and bilateral exercises are planned and considered within this military base.