Navy of the Bruneian Sultanate

Navy of Brunei
Navy of Brunei
Malay: Tentera Laut Brunei; Jawi: تنترا لاوت بروني
	To left to right: Swallow tail variant of the Bruneian flag was an uncommon flag used; A pennant variant of the Bruneian flag was a common flag for most Bruneians, seen on proas.
Active	1300s – 1888(1906)
Disbanded	1888 (de jure); 1906 (de facto)
Country	Bruneian Sultanate ; / British Protectorate of Brunei (1888–1906)
Allegiance	Sultan of Brunei ; Queen Victoria (1888–1901); King Edward VII (1901–1906)
Type	Navy
Size	Varies
Garrison/HQ	Various; primarily Brunei Town
Motto(s)	ملايو اسلام براجا; Melayu Islam Beraja ; Malay, Islam, Monarchy; (1425–1888)
Colours	Yellow
Equipment	Lanong, Kumpit, Jong, Prau, Penjajap and Garay
Engagements	Castilian War ; Bruneian-Tundun War (Transport); Twenty Years' War (Transport); Pacification of Lanun ; Sarawak Uprising of 1836 ; Anglo-Bruneian War ; (All Riverine warfare);
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Aki (early life)

Last updated August 07, 2025

The Navy of Brunei (Malay : تنترا لاوت بروني‎, romanized: Tentera Laut Brunei) officially the Royal Brunei Navy( Malay : تنترا لاوت ديراجا بروني‎, romanized: Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei) was the naval force of the Sultanate of Brunei. It lasted from 1300s to 1888.

History

Early history (1300s–1485)

The Bruneian Navy in its early form would've been similar to Orang Laut or Malay pirates ^{[ citation needed ]} as they depended on war praus' and Lepa from the Sama-Bajau people.^[2] Also according to a legend, before Muhammad Shah converted to Islam and became the Sultan of Brunei, he was a legendary pirate lord who was even believed to be the "King of the Pirates".

Middle period (1485–1660)

In 1500, the Bruneian Royal Navy engaged in a conflict in Luzon, against Tondo. In 1521, Antonio Pigafetta documented that Brunei's navy had a fleet of over one hundred boats, these were involved in an attack with a faction in the south, possibly modern day Kalimantan.^[3] The noteworthy advancements occurred within the navy during the Golden Age of Brunei specifically Bolkiah who was also nicknamed "the Singing Captain".

During the reign of Bolkiah, the Bruneian navy dominated the South China Sea. Becoming an thalassocracy.

On 15 April 1578, a Spanish Armada comprising forty galleons appeared off the coast of Brunei, following the Sultan's rejection of a treaty with the Spaniards in 1573. As soon as Francisco de Sande realised the Sultan of Brunei would not accept his demands, de Sande sent his fleet to attack the fifty Brunei's penjajap warships; the fifty Bruneian warships almost encircling de Sande. De Sande defeated it and continued his plans of invading Brunei which ended in full on retreat due to Cholera and Dysentery breakout.^[4]

Later period (1660–1888)

The strong ties between the sultanates of Brunei and Pahang were noted in Chinese accounts from 1573 to 1619, which mentions when Johor attacked Pahang, the Sultan of Brunei came to Pahang's aid and assisted in the city's victory. The sultan stated was definitely Sultan Muhammad Hasan, due to the marriage relations established between the two sultanates' royal houses.^[5]

In 1660, Brunei's first civil war began between Muhyiddin and Abdul Hakkul Mubin which Brunei's main navy joined Muhyiddin's forces and some Bruneian irregular sailors joined Abdul Hakkul Mubin's forces who helped stop piracy activities in the region.^[6], the main navy besieged Abdul Hakkul Mubin in Chermin Island, shelling his fortifications.^[7]

In 1769, they were sent once again to send soldiers to Manila, besieging the Spanish garrison.^[8] resulting in a successful siege, temporarily occupied Manila.^[9]

By the time James Brooke arrived, Brunei's navy had grew obsolete as they failed to prevent pirates attacking Brunei's homeland and frontier territories. In the Anglo-Bruneian War. Where it both acted as transport soldiers and also fought in offensive attacks via Riverine warfare such as the capture of Membakut ^[10] which used prau boats like Kakap. In 1870s-1880s, Brunei's navy was practically non-existent. Brunei disbanded her navy in 1888 but only officially until 1906, however similar warfare was also used in World War Two by Dayak rebels against the Japanese Empire.

Equipment

Big ships

Lanong ^[11]

Medium ships

Kumpit ^[2]

Trading ships and small ships

References

↑ de Aganduru Moriz, Rodrigo (1882). Historia general de las Islas Occidentales a la Asia adyacentes, llamadas Philipinas (in Spanish). Madrid, Spain: Colección de Documentos inéditos para la historia de España, v.78–79.; Impr. de Miguel Ginesta.
1 2 Hawkins, Clifford W. (2009). Boats, Boatbuilding, and Fishing in Malaysia. the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. ISBN 9789679948448.
↑ Gin, Ooi Keat; King, Victor T. (29 July 2022). Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Brunei. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-56864-6 – via Google Books.
↑ Oxford Business Group 2009 , p. 9
↑ Gin, Ooi Keat; King, Victor T. (29 July 2022). Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Brunei. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-56864-6.
↑ "The Mirror Island and The Civil War". The Mirror Island and The Civil War. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
↑ Rahman, Muhammad A. (1966). Rangkaian tawarikh negeri sabah (in Malay). Al-Ahmadiah Press. p. 55.
↑ Masa silam sarana masa depan: kumpulan kertas kerja Seminar Sejarah Brunei II (in Malay). Jabatan Pusat Sejarah, Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan. 1999. p. 18. ISBN 978-99917-34-16-3.
↑ 50 Years Historical Moments of Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, 1958-2008 (in Malay). Ministry of Religious Affairs, Negara Brunei Darussalam. 2008. p. 68. ISBN 978-99917-922-0-0.
↑ Saunders 2013, p. 77.
↑ Abdul Majid, Harun (2008). Muslim Adventurers of the Eastern Seas (1618-1798). ISBN 9789812307573.{{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
↑ Francis Warren, James (1981). The Sulu Zone, 1768-1898: The Dynamics of External Trade, Slavery, and Ethnicity in the Transformation of a Southeast Asian Maritime State. NUS Press. ISBN 9789971693862.

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[AganduruMoriz1882-1] Aganduru Moriz, Rodrigo (1882). Historia general de las Islas Occidentales a la Asia adyacentes, llamadas Philipinas (in Spanish). Madrid, Spain: Colección de Documentos inéditos para la historia de España, v.78–79.; Impr. de Miguel Ginesta.

[:0-2] 1 2 Hawkins, Clifford W. (2009). Boats, Boatbuilding, and Fishing in Malaysia. the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. ISBN 9789679948448.

[auto-3] Gin, Ooi Keat; King, Victor T. (29 July 2022). Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Brunei. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-56864-6 – via Google Books.

[4] Oxford Business Group 2009 , p. 9

[5] Gin, Ooi Keat; King, Victor T. (29 July 2022). Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Brunei. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-56864-6.

[:5-6] "The Mirror Island and The Civil War". The Mirror Island and The Civil War. Retrieved 7 April 2023.

[7] Rahman, Muhammad A. (1966). Rangkaian tawarikh negeri sabah (in Malay). Al-Ahmadiah Press. p. 55.

[:2-8] Masa silam sarana masa depan: kumpulan kertas kerja Seminar Sejarah Brunei II (in Malay). Jabatan Pusat Sejarah, Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan. 1999. p. 18. ISBN 978-99917-34-16-3.

[9] 50 Years Historical Moments of Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, 1958-2008 (in Malay). Ministry of Religious Affairs, Negara Brunei Darussalam. 2008. p. 68. ISBN 978-99917-922-0-0.

[FOOTNOTESaunders201377-10] Saunders 2013, p. 77.

[11] Abdul Majid, Harun (2008). Muslim Adventurers of the Eastern Seas (1618-1798). ISBN 9789812307573.{{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)

[12] Francis Warren, James (1981). The Sulu Zone, 1768-1898: The Dynamics of External Trade, Slavery, and Ethnicity in the Transformation of a Southeast Asian Maritime State. NUS Press. ISBN 9789971693862.

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