History of Brunei facts for kids
The history of Brunei tells the story of the people and places on the northern coast of Borneo island. For a long time, Brunei was influenced by powerful kingdoms from India. Local experts believe that Brunei became a Muslim country in the 1400s. This was when the Bruneian Empire began. It was a powerful sea-based empire that controlled much of northern Borneo and the southern Philippines.
Later, around the late 1600s, Brunei faced a tough time. There was a Brunei Civil War, pirates caused problems, and European countries started to expand their power. Brunei even had a short war with Spain. During this war, Brunei lost Manila and had to leave its capital for a short while until the Spanish left.
The empire lost a lot of its land when Western powers arrived. The Spanish took over parts of the Philippines, and the British gained control of areas like Labuan, Sarawak, and North Borneo. Brunei's decline sped up in the 1800s. It gave away much of its land to the White Rajahs of Sarawak. This is why Brunei is now a small country split into two parts.
In 1888, Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin asked the British for help to stop more land from being taken. That same year, the British signed a "Treaty of Protection," making Brunei a British protectorate. Brunei remained under British protection until 1984, when it became fully independent. Since then, Brunei has become very rich because of the oil found there.
Contents
Ancient Times: Brunei's Early History
The first signs of people in the Brunei area date back about 40,000 years ago. These early people, called Austro-Melanesians, lived in Niah Cave in Sarawak. Their remains show connections to people from the Last Glacial Period, also known as the Ice Age. During this time, Borneo and Palawan were connected by land.
After the Ice Age, sea levels rose over 10,000 years, dividing Southeast Asia into different regions. People started moving to new lands for various reasons. Later, groups called Hoabinhians, or Proto-Melanesians, lived in Niah Cave until about 8,000 BCE.
Around 4,000 to 3,000 BCE, another big migration happened. People from the Yangtze region moved towards Taiwan, then to the Philippines. From Palawan, at least three groups formed. One group moved to Borneo, another to Sulawesi, and a third to Java. This period marked the end of the Bacsonian culture. Around 2,500 BCE, Neolithic ideas like pottery and growing rice reached the Austronesians through the Philippines. These ideas arrived in Palawan, then Borneo around 2,300 BCE, and spread across the Malay islands.
The Austronesians began to develop beliefs about megaliths, which involved worshipping the earth. As people settled down and started farming, they built social structures and developed agriculture. This period, known as the Bronze Age, was strongest around 600 BCE, centered in the Dong Son village. This is why it's called Dongsonian culture. The arrival of iron and bronze between 500 and 200 BCE marked the end of the Neolithic period and the start of contact with India in Southeast Asia. Indian traders brought items like glass and stone beads to Borneo.
Early Kingdoms: Indian and Chinese Influences
Much of Brunei's history before Magellan's ships arrived in 1519–1522 CE is based on guesses, old Chinese writings, and local stories. However, archaeological finds have helped us learn more. Research shows that areas now part of Brunei were involved in the Maritime Jade Road. This was a trading network that lasted 3,000 years, from 2000 BC to 1000 AD, centered in Taiwan and the Philippines. Digs at Sungai Limau Manis, near Brunei's capital Bandar Seri Begawan, suggest that Chinese traders might have been in the area as early as 835 AD.
Camphor and pepper were very valuable trade goods. Brunei's hard camphor was worth its weight in silver! Chinese records from the Ming dynasty (late 1300s and early 1400s) give detailed information about visits and tribute missions from rulers of Po-ni (an old name for Brunei). Their names and titles suggest they were influenced by Hindu or Buddhist beliefs. These records confirm that Po-ni paid tribute to the Hindu Majapahit Empire in Java. But in 1408, Po-ni asked for and received protection from China.
An Arab writer named Al Ya'akubi, writing around 800 AD, mentioned that the kingdom of Musa (possibly old Brunei) was allied with the kingdom of Mayd (either Ma-i or Madja-as in the Philippines). They fought together against the Chinese Empire.
Sribuza and Madja-as: Early States
A settlement called Vijayapura was a smaller state that paid tribute to the Buddhist Srivijaya empire. It is thought to have been in Northwest Borneo and was powerful in the 600s. This Srivijaya, referring to Brunei, was known to Arab writers as "Sribuza." Vijayapura itself was once a small part of the fallen Funan Civilization, which was in what is now Cambodia. Its people fled to Brunei and Sarawak.
After the Indian Chola invasion of Srivijaya, a leader named Datu Puti led a rebellion against Rajah Makatunao. Makatunao was a local ruler appointed by the Chola or a descendant of Seri Maharajah. Datu Puti and his followers tried to restart Srivijaya in a new country called Madja-as in the Visayas islands of the Philippines.
Later, according to old stories recorded by a Spanish friar, Datu Macatunao (or Rajah Makatunao), who was a "sultan of the Moros" and a relative of Datu Puti, took the wealth of ten datus. Two warriors, Labaodungon and Paybare, learned of this injustice from their father-in-law. They sailed to Odtojan in Borneo, where Makatunao ruled. The warriors attacked the city, killed Makatunao and his family, got back the stolen goods, and took the remaining people of Odtojan as slaves. Then they sailed back to Panay.
The Epic of Awang Semaun
According to Brunei's official history, told in the epic poem Syair Awang Semaun, Brunei was founded by fourteen brothers and cousins. They settled near the Brunei river, where the capital is today. They chose one of them to be the first ruler. Some versions of the story say they were all sons of Dewa Amas of Kayangan, a magical being who came to earth in an egg at Ulu Limbang. Many Lundayeh / Lun Bawang people believe Awang Semaun is their ancestor.
The Sang Aji found Dewa Amas and married his daughter. They had one son. Dewa Amas traveled to thirteen settlements looking for a special ox. In each village, he had thirteen (or twenty-two) more sons with thirteen different local wives, who were daughters of the village chiefs.
The first ruler chosen by the brothers for the new state was Awang Alak Betatar. He was the son of Dewa Amas and the Sang Aji's daughter. He was chosen not because he was the oldest, but because he was the best leader. The official story says he traveled to Johor, became a Muslim, and married the daughter of a Sultan "Bahkei" of Johor. He then received the title of Sultan Muhammad Shah.
Brunei in the 1300s and 1400s
Early Chinese Influence
The largest river in the area, the Cina Batangan, is believed to be named by early Chinese settlers. They had a trading post there to collect things like bird nests, sea cucumbers, shark fins, Borneo camphor, and pearls to send to China. The goods from North and Northeast Borneo always interested the Chinese.
One of the earliest Chinese records of an independent kingdom in Borneo is a letter from 977 AD to the Chinese emperor from the ruler of Boni. Some scholars think Boni refers to Borneo. The Bruneians became independent from Srivijaya again because of a war between Java and Sumatra. In 1225, a Chinese official named Zhao Rukuo reported that Boni had 100 warships to protect its trade and that the kingdom was very wealthy. Marco Polo wrote that the Great Khan, the ruler of the Mongol Empire, tried many times to invade "Great Java" (which was the European name for Borneo, controlled by Brunei) but failed.
During the early years of the Ming Dynasty, the Chinese Emperor sent two officers, Wang Kong and Ong Sum Ping. Their mission was to get the gemala (a glowing orb) of the Dragon that lived on China Balu. The mountain's name itself refers to the many Chinese lives lost to the Dragon. The Brunei History Centre tells a very interesting story that Ong Sum Ping later married Princess Ratna Dewi, the daughter of Sultan Muhammad Shah of Brunei. Because of this, he was given the noble title of Pengiran Maharaja Lela and chosen as Chief of Kinabatangan.
When Admiral Zheng He visited Brunei in the early 1400s, he found a major trading port. Chinese people were actively trading with China there.
Brunei's Expansion in Borneo and the Philippines
Marco Polo wrote that the Great Khan (the Mongol ruler) tried and failed many times to invade "Great Java," which was the European name for Borneo, controlled by Brunei. In the 1300s, Chinese records called Nanhai zhi reported that Brunei invaded or controlled Sarawak and Sabah. It also controlled Philippine kingdoms like Butuan, Sulu, Ma-i (Mindoro), Malilu (today's Manila), Shahuchong (today's Siocon or Zamboanga), Yachen (Oton, once part of the Madja-as Kedatuan), and Wenduling (today's Mindanao). These kingdoms would later regain their independence. Brunei eventually became known as Pon-i and was a smaller state under the Majapahit Empire in Java.
Majapahit's Influence in Borneo
In the 1300s, a Javanese book called Nagarakretagama, written in 1365, mentioned Barune (Brunei) as a state that was part of the Hindu Majapahit Empire. Barune had to pay an annual tribute of 40 katis of camphor. In 1369, Sulu, which was also once part of Majapahit, successfully rebelled. Sulu then attacked Boni (Brunei), invaded the Northeast Coast of Borneo, and looted the capital's treasures and gold, including two sacred pearls. A fleet from Majapahit managed to drive away the Sulus, but Boni was left weaker after the attack. A Chinese report from 1371 described Boni as poor and completely controlled by Majapahit.
Islam and the Sultanate's Rise
By the 1400s, the Brunei empire became a Muslim state. The King of Brunei declared independence from Majapahit and converted to Islam. Islam was brought by Muslim Indian and Arab traders from other parts of Maritime Southeast Asia, who came to trade and spread their faith. During the rule of Bolkiah, the fifth Sultan, the empire controlled the coastal areas of northwest Borneo (today's Brunei, Sarawak and Sabah). It also reached the Philippines at Seludong (today's Manila), the Sulu Archipelago, and parts of Mindanao. Brunei gained control of these areas through royal marriages between its rulers and those of Sulu, Manila, and Maguindanao. In the 1500s, the Brunei empire's influence also reached as far as the Kapuas River delta in West Kalimantan.
Other sultanates in the area had close ties with Brunei's Royal House. Sometimes, they were even under the control of Brunei's ruling family. This included the Malay sultans of Pontianak, Samarinda, and even Banjarmasin, who saw the Sultan of Brunei as their main leader. The Malay Sultanate of Sambas in today's West Kalimantan and the Sultanate of Sulu in the Southern Philippines, and even the Muslim Rajahs of pre-colonial Manila, had family connections with Brunei's royal house. The Sultanate of Sarawak (which included today's Kuching, known to Portuguese mapmakers as Cerava), though influenced by Brunei, was self-governed under Sultan Tengah. It became fully part of the Bruneian Empire after Tengah's death in 1641.
Conflict with Tondo
Sultan Bolkiah officially declared war against Tundun in 1500. He then gathered and sent expeditions to Luzon. Soon after arriving in Tondo, Bolkiah defeated its leader Lakan Suko. He then built a city called Seludong on the opposite bank of the Pasig River. After the Sultan's victory in Tondo, the Lakandula family kept their titles and property, but their power was taken over by the Rajahs of Maynila, where the Rajahs lived.
Relations with Europeans
Brunei's relationships with different European powers in the region varied. The Portuguese were mostly interested in trade and did not interfere much with Brunei's growth. However, relations were not always friendly. For example, in 1536, the Portuguese attacked Muslims in the Moluccas, and the ambassador to Brunei's court had to leave because the sultan was angry. The Portuguese also noticed that the sultanate was very involved in the region's politics and wars. Brunei merchants could be found in Ligor and Siam.
Conflict with the Spanish Empire
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Relations with Spain were much more difficult. From 1565 onwards, Spanish and Brunei forces fought many naval battles. In 1571, the Spanish, who had been sending expeditions from Mexico, successfully captured Manila from the Brunei leaders who had settled there. Brunei prepared several large fleets to recapture the city, but for various reasons, these campaigns never started. In 1578, the Spanish took Sulu. In April, they attacked and captured Brunei itself. They demanded that the sultan stop spreading Islam in the Philippines and allow Christian missionaries into his kingdom.
The Spanish left after many of their soldiers got sick with cholera or dysentery. They were so weak that they decided to leave Brunei and return to Manila on June 26, 1578, after only 72 days. The damage to the sultanate was not long-lasting. Sulu became independent again soon after. However, Brunei could not regain control in Luzon, as the island remained firmly in Spanish hands. In their war against Spain, the Bruneians were supported by Lascars and the Ottoman Caliphate. The Spanish knew this and complained to their king that Turks and even people from Granada helped the Bruneians. Muslim people from the Ottoman Caliphate, Egypt, Mecca, and Arabia were constantly arriving. Melchor Davalos complained to the Spanish King about their presence in Borneo and the Philippines.
Persians and Arabs and Egyptians and Turks brought [Muhammad's] veneration and evil sect here, and even Moors from Tunis and Granada came here, sometimes in the armadas of Campson [Kait Bey], former Sultan of Cairo and King of Egypt... Thus it seems to me that these Moros of the Philippine Islands [are] mainly those who, as had been said, come from Egypt and Arabia and Mecca, and are their relatives, disciples and members, and every year they say that Turks come to Sumatra and Borneo, and to Ternate, where there are now some of those defeated in the famous battle which Señor Don Juan de Austria won.
To fight against the Ottoman help for Brunei, Spain brought soldiers from its lands in Peru and Mexico to support the Spanish troops in the Philippines. However, the conflict between Brunei and Spain eventually ended.
Over time, big changes in the region could not be avoided. After Sultan Hassan, Brunei started to decline. This was due to internal fights over who would be the next ruler. Also, European colonial powers grew stronger in the region. This disrupted traditional trade, hurting Brunei's economy and many other sultanates in Southeast Asia.
Modern Brunei: British Influence and Independence
Relationship with the British and Sarawak
Quick facts for kids
State of Brunei, the Abode of Peace
نڬارا بروني دارالسلام
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| 1888–{{{year_end}}} | |||||||||
.svg) Coat of arms
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| Status | British protected state | ||||||||
| Capital | Bandar Seri Begawan | ||||||||
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• 1888-1906
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Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin | ||||||||
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• 1967-1984
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Hassanal Bolkiah | ||||||||
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• 1906-1908
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Malcolm S. H. McArthur | ||||||||
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• 1958, 1959–1963
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Dennis White | ||||||||
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• 1978–1984
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Arthur Christopher Watson | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
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• Treaty of Protection
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17 September 1888 | ||||||||
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• Independence Proclaimed
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1 January | ||||||||
| ISO 3166 code | BN | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Brunei | ||||||||
During Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II's rule, there were problems in Sarawak. In 1839, a British adventurer named James Brooke came to Borneo. He helped the Sultan stop a rebellion.
As a reward, Brooke became governor and later the "White Rajah" of Sarawak. He slowly expanded the land he controlled. Brooke tried to take over Brunei, but he never fully succeeded. He asked the British if he could claim Brunei as his own. However, they said that even though Brunei was not well-governed, it had a strong sense of its own identity. So, Brooke could not take it.
In 1843, an open conflict between Brooke and the Sultan ended with the Sultan's defeat. The Sultan then recognized Sarawak's independence. In 1846, Brunei Town was attacked and captured by the British. Sultan Saifuddin II had to sign a treaty to end the British occupation of Brunei Town. In the same year, Sultan Saifuddin II gave Labuan to the British under the Treaty of Labuan. In 1847, he signed a Treaty of Friendship and Commerce with the British. In 1850, he signed a similar treaty with the United States. This led to the first US consul, Charles Lee Moses, burning down his own consulate after some events.
Over the years, the Sultans of Brunei gave more land to Sarawak. In 1877, areas east of the capital were leased (and later given) to the British North Borneo Chartered Company (North Borneo). Because of these land seizures, which the sultan accepted for annual payments, the British ended up controlling most of Brunei's coast. The Sultan only stopped giving away land when Sarawak asked for Limbang. The Sultan refused, but Sarawak still gained control over the territory against his wishes.
In 1906, the British started a residency in Brunei. This prevented Brunei from being fully colonized, thanks to a friendly report by Malcolm Stewart Hannibal McArthur in 1904. This residency, where the Sultan controlled internal policies, continued until 1984. During this time, oil was discovered in 1928 by Shell. This discovery changed Brunei from a poor country to the wealthy one it is today.
Before Independence
The Sultan of Brunei took part in talks to form a federation called Malaysia. This would have included the Federation of Malaya, Crown Colony of Sarawak, Crown Colony of North Borneo, and the Colony of Singapore. However, Brunei decided not to join in the end. This was because of issues with oil profits and strong public opinion against the move. The Sultan's decision led to a coup attempt by the Brunei People's Party (PRB), which had many supporters. This coup failed because it was poorly organized, and its leader, A.M. Azahari, was not in the country during the attempt. Another idea was a North Borneo Federation between North Borneo, Sarawak, and Brunei. But this was also rejected due to oil revenues and the possible limit on the Sultan's power.
Independence
On November 14, 1971, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah traveled to London. He went to discuss changes to the 1959 constitution. A new agreement was signed on November 23, 1971, with the British representative Anthony Royle.
Under this agreement, these terms were decided:
- Brunei was given full control over its internal affairs.
- The UK would still be in charge of Brunei's foreign affairs and defense.
- Brunei and the UK agreed to share responsibility for security and defense.
This agreement also led to Gurkha units being stationed in Brunei, where they remain today.
On January 7, 1979, another treaty was signed between Brunei and the UK. Lord Goronwy-Roberts signed it as the British representative. This agreement allowed Brunei to take on international responsibilities as an independent nation. Britain agreed to help Brunei with diplomatic matters. In May 1983, the UK announced that Brunei's independence date would be January 1, 1984.
On December 31, 1983, a large gathering was held at the main mosques in all four of the country's districts. At midnight on January 1, 1984, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah read the Proclamation of Independence. The Sultan then took the title "His Majesty" instead of the previous "His Royal Highness". Brunei was admitted to the United Nations on September 22, 1984, becoming the 159th member.
Brunei maintains friendly relations with Malaysia and the Philippines.
After Independence
Brunei became fully independent from the United Kingdom on January 1, 1984. It joined ASEAN in the same year. Economic growth from its large oil and natural gas fields during the 1990s and 2000s transformed Brunei into an industrialized country. Its GDP (Gross Domestic Product) increased by 56% from 1999 to 2008. Brunei has the second-highest Human Development Index among Southeast Asian nations, after Singapore. It is classified as a "developed country". In 2014, the Sultan introduced an Islamic Sharia penal code.
See also
In Spanish: Historia de Brunéi para niños
- Brunei Civil War
- List of Sultans of Brunei
- History of Southeast Asia
- History of Asia
