Bruneian Sultanate (1368–1888)

In the history of Brunei, the Sultanate of Brunei (Jawi: كسلطانن بروني) or simply Brunei (/bruːˈnaɪ/ broo-NY) was a Malay sultanate, centred in Brunei on the northern coast of Borneo island in Southeast Asia. Brunei became a sovereign state around the 15th century, when it grew substantially after the fall of Malacca to the Portuguese,^[3][4] extending throughout coastal areas of Borneo and the Philippines, before it declined in the 17th and 18th centuries.^[5] The first ruler or sultan of Brunei was a Muslim. It became a British protectorate in the 19th century.

Sultanate of Brunei كسلطانن بروني (Jawi) Kesultanan Brunei (Rumi)
1368–1888
Flag
The maximum territorial extent of the Bruneian Empire (yellow) with its vassals (light yellow) in 1521.
Status	Vassal of the Majapahit Empire (1368–1408) Sovereign state (1408–1888)
Capital	Kota Batu Kampong Ayer Brunei Town^[1]
Common languages	Brunei Malay, Old Malay, Old Tagalog, Kapampangan, Arabic and Bornean languages
Religion	Sunni Islam
Demonym(s)	Bruneian
Government	Monarchy
Sultans
• 1368–1402	Sultan Muhammad Shah
• 1425–1432	Sharif Ali
• 1485–1524	Bolkiah
• 1582–1598	Muhammad Hassan
• 1828–1852	Omar Ali Saifuddin II
• 1885–1906^[2]	Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin
History
• Establishment of the Sultanate	1368
• Became a British protectorate	1888
Currency	Barter, Cowrie, Piloncitos, and later Brunei pitis
Preceded by Succeeded by Majapahit Sultanate of Sulu Maynila Sultanate of Sarawak Spanish East Indies Dutch East Indies Raj of Sarawak Crown Colony of Labuan North Borneo Brunei
Today part of	Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines

Historiography

Understanding the history of the old Bruneian Sultanate is quite difficult since it is hardly mentioned in contemporary sources of its time, as well as there being a scarcity of evidence of its nature. No local or indigenous sources exist to provide evidence for any of this. As a result, Chinese texts have been relied on to construct the history of early Brunei.^[6] Boni in Chinese sources most likely refers to Western Borneo, while Poli (婆利), probably located in Sumatra, is claimed by local authorities to refer to Brunei as well.^[7]

History

Pre-sultanate history

In the 1300s the Chinese annals, Nanhai zhi, reported that Brunei invaded or administered Sarawak and Sabah as well as the Philippine kingdoms of: Butuan, Sulu, Ma-i (Mindoro), Malilu (present-day Manila), Shahuchong (present-day Siocon or Zamboanga), Yachen (Oton, once part of the Madja-as Kedatuan), and Wenduling (present-day Mindanao),^[8] which would regain their independence at a later date.^[9] It eventually evolved to be called Pon-i and it was a vassal-state to the Javanese-centered Majapahit Empire.^[10]

In the 14th century, Brunei seems to be subjected to Java. The Javanese manuscript Nagarakretagama, written by Prapanca in 1365, mentioned Barune as the vassal state of Majapahit,^[10] which had to make an annual tribute of 40 katis of camphor.

After Majapahit invaded Brunei, its subject kingdoms in the Philippines which was formally under its empire, rebelled against Brunei, chief of which was the former kingdom of Sulu which besieged and pillaged it.

Its (Brunei's) own empire gone, it would appear to have shrunk to its heartland by Brunei bay. It now paid an annual tribute of 40 kati of camphor to the Majapahit Emperor. But worse was to follow. 1369 marks the absolute nadir of Brunei's fortunes, for in that year its former subjects the Suluks put it to sack. So utterly helpless were the Bruneis, that they had to be rescued by the Majapahit fleet, which drove out the intruders, who departed laden with enormous booty and taking the two precious pearls.

— Robert Nicholl, "Brunei Rediscovered: A Survey of Early Times"

Expansion

Following the presence of Portuguese after the fall of Malacca, Portuguese merchants traded regularly with Brunei from 1530 and described the capital of Brunei as surrounded by a stone wall.^[3][11]

During the rule of Bolkiah, the fifth sultan, the empire held control over coastal areas of northwest Borneo (present-day Brunei, Sarawak and Sabah) and reached Seludong (present-day Manila) and the Sulu Archipelago, including parts of the island of Mindanao.^{[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]} In the 16th century, the Brunei empire's influence extended as far as Kapuas River delta in West Kalimantan. The Malay Sultanate of Sambas in West Kalimantan and the Sultanate of Sulu in southern Philippines in particular developed dynastic relations with the royal house of Brunei. Even the Muslim Rajahs of Manila, Rajah Matanda, for example had family-links with the Brunei Sultanate. Other Malay sultans of Pontianak, Samarinda as far as Banjarmasin, treated the sultan of Brunei as their leader. The true nature of Brunei's relationship with other Malay sultanates of coastal Borneo and the Sulu archipelago is still a subject of study, as to whether it was a vassal state, an alliance, or just a ceremonial relationship. Other regional polities also exercised their influence upon these sultanates. The Sultanate of Banjar (present-day Banjarmasin), for example, was also under the influence of Demak in Java. The growth of the Malacca as the largest Southeast Asian entrepôt in the Maritime Silk Road led to a gradual spread of its cultural influence eastward throughout insular Southeast Asia. Malay became the regional lingua franca of trade and many polities enculturated Islamic Malay customs and governance to varying degrees, including Kapampangans, Tagalogs and other coastal Philippine peoples. According to Bruneian folklore, at around 1500 Sultan Bolkiah launched a successful northward expedition to break Tondo’s monopoly as a regional entrepot of the Chinese trade and established Maynila (Selurong) across the Pasig delta, ruled by his heirs as a satellite.^[20] Subsequently, Bruneian influence spread elsewhere around Manila Bay, present-day Batangas, and coastal Mindoro through closer trade and political relations, with a growing overseas Kapampangan-Tagalog population based in Brunei and beyond in Malacca in various professions as traders, sailors, shipbuilders, mercenaries, governors, and slaves.^[21][22]

Decline

See also: Castilian War

 

Bruneian territorial losses from 1400 to 1890.

The rising power of the nearby Sultanate of Sulu occurred due to infighting between Bruneian nobles and the king. Brunei eventually lost its authority over the Bajaus and lapsed into a collection of riverine territories ruled by semi-autonomous chiefs.^[23]

By the end of 17th century, Brunei entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of the European powers, and piracy.^[5] The empire lost much of its territory due to the arrival of the western powers such as the Spanish in the Philippines, the Dutch in southern Borneo and the British in Labuan, Sarawak and North Borneo. By 1725, Brunei had many of its supply routes had been taken over by the Sulu sultanate.^[24]

In 1888, Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin later appealed to the British to stop further encroachment.^[25] In the same year, the British signed a "Treaty of Protection" and made Brunei a British protectorate,^[5] which lasted until 1984, when Brunei gained independence.^[26][27]

Government

The sultanate was divided into three traditional land systems known as kerajaan (crown property), kuripan (official property) and tulin (hereditary private property).^[28]

References

1. Hussainmiya 2010, pp. 67.
2. Yunos 2008.
3. Holt, Lambton & Lewis 1977, pp. 129.
4. Andaya & Andaya 2015, pp. 159.
5. CIA Factbook 2017.
6. Jamil Al-Sufri 2000.
7. Kurz, Johannes L. (1 January 2013). "Pre-modern Chinese Sources in the National History of Brunei: The Case of Poli". (published in Bijdragen tot de taal-, land- en volkenkunde / Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences of Southeast Asia).
8. Reading Song-Ming Records on the Pre-colonial History of the Philippines By Wang Zhenping Page 256.
9. Quanzhou to the Sulu Zone and beyond: Questions Related to the Early Fourteenth Century By: Roderich Ptak. Page 280
10. Suyatno 2008.
11. Lach 1994, pp. 580.
12. Saunders 2013, pp. 60.
13. Herbert & Milner 1989, pp. 99.
14. Lea & Milward 2001, pp. 16.
15. Hicks 2007, pp. 34.
16. Church 2012, pp. 16.
17. Eur 2002, pp. 203.
18. Abdul Majid 2007, pp. 2.
19. Welman 2013, pp. 8.
20. Pusat Sejarah Brunei 2015-04-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 07, 2009.
21. Pigafetta, Antonio (1969) [1524]. First voyage round the world. Translated by J.A. Robertson. Manila: Filipiniana Book Guild.
22. Scott, William H. (1994). Barangay: Sixteenth-Century Philippine Culture and Society. Katipunan Ave, Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press. p. 192. ISBN 971-550-135-4.
23. Andaya, Barbara Watson (1982). A History of Malaysia. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 76–77. ISBN 978-0-312-38120-2.
24. de Vienne, Marie-Sybille (2015). Brunei: From the Age of Commerce to the 21st Century. National University of Singapore Press. pp. 39–74. ISBN 9789971698188.
25. World Atlas 2017.
26. Abdul Majid 2007, pp. 4.
27. Sidhu 2009, pp. 92.
28. McArthur & Horton 1987, p. 102.

Sources

• Holt, P. M.; Lambton, Ann K. S.; Lewis, Bernard (1977). The Cambridge History of Islam: Volume 2A, The Indian Sub-Continent, South-East Asia, Africa and the Muslim West. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-29137-8.
• Brunei Museum Journal (1986). The Brunei Museum Journal. The Museum of Brunei Darussalam.
• McArthur, M.S.H.; Horton, A.V.M. (1987). Report on Brunei in 1904. Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Center for International Studies, Center for Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 0-896-80135-7.
• Herbert, Patricia; Milner, Anthony Crothers (1989). South-East Asia: Languages and Literatures : a Select Guide. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-1267-6.
• Jamil Al-Sufri, Awang Mohd. Zain (1990). Tarsilah Brunei: sejarah awal dan perkembangan Islam (in Malay). Department of Historical Centre of Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of Brunei Darussalam.
• Awang Abdul Aziz bin Awang Juned (1992). Islam di Brunei: zaman pemerintahan Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzuddin Waddaulah, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam (in Malay). Department of History of Brunei Darussalam.
• Lach, Donald F. (1994). Asia in the Making of Europe, Volume I: The Century of Discovery. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-46732-0.
• Jamil Al-Sufri, Awang Mohd. Zain (2000). Tarsilah Brunei: The Early History of Brunei Up to 1432 AD. Department of Historical Centre of Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of Brunei Darussalam. ISBN 978-99917-34-03-3.
• Lea, David; Milward, Colette (2001). A Political Chronology of South-East Asia and Oceania. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-1-85743-117-9.
• Eur (2002). The Far East and Australasia 2003. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-1-85743-133-9.
• Bala, Bilcher (2005). Thalassocracy: a history of the medieval Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. School of Social Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. ISBN 978-983-2643-74-6.
• Hicks, Nigel (2007). The Philippines. New Holland Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84537-663-5.
• Abdul Majid, Harun (2007). Rebellion in Brunei: The 1962 Revolt, Imperialism, Confrontation and Oil. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84511-423-7.
• Yunos, Rozan (2008). . The Brunei Times. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015.
• Suyatno (2008). (in Indonesian). National Library of Indonesia. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
• History for Brunei Darussalam: Sharing our Past. Curriculum Development Department, Ministry of Education of Brunei Darussalam. 2009. ISBN 978-99917-2-372-3.
• Sidhu, Jatswan S. (2009). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7078-9.
• Hussainmiya, B. A. (2010). (PDF). Universiti Brunei Darussalam. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2014.
• Oxford Business Group (2011). The Report: Sabah. Oxford Business Group. ISBN 978-1-907065-36-1. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
• Church, Peter (2012). A Short History of South-East Asia. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-118-35044-7.
• Saunders, Graham (2013). A History of Brunei. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-136-87401-7.
• Welman, Frans (2013). Borneo Trilogy Brunei: Vol 1. Booksmango. ISBN 978-616-222-235-1.
• Kurz, Johannes L. (2014). (PDF). Universiti Brunei Darussalam. National University of Singapore. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2014.
• Andaya, Barbara Watson; Andaya, Leonard Y. (2015). A History of Early Modern Southeast Asia, 1400–1830. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-88992-6.
• CIA Factbook (2017). "The World Factbook – Brunei". Central Intelligence Agency.
• World Atlas (2017). "Brunei Darussalam". World Atlas.

Further reading

• Historical Atlas: History of Brunei
• Expanding Boundaries of Sarawak including territorial gains from the Sultanate of Brunei
• British treaties regarding North Borneo including cession agreement from the Sultanate of Brunei