Pre-sultanate history A renegade group from the kingdom of
Funan in Cambodia found themselves in Borneo after escaping the
Khmer invasion, which is where Brunei's historical roots lie. In honor of its ruler, Raja Kamrun, the early Arab explorers called this new country Kamrun. This name changed throughout time to become Muja, Zabaj, and finally Brunei. The history of the area was also impacted by
Srivijaya, from which rulers and their supporters fled to Brunei after
Raja Sailendra conquered it. When these migrants took over Kamrun, the native population was forced to flee into the interior, which may have resulted in the rise of the
Lun Bawang and
Bisaya peoples. The national history of Brunei alleges that Brunei is an ancient kingdom located in the Malay Archipelago, alongside other historical kingdoms such as
Palembang Tua,
Tarumanagara,
Perlak,
Pasai,
Malacca, Gersik, and
Demak. During the
Song dynasty, a polity in western Borneo called Boni was noted as a large and powerful state, ruling over 14 regions and boasting 100 warships. The people were known for their bravery in battle, wielding swords and spears, and wearing armor made of copper for protection against enemy attacks.
Rice cultivation was the main source of income for the people of Brunei, whose land was said to be extremely productive. Some also fished and reared chickens and goats. In addition to many other handicrafts, the ladies were adept at weaving fabric, creating mats, and constructing baskets. The capital of Brunei, which had around 10,000 residents, was encircled by wooden defences. Like the people's dwellings, the royal palace was covered with
nipa palm leaves. In 977, a Chinese merchant of
Arab descent named P'u-lu-shieh (Fairuz Shah) arrived in Brunei for trade, receiving a warm welcome from the king and the local populace. Upon his return to China, the King requested P'u-lu-shieh to escort his envoy to the Chinese Emperor. P'u-lu-shieh agreed, and the royal delegation was led by Abu Ali (Pu Ya Li), Syeikh Noh (Shih-Nu), and Qadi Kasim (Koh-shin). They brought letters and gifts for the emperor, including 100
turtle shells,
camphor, five pieces of
agarwood, three trays of
sandalwood,
raksamala wood, and six
elephant tusks. The letter included three main points: to inform the Emperor about P'u-lu-shieh's arrival in Brunei and his assistance in repairing the damaged ship; to send envoys to the Emperor as representatives, offering gifts on behalf of the king; and to request the Emperor's assistance in notifying the Champa government to ensure the safety of Brunei's ships stranded there due to storms. Since that time, the relationship between Brunei and China became increasingly close and friendly. Known as the "
Maritime Silk Road" or "
spice road," Brunei's commerce networks were essential in linking it to other areas. As evidence of Brunei's early engagement in
foreign affairs, King Hiang-ta of P'oni dispatched an embassy to China in 977. Brunei's historical significance is demonstrated by the fact that it was referred to by names like P'oli and P'oni during the
Liang,
Sui,
Tang,
Song, and
Ming dynasties. In the
Temburong District in particular, the term P'oni is still used today. In addition, the family of
Awang Alak Betatar is thought to have established the old monarchy in Garang before moving to
Kota Batu in 1397. In the 14th century, Brunei seems to have been a subject of
Java. The Javanese manuscript
Nagarakretagama, written by
Prapanca in 1365, mentioned
Barune as the
vassal state of
Majapahit, which had to make an annual
tribute of 40
katis of
camphor. After Majapahit invaded Brunei, its subject kingdoms in the Philippines which were formally under its control, rebelled against Brunei, chief of which was the former kingdom of Sulu which besieged and pillaged it.
Expansion After the
fall of Malacca to the Portuguese, Portuguese merchants traded regularly with Brunei from 1530 and described the capital of Brunei as surrounded by a
stone wall. During the rule of
Bolkiah, the fifth sultan, the sultanate controlled the coastal areas of northwest Borneo (present-day Brunei,
Sarawak and
Sabah) and reached
Seludong (present-day Serudong River, Sabah) as well as the
Sulu Archipelago. During Bolkiah's reign, Brunei's influence extended to the southern Philippines, including Taguima (
Basilan). The Tagimaha (
Yakan) of Basilan were among the Sultan's most trusted naval allies, providing vessels and warriors for regional expeditions, reflecting Brunei's maritime reach across the Sulu Sea and its political and dynastic connections with Sulu and neighboring coastal polities. In the 16th century, the Brunei's influence extended as far as the
Kapuas River delta in
West Kalimantan. The Malay
Sultanate of Sambas in West Kalimantan and the
Sultanate of Sulu in the southern Philippines in particular developed dynastic relations with the royal house of Brunei. The Malay sultans of
Pontianak,
Samarinda and
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
Malacca as the largest Southeast Asian
entrepôt in the
Maritime Silk Road led to a gradual spread of its cultural influence eastward throughout
Maritime 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. Brunei gained influence in Luzon after the marriage of
Salalila to the daughter of Sultan Bolkiah of Brunei and Puteri Laila Menchanai of Sulu, creating a union between the royal houses of Maynila, Brunei and Sulu. This union facilitated the spread of Islam in the coastal parts of central and southern Luzon. The Muslim rajahs of Maynila, like
Rajah Matanda, for instance, had family-links with the Brunei Sultanate, as he was the grandson of Sultan Bolkiah. 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.
Decline 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. By the end of 17th century, Brunei entered a period of decline brought on by
internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. By 1725, Brunei had many of its supply routes to the Sultanate of Sulu. However despite all of this pressure against them, they were not a state of decline like that of the Ottomans as the Sultans of Sulu still paid tribute, with Brunei humiliating the Sulu in the
Apostate War which lasted to 1769 until 1790. True collapse only happened in 1836 when the Bau region ruled
Pengiran Indera Mahkota was in
full revolt. Brunei lost much of its territory due to the arrival of the western powers such as the
Spanish in the
Philippines,
James Brooke in
Sarawak, the
British in
Labuan and the
Americans in
North Borneo which was later given to the
Germans and
British. In 1888, Sultan
Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin appealed to the British to stop further encroachment. In the same year, the British signed a
protectorate agreement with Brunei and made Brunei a British protectorate. After the agreement however, the
Padas Damit War began after a Bruneian nobleman disputed with the
North Borneo Company ending in 1889. The protectorate lasted until 1984, when Brunei gained independence. == Government ==