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Brunei Darussalam
 
[Brunei Flag until c.1906]
                             to c.1906 
 
[Brunei Flag c.1906-1959]
                        c.1906 - 29 Sep 1959 
 
[Brunei]
                      Adopted 29 Sep 1959
 
Map of Brunei
Hear National Anthem
"Allah Peliharakan Sultan"
(God Bless His Majesty)
Text of National Anthem
Adopted 1951/1 Jan 1984
Constitution
(29 Sep 1959; some provisions
suspended from Dec 1962, others
since independence 1 Jan 1984)
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
(to 4 Oct 1972 Brunei Town)
Currency: Bruneian Dollar
(BND) 
National Holiday: 23 Feb (1984)
 National Day
Population: 381,371 (2008)
GDP: $20.2 billion (2008)
Exports: $8.25 billion (2007)
Imports: $2.05 billion (2007)
Ethnic groups: Malay 66.6%, Chinese 10.9%, indigenous 3.9%,
Indian and other 18.9% (2003)
Total Active Armed Forces: 7,000 (2006)
British Gurkha Troops: 1,120 (2006)
Singaporean Troops: 500 (2006)

Merchant marine: 8 ships (2008)
Religions: Muslim (official) 64.4%, traditional beliefs 11.2%,
Buddhist 9.1%, Christian 7.7%, other and
non-religious 7.6% (2000)
International Organizations/Treaties: ADB, APEC, APM, ARF, ASEAN, BTWC, C, CTBT (signatory), EAS, ENMOD, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, ICSID, IDB, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISESCO, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, KP, NAM, NPT, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Brunei Index
Chronology

1363                       Brunei founded (traditional date).
1425                       Name Negara Brunei Darussalam (State of Brunei,
                             Abode of Peace) adopted.
16 Apr 1578 - 26 Jun 1578  Spanish under Philippine governor Francisco de
                             Sande Picón
occupy capital of Brunei and declare
                             Brunei annexed by Spain 20 Apr 1578
.
1704                       Sultan cedes the lands east of Marudu Bay to the
                             Sultanate of Sulu.
24 Sep 1841                Sarawak granted to James Brooke by the Sultan.
                             (see under Malay states).
17 Sep 1888                British protectorate.
 5 Dec 1905 - 23 Feb 1984  British protected state.
 6 Jan 1942 - 14 Jun 1945  Occupied by Japan (subordinated to Japanese
                             occupied Northern Borneo [see Sabah]).
14 Jun 1945 -  6 Jul 1946  British military administration.
29 Sep 1959                Autonomy
23 Nov 1971                Full internal self-government.
 1 Jan 1984                Independence (Negara Brunei Darussalam).

Historical Maps
of Brunei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sultans¹ 
 7 Nov 1661 - 1673         Abdul Hakul Mubbin                 (b. 16.. - d. 1673)
1673 - 1690                Muhiuddin                          (b. 16.. - d. 1690)
1690 - 1710                Nasruddin                          (b. 16.. - d. 1710)
1710 - 1730                Kamaluddin (1st time)              (b. 16.. - d. 1740)
1730 - 1737                Muhammad Alauddin                  (d. 1737)
1737 - 1740                Kamaluddin (2nd time)              (s.a.)
1740 - 10 Jul 1795         Omar Ali Saifuddin (I)             (b. 17.. - d. 1795)
10 Jul 1795 - 27 Apr 1804  Muhammad Tajuddin (1st time)       (b. 17.. - d. 1807)
27 Apr 1804 - 10 Nov 1804  Muhammad Jamalul Alam              (b. 17.. - d. 1804)
10 Nov 1804 - 11 Feb 1807  Muhammad Tajuddin (2nd time)       (s.a.)
11 Feb 1807 - Apr/May 1822 Muhammad Khanzul Alam              (b. 17.. - d. 1822)
18 May 1822 - Dec 1824     Muhammad Alam                      (d. 1824)
Dec 1824 - 1852            Omar Ali Saifuddin (II)            (d. 1852)
1852 - 30 May 1885         Abdul Mumin ibni Pengiran          (b. 1785 - d. 1885)
                             Shahbandar (regent to ... 1852)
30 May 1885 - 10 May 1906  Hashim Jalilul Alam Akamuddin      (b. 1824 - d. 1906)
10 May 1906 - 11 Sep 1924  Muhammad Jamalul Alam              (b. 1889 - d. 1924)
                             (from 5 Jan 1920, Sir Muhammad Jamalul Alam) 
10 May 1906 - 15 May 1918  Council of Regency
                           - Pengiran Anak Muhammad Saleh     (b. 18.. - d. 1912)
                               (to 2 Dec 1912)
                           - Pengiran Anak Chuchu Besar       (b. 1829 - d. 1917)
                               (to 3 Jul 1917)
                           - Pengiran al-Haji Muhammad
                               Yasin ibni al-Marhum Pengiran  (b. 1887 - d. 1951)
                               Tua Omar Ali (from 1913) 
11 Sep 1924 -  4 Jun 1950  Ahmad Tajuddin Ahazul Khairi       (b. 1913 - d. 1950)
                             Waddien (from 20 Sep 1949, Sir 
                             Ahmad Tajuddin Ahazul Khairi Waddien)
11 Sep 1924 - 19 Sep 1931  Council of Regency
                           - Pengiran al-Haji Muhammad
                               Yasin ibni al-Marhum Pengiran  (s.a.)
                               Tua Omar Ali 
                           - Pangeran Pemancha ....
 4 Jun 1950 -  4 Oct 1967  Omar Ali Saifuddin Sa´adul Khairi  (b. 1914 - d. 1986)
                             Waddien (from 9 Jun 1953, Sir Omar
                             Ali Saifuddin Sa´adul Khairi Waddien)
 4 Oct 1967 -              Hassanal Bolkiah Mu´izzadin        (b. 1946)
                             Waddaulah (from 29 Feb 1972, Sir Muda 
                             Hassanal Bolkiah Mu´izzadin Waddaulah)

Chief ministers (title Menteri Besar)
Jul 1947 - 1959            Omar Ali Saifuddin Sa´adul Khairi  (s.a.)
                             Waddien (from 9 Jun 1953, Sir Omar
                             Ali Saifuddin Sa´adul Khairi Waddien)          
Sep 1959 - 1962            Pekin Dato Perdana Menteri Dato
                             Paduka Haji Ibrahim
1962 - 1967                Dato Seri Paduka Haji Marsal bin   (b. 1913? - d. 2000)
                             Maun 
1968 - 1972                Dato Pengiran Muhammad Yusuf bin   (b. 1923?)
                             Abdul Rahim (acting to .... 1967) 
1972 - Sep 1981            Pengiran Dipa Negara Laila Diraja
                             Pengiran Abdul Mumin 
                             (acting to 1973)
Sep 1981 - 31 Dec 1983     Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato (b. 1936)
                             Haji Abdul Aziz Umar (acting) 
Prime minister
 1 Jan 1984 -              Sir Muda Hassanal Bolkiah          (s.a.)              Non-party
                             Mu´izzadin Waddaulah 


British
High Commissioners
 5 Dec 1905 -  1 Apr 1946  the governors of the Straits 
                           Settlements (see Singapore)
British Residents
 2 Jan 1906 - May 1907     Malcolm Stewart Hannibal McArthur  (b. 1872 - d. 1934)
                             (1st time)
May 1907 - Dec 1907        Harvey Chevallier (1st time)(acting)
Dec 1907 - Apr 1908        Malcolm Stewart Hannibal McArthur  (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
Apr 1908 - Sep 1909        John Fortescue Owen                (b. 1869 - d. 19..)
Nov 1909 - Nov 1913        Harvey Chevallier (2nd time)
Nov 1913 - Jan 1915        Francis William Douglas (acting)   (b. 1874 - d. 1953)
Feb 1915 - 18 May 1916     Ernest Barton Maundrell (acting)   (b. 1880 - d. 1916)
1916 - 1921                Geoffrey Edmund Cator              (b. 1884 - d. 1973)
Mar 1921 - 1923            Lucien Arthur Allen                (b. 1888 - d. 19..)
1923 - 1926                Eric Ernest Falk Pretty (1st time) (b. 1891 - d. 1967)
1926 - 1927                Oswald Eric Venables               (b. 1891 - d. 1960)
1927 - 1928                Eric Ernest Falk Pretty (2nd time) (s.a.)
1928 - 1931                Patrick Alexander Bruce McKerron   (b. 1896 - d. 1964)
1931 - 1934                Thomas Falkland Carey              (b. 1903 - d. 1966)
1934 - 1937                Roland Evelyn Turnbull             (b. 1905 - d. 1960)
1937 - 1940                John Graham Black                  (b. 1896 - d. 1988)
1940 - 1941                Ernest Edgar Pengilly              (b. 1897 - d. 19..)
 6 Jan 1942 - 14 Jun 1945  Masao Baba - Japanese commander
Jun 1945 -  6 Jul 1946     K.E.H. Keay -British commander
1946 - 1948                William John Peel                  (b. 1912 - d. 2004)
1948 - 1951                Eric Ernest Falk Pretty (3rd time) (s.a.)
1951 - 1954                John Coleraine Hanbury Barcroft    (b. 1908 - d. 1958)
1954 - 1958                John Orman Gilbert                 (b. 1907 - d. 1995)
1958 - 29 Sep 1959         Dennis Charles White               (b. 1910 - d. 1983)
High Commissioners
29 Sep 1959 - 1963         Dennis Charles White               (s.a.) 
                             (from 1 Jan 1962, Sir Dennis Charles White)
1963                       Angus MacKay Mackintosh            (b. 1915 - d. 1986)

1963 - 1965                Edgar Ord Laird                    (b. 1915 - d. 1992)
1965 - 1967                Fernley Douglas Webber             (b. 1918 - d. 1991)
 1 May 1968 - 1972         Arthur Robin Adair                 (b. 1913 - d. 1981)
12 Jan 1972 - 1975         Peter Gautrey                      (b. 1918)
 8 Jan 1975 - 1978         James Alfred Davidson              (b. 1922 - d. 2004)
 6 Nov 1978 - 1983         Arthur Christopher Watson          (b. 1927 - d. 2001)
 5 Aug 1983 - 31 Dec 1983  Francis Cornish                    (b. 1942)

 ¹Full style: Paduka Sri Baginda Sultan dan Yang di-Perutan of Brunei Darussalam
("His Majesty the Sultan and Yang di-Perutan of Brunei Darussalam").

Territorial Disputes: Brunei and Malaysia agreed in Sep 2008 to resolve their offshore and deepwater seabed dispute, resume hydrocarbon exploration, and renounce any territorial claims on land; Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands in 1984, but makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants.

Political Parties - legal parties exist, but have not been able to gain electoral representation as legislative elections have not been held in Brunei since 1962: NDP = National Development Party (Brunei); PAKAR = Brunei People's Awareness Party (Parti Kesedaran Rakyat Brunei) PPKB = Parti Perpaduan Kebangsaan Brunei (Brunei National Solidarity Party);
- Former parties: BRP = Partai Rakyat Brunei (Brunei People's Party,
left leaning, est.1956, banned 1962); BNDP = Brunei National Democratic Party (registered May 1965, deregistered by the Brunei Government 1988)






©2000  Ben Cahoon