Timeline of Brunei

Chronology

9 events spanning the history of Brunei. BCE/CE dating.

1. 1521

   Brunei visited by Spanish navigator Juan Sebastian del Cano.

   Brunei visited by Spanish navigator Juan Sebastian del Cano.

2. 1841

   Sultan of Brunei Omar Ali Saifuddin II rewards British army officer James Brooke.

   Sultan of Brunei Omar Ali Saifuddin II rewards British army officer James Brooke for helping to quell a civil war by granting him control of Sarawak.

3. 1846

   Brunei reduced to its present size after ceding the island of Labuan to Britain.

   Brunei reduced to its present size after ceding the island of Labuan to Britain.

4. 1888

   Brunei becomes a British protectorate.

   Brunei becomes a British protectorate.

5. 1941 – 1945

   Japan occupies Brunei.

   Japan occupies Brunei.

6. 1984

   Brunei becomes independent.

   Brunei becomes independent.

7. 1998

   Sultan Bolkiah removes his younger brother, Prince Jefri Bolkiah.

   Sultan Bolkiah removes his younger brother, Prince Jefri Bolkiah, as chief of Brunei Investment Agency over concerns about his stewardship of agency; Sultan Bolkiah’s eldest son, Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, becomes heir apparent.

8. 1998

   China signed a landmark agreement with Southeast Asian countries.

   China signed a landmark agreement with Southeast Asian countries (Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam) on avoiding open conflict in the disputed South China Sea Spratly Islands. Indonesia objected and Taiwan was barred from signing.

9. 2007

   Prince Jefri Bolkiah, loses appeal at Brunei’s highest court and is ordered to return property.

   Former finance minister and Sultan’s brother, Prince Jefri Bolkiah, loses appeal at Brunei’s highest court and is ordered to return property, cash and luxury goods allegedly acquired through misappropriated state funds.