History of Brunei

It occupies part of the island of Borneo and is washed by the waters of the South China Sea. It shares borders with Malaysia and consists of two parts, separated by a section of the Malaysian territory. In the 14th - 16th centuries, Brunei was a powerful state - a Sultanate which controlled  nearly all of Borneo and the islands of the Southern Philippines. In 1888 Brunei became a British protectorate, and on January 1, 1984 received full independence. Its model  of government is a constitutional monarchy, ruled by the Sultan of Brunei. The present Sultan is Hassanal Bolkiah -  the 29th Sultan of his dynasty - making this one of the world's most ancient monarchical lines, with origins in the 14th century. The State religion is Islam, introduced by the first Sultan of Brunei - Muhammad I, who reigned from 1363 to 1402 year.

Brunei has significant reserves of oil and gas - mining and export are two of the country's most important industries. These industries contribute to making Brunei one of the most affluent and rapidly developing countries of Southeastern Asia, and on an international level.