Sultanate of Brunei: Map & History
The Sultanate of Brunei or simply Brunei, also known as the Bruneian Empire, was a Malay sultanate centred around Brunei on the northern coast of Borneo in Southeast Asia.
Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium
Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
The Sultanate of Brunei or simply Brunei, also known as the Bruneian Empire, was a Malay sultanate centred around Brunei on the northern coast of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Brunei became a sovereign state around the 15th century, when it substantially expanded after the fall of Malacca to the Portuguese, extending throughout coastal areas of Borneo and the Philippines, before it declined in the 17th and 18th centuries. It became a British protectorate in the 19th century.
Modern Countries Once Part of Sultanate of Brunei
At its mapped extent, Sultanate of Brunei covered territory in 3 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Brunei1363–2024 CE · nearly all
- Philippines1497–1581 CE · a large part
- Malaysia1492–1869 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Sultanate of Brunei's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Sultanate of Brunei in Depth
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 affected 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.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Sultanate of Brunei (1368–1888) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Sultanate of Brunei: Key Facts
| Capital | Mukim Kota Batu |
|---|---|
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 1368 |
| Dissolved | 1888 |
Facts from Wikidata Q887803 (CC0).
Sultanate of Brunei Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Sultanate of Brunei appears, with the other states of the time.
Sultanate of Brunei Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 230,860 km² in 1546 CE.
Sultanate of Brunei: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Sultanate of Brunei exist?
The Sultanate of Brunei is dated to 1363 CE – 2024 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei?
The capital of the Sultanate of Brunei was Kota Batu (1368–1660), Brunei Town, Kampong Ayer (1660–1920).
How large was the Sultanate of Brunei at its peak?
At its peak in 1546 the Sultanate of Brunei covered about 230,860 km².
How did the map of the Sultanate of Brunei change over time?
The Sultanate of Brunei appears on 6 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1400 CE to 1850 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
Other Sovereign Realms
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Avarga
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, Constantinople
Industrial Era • Capital: London
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram