Bolkiah

Not to be confused with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Bolkiah
6th Sultan of Brunei
Reign 1485 CE - 1524 CE
Predecessor Sulaiman
Successor Abdul Kahar
Spouse Princess Laila Mecanai
Father Sulaiman
Burial Kota Batu, Brunei

Sultan Bolkiah was the sixth Sultan of Brunei. He ascended the throne of Brunei upon the abdication of his father, Sultan Sulaiman, and ruled Brunei from 1485 to 1524. His reign marked the Golden Age of Brunei and saw the Sultanate become the superpower of the Malay archipelago. Bolkiah frequently travelled abroad to gain new ideas for the development of the country, as well as seeking suggestions from his various chiefs.

Reign

Sultan Bolkiah's victory over Sulu and Seludong (modern day Manila), as well as his marriages to Laila Mecana, the daughter of Sulu Sultan Amir Ul-Ombra, widened Brunei's influence in the Philippines.

This increased Brunei's wealth as well as extending Islamic teachings in the region, resulting in the influence and power of Brunei reaching its peak during this period. Bolkiah's rule reached from Bulungan (North Borneo) to Johore (Singapore), that during this period Brunei was known as Bulungan Johore . His territories also included. Selurong (modern day Manila) .

Marriage

Bolkiah was married to Laila Mecanai the daughter of Sulu Sultan Amir Ul-Ombra and Datu Kemin.

Death and succession

The tomb of Sultan Bolkiah, near Kota Batu, Brunei

After his death, sultan Bolkiah was succeeded by his son, Abdul Kahar. He was buried in Kota Batu with his wife, Princess Leila Mechanai.

Uncertainties

The earliest historical record of the Sultans of Brunei is not clearly known due to the poor early documentation of Brunei history. In addition there has been an effort to Islamise the history, with the "official history" not matching up with verifiable foreign sources [1] The Batu Tarsilah - the genealogical record of the kings of Brunei - was not started until 1807. Therefore, much of the intepretation on history relied on earlier Chinese sources and legends.[2] It seems that the early Sultanate of Brunei was dependent on Chinese support,[2][3][4] and perhaps early Sultans were of Chinese origin.[2] Furthermore the earliest Sultans may have been practising the Hindu or Buddhist religions, with early names indicating this origin.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Brunei". 4dw.net. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Elisseeff, Vadime (January 2000). "Chapter 8: A Brunei Sultan of the Early Fourteenth Century - A Study of an Arabic Gravestone". The Silk Roads: Highways of Culture and Commerce. Berghahn Books. pp. 145–157. ISBN 978-1-57181-222-3. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "Malay History: What's Missing in Malaysian History Books". Malaysianunplug.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "The golden history of Islam in Brunei". The Brunei Times. Retrieved 18 January 2015.