Military of the Bruneian Sultanate

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Military of the Bruneian Sultanate
Tentera Kesultanan Brunei (Malay)
Royal swords in the Royal Regalia Museum
Active
Disbanded1888 (main army of the Bruneian Sultanate)
1984 (as a regiment of the British Empire)
Country Bruneian Sultanate
British Empire (1961–1984)
Allegiance Bruneian Sultan,
British King (1961–1984)
Branch Bruneian Sultanate:
Royal Guard (referred as Warriors)
Ship
Boat
Galley
British Empire:
Recruit
Typearmy
Role
  • Military force (until 1888; 1906)
  • Regiment (1961–1984)
Size1520: 2,620 (including equipment)
1578: 1,112 (including equipment)
1961: 60 recruits
Colours
  Yellow
Equipment(1363/68–1888):
Hand Cannon, Cannon and Boat
(during Bolkiah's reign):
Hand Cannon, Cannon, Ship, Galley and Boat
(during Saiful Rijal reign):
Istinggar (imported from the Jambi Sultanate), Cannon, Ship, Galley and Boat
(during Muhyiddin's war against Abdul Hakkul Mubin)
Engagements Bruneian Sultanate:
Battle of Luzon (under Bolkiah's reign)
Battle of the Bruneian Coast
Siege of Kota Batu
Battle of Kota Batu
Battle of Muara (under Saiful Rijal's reign)
Battle of Milau (under Muhammad Hasan's reign)
Siege of Kinarut (fort in Kinarut)
Battle of Cermin Island (under Abdul Hakkul Mubin and Muhyiddin of Brunei reigns)
Commanders
Leader Bruneian Sultan
British King
De facto leader Bendahara (1578)
Notable
commanders

The Military of the Bruneian Sultanate (Malay: Tentera Kesultanan Brunei; Jawi: تنتيرا كسلطانن بروني) was the land force of the Bruneian Sultanate from 1368 to 1888.[1]

History[edit]

Origins (1363/68-1408)[edit]

Main article: Bruneian Sultanate (1368–1888)

In the 1300s the Chinese annals, Nanhai zhi, reported that Brunei invaded or administered Sarawak and Sabah as well as the Philippine kingdoms of: Butuan, Sulu, Ma-i (Mindoro), Malilu (present-day Manila), Shahuchong (present-day Siocon or Zamboanga), Yachen (Oton, once part of the Madja-as Kedatuan), and Wenduling (present-day Mindanao),[2] which would regain their independence at a later date.[3] It eventually evolved to be called Pon-i, and it was a vassal-state to the Javanese-centred Majapahit Empire.[4]

Independent period (1408–1888)[edit]

Main articles: Castilian War, Bruneian Civil War, and Bruneian-Tundun War

After the Bruneian Sultanate declared independence from Majapahit Empire in 1408, the Sultan, Sulaiman of Brunei re-established the Bruneian Sultanate's military, it is unclear what they used, but it is suspected that officers who bears the royal regalia of the Sultan of Brunei such as the Panglima Asgar, Perwira Asgar, and the Hulubalang Asgar carried the royal weapons of a kalasak (shield) and a kampilan (sword).[5]

A cropped portrait of Bolkiah.

A 15th-century Chinese shipwreck[6] containing hand cannons was found near Brunei during Bolkiah's reign, Bolkiah paid 40 Javanese blacksmiths to teach metal casting in Brunei, possibly introducing cannon casting. Those 40 Javanese introduced cannon technology to Brunei.[7]

In 1521, Antonio Pigafetta reported Brunei's military had a fleet of more than 100 boats (ships) which were involved in an attack with a faction in the south.[8]

Sultan Bolkiah was renowned for frequently traveling overseas in an effort to get fresh perspectives and information that would aid in the development of his nation. But he really started to gather traction in 1500, when he made the decision to visit the Kingdom of Tondo in an effort to increase his power. Bolkiah founded the city of Selurong; later named Maynila, on the other side of the Pasig River shortly after taking over Tondo from its monarch, Lakan Gambang.[2]

Following the Sultan's victory in Tondo, the customary Rajahs, referred to as the Lakandula, kept their titles and possessions,[3] but the House of Soliman, which housed the Manila Rajahs, gained control of them. Following this triumph, Brunei ruled over Borneo and the western Philippines for almost a millennium, until starting to decline in influence in the 18th century.[citation needed]

Royal boat of Brunei, armed with swivel guns.

The Bruneian military prior to the Castilian War of 1578, was still had a strong army and navy. But despite this, they lost two battles against the Spaniards,[citation needed] after the Spaniards captured Kota Batu, Saiful Rijal changed to country's capital to Saragua (Sarawak), later they regained their strength after the Spanish force occupying the capital greatly weakened by an outbreak of cholera and dysentery.[9][10] Before the Spanish retreated, the Spanish burned and destroyed the city's mosque. After just 72 days, the Spanish would later returned to Manila on 26 June.[citation needed]

In 26 June 1578, (the same day as the Spanish retreat to Manila) the Bruneian forces under Bendahara Sakam fought against Bruneian defectors who defected to Spain under Pengiran Seri Ratna. The Bruneian forces under Bendahara Sakam would win the Battle of Muara and kill Pengiran Seri Ratna (during the battle).

During Muhammad Hasan's reign, Muhammad Hasan commanded the attack on Milau of the Kelabitic group in Sarawak,[11] to be carried out by Pehin Orang Kaya Di-Gadong Seri Lela.[12] After the Bruneian troops put an end to the uprising, Milau returned to Brunei and submitted.[11]

In 1660, the Bruneian Civil War would start and again spilt into two forces: Abdul Hakkul Mubin and Muhyiddin. During the civil war, Muhyiddin was concerned that the civil war was dragging on for too long and asked the help of the Sultan of Sulu to send for his forces. He reportedly promised the land of eastern Sabah as a reward for the latter's assistance.[13] During the civil war, Abdul Hakkul Mubin fled to Kinarut (in present-day Papar, Sabah, Malaysia) where, he stayed there for ten years, repelling repeated attacks by Sultan Muhyiddin.[13] They returned to Brunei after a final attack by Muhyiddin's forces in which they failed to defeat Abdul Hakkul Mubin.[13] It also noted that Muhyiddin finally defeated Abdul Hakkul Mubin in Cermin Island, by of the purchasing of gunpowder,[14] which came from Jambi Sultanate.

The Sulu army was supposed to help Muhyiddin forces in Cermin Island, but when they arrived the Sulu army in their ships arrived just to watch Muhyiddin forces fight Abdul Hakkul Mubin forces instead of helping the Muhyiddin forces, they landed after the battle to take war booty and to enslaved prisoners. This would infuriated Muhyiddin, who ordered the Sulu army to leave without giving eastern Sabah to them. Brunei denied giving eastern Sabah to the Sulu Sultanate. There is no written evidence of the transfer,[15] and the civil war ended in 1673.

In 18th to 19th century, the Bruneian military was in bad shape, and later disbanded by the last sultan after signing the Treaty of Protection[16] and then became a regiment of the British Army in 1961.[1]

Regiment period (1961–1984)[edit]

Main article: Royal Brunei Land Force
The Royal Brunei Malay Regiment in 1967.

In 1961, The Royal Brunei Malay Regiment was formed, when the first intake of 60 recruits began training. The formal foundation of the regiment occurred in June 1962, when men of the first three intakes were formed into the regimental headquarters and three rifle companies.[17] In 1965, the regiment received the 'Royal' prefix, becoming the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment. Initially stationed at Port Dickson in Malaya, the regiment was soon moved to a purpose-built barracks in Brunei itself. The Royal Brunei Malay Regiment established two new units, the Boat Section and the Air Service in 1965 to increase its capabilities further. These two units, together with the infantry, were amalgamated into a single task force in 1966.[18]

In 1972, the regiment's structure was changed, with the infantry, aviation, and naval sections split into separate units once again. The infantry companies became the 1st Battalion, Royal Brunei Malay Regiment, with a total of five rifle companies. Three years later, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Brunei Malay Regiment was formed by taking B and E Companies from the 1st Battalion.[18]

In 1984, Brunei achieved full independence from the United Kingdom. At that time, the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment was renamed as the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF), part of the wider Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).[citation needed]

Organisation[edit]

The Bruneian army in 1521 had around 1,000 men (royal guards sometimes referred as 'warriors'), plus 100 boats[8] and 62 artillery, served as defence and invasion force,[citation needed] total numbered 2,620 men, ships and artillery pieces. During the reign of Bolkiah (r. 1485–1524), military was still 1,000 men and 62 cannons. But decreased down to 50 boats. During the reign of Saiful Rijal (r. 1533–1583), the army reduced itself further to a 60 recruits[17] when it became a regiment of the British Empire.

Royal Guard[edit]

The Sultan had about 1,000 royal guards (Malay: Pengawal Diraja; Jawi: پڠاول ديراج), obligated to protect the capital of Kota Batu and later Kampong Ayer, armed with swords and shields, and possibly hand cannons (during Sultan Bolkiah reign),[6] and later a type of matchlock musket manufactured in West Sumatra and bought from Jambi Sultanate which was imported to Brunei during the Bruneian Civil War (during Muhyiddin reign).[14] However, there might be a possibility that the Istinggar was already in use by the time that the Bruneian Civil War began. It is unknown what they would have worn, however it is safely concluded they worn Baju Rantai (chainmail) or Baju Lamina armour (mail and plate armour) combined with normal Malay Clothing.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b History Page 1 Royal Brunei Land Force Archived 20 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b "Reading Song-Ming records on the pre-colonial history of the Philippines" (PDF). Journal of East Asian Cultural Interaction Studies. 1: 256. 31 March 2008. hdl:10112/3180.
  3. ^ a b Ptak, Roderich (1998). "From Quanzhou to the Sulu Zone and beyond: questions related to the early fourteenth century". Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. 29 (2): 280. doi:10.1017/S002246340000744X. JSTOR 20072046. S2CID 162707729.
  4. ^ Suyatno 2008.
  5. ^ Siti Norkhalbi Haji Wahsalfelah (2007). Textiles and identity in Brunei Darussalam. White Lotus Press. ISBN 978-974-480-094-7.
  6. ^ a b de Vienne, Marie-Sybille (2015). From the age of commerce to the 21st century. NUS Press. p. 50. ISBN 9789971698188.
  7. ^ Jalil, Ahmad Safwan (2012). South-east Asian cannon making in Negara Brunei Darussalam (MA thesis). Flinders University. pp. 10–11.
  8. ^ a b Gin, Ooi Keat; King, Victor T. (29 July 2022). Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Brunei. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-56864-6 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Frankham 2008, p. 278
  10. ^ Atiyah 2002, p. 71
  11. ^ a b Awang, Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri (Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Diraja Dato Seri Utama Haji) (1997). Tarsilah Brunei: Zaman kegemilangan dan kemasyhuran (in Malay). Jabatan Pusat Sejarah, Kementerian Kebudayaan Belia dan Sukan. p. 108.
  12. ^ "Pusat Sejarah Brunei - Sultan - Sultan Brunei". History-Centre.gov.bn. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  13. ^ a b c "Civil war wrecks chaos in the country". BT.com.bn. The Brunei Times. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  14. ^ a b Asrul, Nurul Nadhirah Ahmad (11 December 2017). "Warkah Kesultanan Brunei yang tertua". Warkah Kesultanan Brunei yang tertua. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  15. ^ Asbol, Awang. Persejarahan Brunei (in Malay).
  16. ^ Gin, Ooi Keat (14 December 2015). Brunei – History, Islam, Society and Contemporary Issues. Routledge. p. 103. ISBN 978-1-317-65998-3.
  17. ^ a b History Page 1 Royal Brunei Land Force Archived 20 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine – Retrieved 23 April 2007
  18. ^ a b History Page 2 Royal Brunei Land Force Archived 25 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine – Retrieved 23 April 2007
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