HISTORY
In the 6th century AD a trading kingdom existed which later became an independent sultanate. For the next two hundred years, Brunei controlled Borneo and the Sulu Islands which is now part of the Philippines. Disputes over royal successions caused war in the 17th century and the sultan's influence diminished. James Brooke, a British adventurer helped Sultan Omar II defeat a rebellion from the local tribes in 1838. In return, the sultan granted Brooke territory. His territorial holdings divided the sultanate into the two unconnected regions. Later it became a British protectorate in 1888 to protect itself from further intrusions from Europeans. Sultan Omar III introduced the sultanate's first constitution in 1959. That made Brunei a self-governing state, but Britain still responsible for foreign affairs and defense. Sultan Omar decided that Brunei would become an independent nation. Sultan Hassanal led Brunei with full independence from Britain on January 1, 1984. In 2004 he introduced political reforms, reopening parliament.