A Brief History of Sarawak
Like a story out of a novel, fully filled with enchanting characters all with significant roles in the past creating a colourful and beautiful storyline. This is Sarawak’s history.
Once ruled, dominated and inhabited by the fierce and independent Dayak tribes and pirates, frequently rejecting Sultan of Brunei’s authority of the hereditary domains of Sarawak. This is how things were till the arrival of a young English adventurer from India, James Brooke. Once an army officer from Bengal, he arrived in Sarawak in the 1830’s, entering the Sultan’s of Brunei service. James Brooke was appointed as the Sultan’s Governor and gained his independence in the 18th August 1842. He then secured the title of Rajah of Sarawak and this was then recognized by Great Britain. James Brooke had successfully conquered a vast territory of the North Eastern coast of Borneo. He then left his domain too his nephew, Charles Brooke, or known as the second Rajah of Sarawak.
Charles had achieved greatly expanded trade and commerce, encouraged immigration and had accepted a British Protectorate over Sarawak on the 14th June 1888. Charles then passed his reign to his son, Charles Vyner. Charles’s reign lasted 39 years only. The Japanese invaded him on Christmas Day in 1941and forcing him into exile in Australia.
Sarawak was administered as a Crown Colony until 1963, together with the former British North Borneo and the Federation of Malaya, formed Malaysia on 16th September 1963.
