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Text | Li Jiaxu
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introduction
Open the world map and you'll find a very tiny country in Southeast Asia that you won't notice unless you look closely.
This small country is Brunei. Its territorial area is only about 5,700 square kilometers, which is about the same area as Shanghai on the mainland.
(Map of Brunei)
However, it is such a small country whose territory is divided in two by Malaysia.
So what makes Brunei so small, and why is Malaysia separated from it? Let's read the following article together with doubts.
(View of Brunei)
1. History of Brunei
The Brunei area was already inhabited more than a thousand years ago. According to legend, during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, a Bruneian named Pinka ruled more than 100 regions in Southeast Asia at that time, and he once sent an envoy to the Central Plains to visit China and gave a precious gift to the emperor at that time.
Later, during the Tang and Song dynasties, Brunei envoys came to the Central Plains many times to visit the Chinese emperor at that time. During this period, Brunei has been one of China's vassal states, maintaining very friendly relations with China, and quietly developing in Southeast Asia.
In the 14th and 16th centuries, Brunei entered a period of great strength in history.
(Brunei territory in its heyday)
During this time, Zhu Yuanzhang sent Huang Senping, a Fujianese man, to lead many Chinese immigrants here. After coming here, Huang Senping quickly established a large Chinese community in the vicinity.
This also attracted the attention of Sultan Mahmosa of the muddy state (the predecessor of Brunei) at that time. At that time, the national strength of the muddy country was weakened, and it had to submit to the neighboring Indonesian and Philippine regimes.
In order to strengthen his own strength, the Sultan of Muddy united the Chinese forces of Huang Senping to form a new state power. Later, with the help of Huang Senping, the muddy state quickly increased its strength and expanded its territory, and at its strongest, Brunei was the richest, largest and most powerful country in Southeast Asia at that time.
(Arrival of foreign colonists)
Second, the arrival of the colonists
In the mid-16th century, Brunei has developed into the economic and cultural center of Southeast Asia, which can be said to be incomparably brilliant.
However, with the advent of the Age of Discovery, at the end of the 16th century, the wealthy Brunei gradually became a shining jewel in the eyes of European colonists, attracting the coveted by countless European countries.
Since the middle of the 16th century, European countries such as Portugal, Spain, Britain and the Netherlands have successively invaded Brunei. Although Brunei eventually won the battle against these colonists, they all paid a heavy price.
In particular, the Spanish expedition to Borneo in 1578 dealt a heavy blow to Brunei, and the Kingdom of Brunei spent a lot of financial and manpower in the battle against the invaders, and the country's strength began to gradually weaken.
(Spanish Expedition to Borneo)
Although Brunei has already incurred great consumption due to the war, Brunei's rulers still live in extreme luxury.
This also intensified the crisis within Brunei, and contradictions between the people and the rulers were difficult to heal. For a time, Brunei's internal strife was constant, and the Brunei government, which was in the midst of internal and external troubles, was simply unable to quell these rebellions. During this period, foreign invaders continued to encroach on Brunei's territory little by little.
By the end of the 19th century, Brunei's rulers were no longer able to deal with the growing problems of livelihood and rebellion in the country. The faint ruler of Brunei approached the British and invited them to help suppress the rebellion in the country.
(The current Brunei rulers are still extravagant)
The British, who already coveted Brunei's fertile soil, naturally agreed happily. The ruler of Brunei first signed an agreement with an Englishman named Brooke. In his personal capacity, this Brooke promised to help Brunei suppress the rebellion, after which he would be given the governorship of Sarawak.
However, he brought British troops to suppress Brunei's internal rebellion. After becoming governor of Sarawak Province, he ignored the agreements he had made with the royal family of Brunei and began to expand his territory and increase his power with impunity.
In contrast to the declining state of Brunei, Brunei lost much of Sarawak and surrounding territory, although the British helped quell the rebellion. Bruneians' move can be described as "picking up sesame seeds and losing watermelons".
(British going to Brunei)
The Brunei royal family, which led wolves into the house, was constantly divided up by the British colonists after that.
In 1888, because the two sides signed a treaty stipulating the diplomatic rights and royal succession rights of the Brunei royal family, all of which were owned by the British colonists, and the Brunei royal family could not give Brunei land to others without the permission of the British colonists.
Since then, Brunei has been completely reduced to a British colony until the outbreak of World War II, when Brunei was ruled by the British for nearly a hundred years.
In the middle of the 20th century, when World War II broke out, Brunei was invaded by Japan and became a Japanese colony. After the end of World War II, Japan was defeated and the British returned to Brunei.
(The British East India Company, which ruled Southeast Asia)
3. Independence again
After the end of World War II, national liberation movements rose around the world. The people of Brunei have naturally been influenced by the world trend and began to plan for independence, and many political parties founded by Bruneians have emerged within Brunei.
With the neighboring Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries have become independent states. Bruneians, who have worked for decades to become independent, finally established themselves in 1984 and officially became an independent country.
However, at this time, Brunei has long lost its former charm and glory, and the areas such as Sarawak and Sabah that were once ruled by Brunei have long been owned by other countries.
(Royal Brunei)
At this time, Brunei only had a territory of about 5,700 square kilometers. Brunei's territory was also cut off by the Lam Mon region of Malaysia, and Brunei became a country divided in two.
However, due to the friendly relationship between Brunei and Malaysia, residents of Brunei do not need to go through other procedures such as passports when traveling between the two regions through Malaysia, which is generally more convenient.
Today, Brunei is growing rapidly, with a GDP per capita ranking fifth in Asia. The people of Brunei are also able to live and work in peace and contentment, living a harmonious and stable life.
(The territory of Brunei is divided in two by Malaysia)
It is hoped that Brunei will be able to sustain its development and continue to move forward in the future. At the same time, the development and rise and fall of Brunei have also brought us enlightenment, and we must take our destiny into our own hands and strengthen our own strength at all times.
Only when you are strong is truly strong, can you control your own destiny in the complicated world situation, and always be in an invincible position.
(Gorgeous Brunei Palace)