Do you know, Sarawak is the only states in Malaysia ruled by a British family; the Brookes, for over a century. The Brookes also minted and issued their own coin and banknote. Long before the present stateborders were drawn, for hundreds of years the land was under the domain of the powerful Sultans of Brunei. The enterprising traveler and trader James Brooke became friends with the Sultan of Brunei and after helping the latter put down a local rebellion, obtained a piece of land from Sultan as a reward. That piece of land was roughly the size of the present 1st division of Sarawak, and from 1841 onwards, when James Brooke became the 1st Rajah of Sarawak, the size of the country gradually became augmented as the power of Brunei diminished.
The second Rajah, Charles, brought up among the Dayak people, was possibly the most popular and also the most extraordinary of all the Brookes. Rajah Charles set out to bring peace to the country, settling disputes between tribes, forbidding the traditional practice of headhunting and banning slavery and human sacrifice. His reign was long, ending in 1917. By the time of his death, many of his ambitions for the country had been realized.
The third Rajah, Vyner Charles, is shrouded in mystery and little is known of him. His short reign was abruptly brought to an end when the Japanese occupied Malaysia during World War II. After the occupation, the Rajah ceded the state to the British Government, who held until Sarawak joined Malaysia in 1963.
The third Rajah, Vyner Charles, is shrouded in mystery and little is known of him. His short reign was abruptly brought to an end when the Japanese occupied Malaysia during World War II. After the occupation, the Rajah ceded the state to the British Government, who held until Sarawak joined Malaysia in 1963.
Source: Malaysia by MPH Publishing
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