History

Brunei ratifies the Paris global climate agreement.

Brunei becomes the first east Asian country to adopt sharia law, despite widespread condemnation from international human rights groups.

Malaysia and Brunei agree to jointly develop two oil areas off Borneo, ending a border dispute dating from 2003 which held up exploration.

US adds Brunei to its human trafficking watch list as a destination for forced labour and prostitution.

Brunei included in France's "blacklist" of tax havens. French businesses operating in Brunei face increased taxes at home.

UK judge issues warrant for the arrest of Prince Jefri Bolkiah after he failed to attend a High Court hearing over allegations that he violated a court order to return billions of dollars in missing funds to the Brunei government.

Amnesty international criticises Brunei's corporal punishment laws. Reports say 68 foreigners were flogged in 2008 for immigration offences. Immigration rules were tightened in 2004 to prevent illegal stay of migrant workers.

Former finance minister and Sultan's brother, Prince Jefri Bolkiah, loses appeal at Brunei's highest court and is ordered to return property, cash and luxury goods allegedly acquired through misappropriated state funds.

Brunei, along with Indonesia and Malaysia, signs a "Rainforest Declaration", agreeing to conserve a large area of Borneo that is home to rare species.

National Development Party registered as political party.

Major cabinet reshuffle ushers in younger faces and ministers with private sector experience.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah reopens parliament, 20 years after it was disbanded. The new parliament has 21 appointed members. The sultan later amends the constitution to allow the direct election of 15 members of the next parliament, but no poll date is set.

As chair of Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), Brunei hosts body's 2001 summit. Leaders pledge to cooperate in fighting terrorism but push back launch date for Asian free trade area.

Auction is held of more than 10,000 items belonging to Prince Jefri.

Brunei says it will retrain up to 25% of the workforce to diversify the economy away from oil and to develop alternative industries such as tourism.

Brunei files civil suit against Prince Jefri Bolkiah for alleged misuse of state funds. Case is settled out of court. Court documents reveal that he spent $2.7 billion on luxury goods over 10 years. Prince agrees to return all assets allegedly taken from state-owned investment agency.

Sultan Bolkiah removes his younger brother, Prince Jefri Bolkiah, as chief of Brunei Investment Agency over concerns about his stewardship of agency; Sultan Bolkiah's eldest son, Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, becomes heir apparent.

Government allows BNSP to operate, but the party is targeted for harassment and becomes inactive.

Sultan Bolkiah introduces ideology of Malay Muslim Monarchy.

BNDP and BNSP banned.

 Brunei National Solidarity Party (BNSP) becomes legal; former Sultan Omar dies.

Government legalises the Brunei National Democratic Party (BNDP).

Brunei becomes independent.

Hassanal Bolkiah becomes sultan following the abdication of his father, Sultan Omar, who nonetheless remains chief adviser.

Brunei decides to remain a British dependency rather than join the Federation of Malaysia.

Legislative Council election results annulled after leftist Brunei People's Party, which sought to remove the sultan from power, won all 10 elected seats in the 21-member council; sultan declares state of emergency and rules by decree.

Sultan Omar introduces Brunei's first written constitution which enshrines Islam as the state religion and keeps Britain in charge of defence and foreign affairs.

 Omar Ali Saifuddin III inaugurated sultan.

Japan occupies Brunei.

Oil extraction begins.

`Brunei administered by a British resident, with the sultan having nominal authority.

Brunei becomes a British protectorate

British destroy Malay pirates operating between Singapore and Borneo.

Brunei reduced to its present size after ceding the island of Labuan to Britain.

Sultan of Brunei Omar Ali Saifuddin II rewards British army officer James Brooke for helping to quell a civil war by granting him control of Sarawak.

Brunei visited by Spanish navigator Juan Sebastian del Cano.

Islamic sultanate of Brunei nominally in control of Borneo, including Sabah and Sarawak states of Malaysia, and some parts of the Sulu islands in the Philippines.