The House of Bolkiah is the ruling

royal family A royal family is the immediate family of kings/queens, emirs/emiras, sultans/ sultanas, or raja/ rani and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term pa ...

Brunei Darussalam Brunei ( , ), formally Brunei Darussalam ( ms, Negara Brunei Darussalam, Jawi: , ), is a country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Apart from its South China Sea coast, it is completely surrounded by t ...

. It is composed of the descendants of the 1st sultan Sultan Muhammad Shah and his family. The

Sultan of Brunei The sultan of Brunei is the monarchical head of state of Brunei and head of government in his capacity as prime minister of Brunei. Since independence from the British in 1984, only one sultan has reigned, though the royal institution dates ...

is the

head of state A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and ...

and

absolute monarch Absolute monarchy (or Absolutism as a doctrine) is a form of monarchy in which the monarch rules in their own right or power. In an absolute monarchy, the king or queen is by no means limited and has absolute power, though a limited constituti ...

Brunei Brunei ( , ), formally Brunei Darussalam ( ms, Negara Brunei Darussalam, Jawi: , ), is a country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Apart from its South China Sea coast, it is completely surrounded by th ...

. He is also

head of government The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, a ...

in his capacity as Prime Minister. Since independence from the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

in 1984, only one Sultan has reigned, though the royal institution dates back to the 14th century. The Sultan of Brunei can be thought of as synonymous with the ruling House of Bolkiah, with descendency being traced from the 1st Sultan

Muhammad Shah Mirza Nasir-ud-Din Muḥammad Shah (born Roshan Akhtar; 7 August 1702 – 26 April 1748) was the 13th Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1719 to 1748. He was son of Khujista Akhtar, the fourth son of Bahadur Shah I. After being chosen by the ...

's brother the 2nd Sultan

Ahmad Ahmad ( ar, أحمد, ʾAḥmad) is an Arabic male given name common in most parts of the Muslim world. Other spellings of the name include Ahmed and Ahmet. Etymology The word derives from the root (ḥ-m-d), from the Arabic (), from the ve ...

through and his daughter Puteri Ratna Kesuma, the wife of the 3rd Sultan

Sharif Ali Sharīf ʿAlī ibn ʿAjlān ibn Rumaithah ibn Muḥammad ( ar, ٱلشَّرِيْف عَلِي ٱبْن عَجْلَان ٱبْن رُمَيْثَة ٱبْن مُحَمَّد), also known as ''Barkat Ali'' or "Blessed Ali", was the third Sult ...

, a

Sayyid ''Sayyid'' (, ; ar, سيد ; ; meaning 'sir', 'Lord', 'Master'; Arabic plural: ; feminine: ; ) is a surname of people descending from the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husayn ibn Ali, sons of Muhamm ...

and grandson of Emir Rumaythah ibn Abi Numayy of Mecca. The 13th Sultan

Abdul Hakkul Mubin Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin (also known as Abdul Mubin) was the thirteenth Sultan of Brunei. He was involved in the Brunei Civil War. He ruled from 1660 to 1673 after killing Sultan Muhammad Ali. He was later killed and succeeded by Sultan Mu ...

was an exception to familial succession, but he ascended after murdering the 12th Sultan

Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century, ...

and was in turn killed by the 14th Sultan Muhyiddin. It is not clear when the house became known as the 'House of Bolkiah', and whether it was named after the current 29th Sultan

Hassanal Bolkiah Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III ( Jawi: ; born 15 July 1946) is the 29th and current Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei since 1967 and the Prime Minister of Brunei since independence from the United Kingdom in 1984. He is on ...

, or the 5th Sultan

Bolkiah Bolkiah, also known as Nakhoda Ragam, was the 5th Sultan of Brunei. He ascended the throne upon the abdication of his father, Sultan Sulaiman, and ruled Brunei from 1485 to 1524. His reign marked the Golden Age of Brunei and saw the Sultanate ...

Title

The full title of the Sultan is: ''His Majesty'' The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam (Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam). Today, the surname Bolkiah is carried by any descendant of the House of Bolkiah. Members of the royal household hold high and influential positions in government. Sons and grandsons of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah are referred to in the style "His Royal Highness" (HRH) or "''Pengiran Muda''" in Malay, differing from the royals belonging to the cadet branches which are addressed as "The Lord" (HH) or "''Pengiran Anak''" in Malay.

Members

The core of the Brunei Royal Family is made up of the immediate family of the incumbent Sultan of Brunei; * Sultan Hasannal Bolkiah and Queen Saleha ** Princess Rashidah Bolkiah ** Princess Muta-Wakillah Bolkiah ** Crown Prince

Al-Muhtadee Billah Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah bin Hassanal Bolkiah ( ar, المهتدي بالله) (born 17 February 1974) is the eldest son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his wife Queen Saleha. He is the Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam and is fir ...

and Crown Princess

Sarah Sarah (born Sarai) is a biblical matriarch and prophetess, a major figure in Abrahamic religions. While different Abrahamic faiths portray her differently, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all depict her character similarly, as that of a pio ...

*** Prince Abdul Muntaqim *** Princess Muneerah Madhul *** Prince Muhammad Aiman *** Princess Faathimah ** Princess Majeedah Bolkiah ** Princess Hafeezah Bolkiah ** Prince Abdul Azim (d. 24 October 2020) ** Prince Abdul Malik **

Princess Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah Princess Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah (born 26 September 1984) is a princess of Brunei. She is the eighth child of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei by his former second wife, Hajah Mariam. Sports career Princess 'Azemah made her national polo ...

** Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah ** Prince Abdul Mateen ** Prince Abdul Wakeel ** Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah Only

and his two sons;

and Abdul Mateen carry out government duties full-time, mainly for the Prime Minister's Office and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The Sultan's sister,

Princess Masna Bolkiah Masna Bolkiah (; born 6 September 1948) is the sister of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Princess Masna Bolkiah is considered the third most important living woman in Brunei Darussalam after Queen Saleha and Crown Princess Sarah. Early life and e ...

, is the current Ambassador-At-Large to the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoni ...

representing the Brunei government and the only extended royal member to be part of the working royals. Other members of the royal family with royal rank who do not carry out official duties are the Sultan's siblings, and their children are considered to be part of the lesser royal members; * Prince Mohammad Bolkiah * Prince Sufri Bolkiah * Prince Jefri Bolkiah * Princess Norain Bolkiah * Princess Umi Kalthum Al-Islam Bolkiah * Princess Amal Rakiah Bolkiah * Princess Amal Nasibah Bolkiah * Princess Amal Jefriah Bolkiah

List of Sultans

References

{{Southeast Asian leaders

Hashemite people Alid dynasties Bruneian people of Arab descent

Title

Members

List of Sultans

See also

References