Foundation (1408–1485)

Part of a series on the
History of Brunei
Pre-Sultanate
Old Brunei 1368 to 1888
House of Bolkiah (15th century – present)
Sultanate of Sulu 1405 to 1578 Rajahnate of Maynila 1500s to 1571 Tondo 1500s to 1571 Castilian War 1578 Civil War 1660–1673 Sarawak 15th century to 1841 Labuan 15th century to 1846 Sabah (North Borneo) 15th century to 1865 British protected state 1888–1984 Japanese occupation 1942–1945 Borneo campaign 1945 British Military Administration 1945–1946 Revolt 1962
Timeline Sultans

The Bruneian Sultanate did not have its own army until 1408 during Sulaiman reign. The earliest form of the Bruneian military was pretty much unknown as now but what we do know is that officers who bears the royal regalia of the Sultan of Brunei such as the Panglima Asgar, Perwira Asgar and the Hulubalang Asgar carry the royal weapons of kalasak (shield) and kampilan (sword).^[1]

Golden Age (1485–1524)

During the Golden Age of Brunei, The Bruneian Army saw a lot of fighting in Borneo and parts of the modern Philippines^[2] and changes in the army.

It was unknown whether the Bruneians used hand cannon, but a 15th-century Chinese shipwreck^[3] containing hand cannons was found near Brunei. During the reign of Sultan Bolkiah (1485–1524), 40 Javanese blacksmiths were paid to teach metal casting in Brunei, possibly introducing cannon casting. Since Bolkiah was the first Bruneian sultan to have used cannon, it might have been the Javanese who introduced cannon technology to Brunei.^{[4]: 10–11}

In 1521, Antonio Pigafetta reported Brunei's military had a fleet of over 100 boats which was involved in an attack with a faction in the south.^[5]

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  Royal boat of Brunei, armed with swivel guns.
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  A sailboat of Borneo, with a tanja sail and a stage over the deck.

Decline (1530–1888)

Brunei's Army at 1530 (before the Castilian war) was still seen as strong. Brunei's decline was not showcased until Spain declared war on Brunei on 15 April 1578. A Spanish armada comprising forty warships appeared off the coast of Brunei in 1578, following the Sultan's rejection of a treaty with the Spaniards in 1573. They attacked the 50 Brunei warships encircling him as soon as he saw the Sultan would not accede to his demands. Due to their lack of preparation and superior weaponry, the Bruneians were unable to protect Brunei.^[6]

On 26 December 1600, Olivier van Noort led two ships carrying Dutch crew members were sighted entering Brunei Bay by locals. They described the men of Brunei as being powerful and devout; the farmers and fisherman, in particular, were said to carry their weapons, which were long javelins with iron tips and bows. They carry twenty to thirty poison-tipped arrows in their quivers. They have immense power when they blow these, and if someone gets hurt by them to the point where blood flows, they will undoubtedly die since the poison will immediately mingle with the blood.^[7]

The sultanate was in a very bad state by the 1880s. Both Sarawak, under Rajah Brooke, and the British North Borneo business had lost more territory.^[8] In 1888, The Sultanate of Brunei's army was disbanded.

• 
  Armor of the Sultan of Brunei, Delivered or Gifted in 1718 by a Malaysian State.