Some key dates in Brunei's history:
15th century - Islamic sultanate of Brunei nominally in control of Borneo, including Sabah and Sarawak state of Malaysia, and some parts of the Sulu islands in the Philippines.
1888 - Brunei becomes a British protectorate.
1963 - Brunei chooses to remain a British dependency rather than join the Federation of Malaysia.
1967 - Hassanal Bolkiah becomes sultan following the abdication of his father, Sultan Omar.
1984 - Brunei becomes independent.
2014 - Brunei becomes the first East Asian country to adopt Islamic sharia law despite widespread international condemnation.