The rise of the Sultans: The Empire of Brunei
In 1405, Brunei's monarch embraced Islam and ruled as Sultan Muhammad, founding a dynasty which continues today.
Brunei's monarchy has the distinction of being the oldest unbroken reigning dynasty in the world.
Brunei's supremacy peaked in the 15th and 16th centuries, when it controlled the whole of Borneo and parts of the Philippines
The empire's vast wealth, derived from international commerce,created a strong impression on early European explorers.