| House of Bolkiah | |
|---|---|
| Royal family | |
 Emblem of the Sultan of Brunei | |
| Parent family | Banu Qatadah, of Banu Hassan, of Banu Hashim, of Quraysh (since 1425 due to cognatic inheritance) |
| Country | Brunei Darussalam (previously the Bruneian Empire) |
| Place of origin | Allegedly Tarim, Emirate of Zabid |
| Founded | 1363 or 1368 |
| Founder | Sultan Muhammad Shah |
| Current head | Hassanal Bolkiah |
| Titles | Sultan of Brunei Crown Prince of Brunei |
| Traditions | Sunni Islam (1368–1661, 1673–present) Twelver Shia Islam (1661–1673) |
| this article is part of a series on the |
| politics of Brunei Darussalam |
|---|
 |
 Politics portal |
The House of Bolkiah is the ruling royal family of Brunei Darussalam. It is composed of the descendants of the 1st sultan Sultan Muhammad Shah and his family. The Sultan of Brunei is the head of state and absolute monarch of Brunei. He is also head of government in his capacity as Prime Minister.[1]
Since independence from the British in 1984, only one Sultan has reigned, though the royal institution dates back to the 14th century.[2] 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's brother the 2nd Sultan Ahmad through and his daughter Puteri Ratna Kesuma, the wife of the 3rd Sultan Sharif Ali, a Sayyid and grandson of Emir Rumaythah ibn Abi Numayy of Mecca. The 13th Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin was an exception to familial succession, but he ascended after murdering the 12th Sultan Muhammad Ali 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, or the 5th Sultan Bolkiah.[citation needed]
- ^ "Prime Minister". The Prime Minister's Office of Brunei Darussalam. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
- ^ "Sultan-Sultan Brunei" (in Malay). Government of Brunei. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2011.