Abdul Majid Hassan of Brunei

Abdul Majid Hassan ibni Muhammad Shah (Jawi: ), also known as Maharaja Karna , was the second sultan of Brunei from 1402 until his death in 1408, albeit allegedly. He became one of the only two foreign rulers to be buried in China. Despite not being mentioned in the Salasilah Raja-Raja Brunei, a discovery on Jalan Residency in Brunei mentioned the name Rokyah binti Sultan Abdul Majid Hassan ibnu Muhammad Shah Al-Sultan, indicating this person was a child of Sultan Abdul Majid Hassan.

Reign

Succession He may have ascended the Brunei throne in 1402, following the death of his father, Sultan Muhammad Shah. He dispatched envoys to China in 1405 to present homage to the Yongle Emperor. He received an imperial mandate and seal in exchange from the Emperor. He, who was ecstatic, made the decision to personally thank everyone. Additionally that same year, Admiral Zheng He visited Brunei.

To attend the imperial court, the Sultan Abdul Majid and his friends travelled to Nanjing, on 20 August 1408.

When the Sultan entered the court, he paid respect with gifts such as belts, tortoise shells, rhinoceros horns, gold and silver utensils, and other items. He also delivered an etching in gold to Emperor Zhu Di. The acts made by the Sultan impressed the Emperor. He even praised the Sultan, remarking that the heads of southern nations were not as wise as him. The gifts given by the Ministry of Rites of the imperial court to the Sultan include silver ceremonial guards, water tanks, water basins, umbrellas and fans, as well as gold weaving, as per the orders of Emperor Zhu Di. The princess and the Sultan's entourage were also showered with lavish presents. The Sultan enjoyed the guard of honor supplied by the palace and the priceless everyday requirements used by the court while residing in China in the Huitong Pavilion for foreign visitors.

Before dying, he begged his son to see the emperor and make a solemn vow that he would never forget the Emperor's hospitality. Remember the generosity of the emperor, who asked his concubine to bury his body in China. The prince sent tribute-paying visitors and, in accordance with their final wishes, directed the Ministry of Industry to have a coffin made. They also ordered the construction of a gods' stele and instructed the people to guard it and erect a shrine inside the tomb. When Zhang Qian (张谦) and Zhou Hang returned to China in 1410, Sultan Xiawang, sent 180 individuals, including his uncle Lihalu, to pay tribute to and thank the Emperor for his generosity. Sultan Xiawang personally visited China with his mother and wife in the 1412. They were likewise welcomed by the Emperor with the utmost politeness. The following year, Sultan Xiawang abdicated after paying respects to his father's tomb in Nanjing.

Burial

The late Sultan Abdul Majid Hassan was buried at the Tomb of the King of Boni in Nanjing. The grave was abandoned up until 1958, when it was rediscovered during an archeological survey. It has now opened as a tourist attraction and designated as a historical site in China.

Arguments In a paper titled "Notes on Some Controversial Issues in Brunei History" in 1980, Robert Nicholl, a former curator of the Brunei Museum, stated that the word Ma-ho-mo-sa may be pronounced as Maha Moksha, which means Great Eternity. A Buddhist name would be Maha Mokhsa. Nicholl continues by claiming that not even Sultan Abdul Majid Hassan was a Muslim. Majarajah Gyana (nai) was rebuilt as Ma-na-jo-kia-nai-nai by another European historian, Pelliot. The absence of Sultan Abdul Majid Hassan from the various translations of Brunei's Salasilah Raja-Raja Brunei leads history professor Bilcher Bala to believe that Pateh Berbai took the throne and declared himself Sultan Ahmad.

Personal life Sultan Abdul Majid Hassan apparently had a 4 years old son named Xiawang (遐旺) at the time of his death. According to Chinese sources, Prince Xiawang became the successor in Nanjing. The Emperor gave out the royal garb, jade belts, ceremonial guards, pommel horses, robes, utensils, gold and silver, brocade, and coins while conducting the canonization ceremony. Despite that, it was also noted that he had a daughter.