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Sulaiman of Brunei

1450 – 1511

Sultan of Brunei

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About Sulaiman of Brunei

Lived 1450 – 1511 (aged 60–61). Sulaiman of Brunei was a Bruneian.

Sulaiman ibni Sharif Ali (Jawi: ; died 1513), also known as Senior King (Raja Tua) and Adipati Agung (Sang Aji), was the fifth Sultan of Brunei, according to Silsilah Raja-Raja Berunai. He succeeded his father in 1432 and ruled until his abdication in 1485, to allow his son Bolkiah to become Sultan.

Under his reign, Malacca and the eastern region of Southeast Asia saw Brunei grow into a powerful imperial force. In addition, he was the first sultan to be in charge of building a mosque in addition to being the architect of Kota Batu. According to oral tradition, the sultan was said to live more than 100 years old. In the Boxer Codex, he was known as Sultan Soliman by the Spaniards.

Reign Pengiran Muda Besar Sulaiman, Sharif Ali's son, succeeded him after his death in 1432. During his reign, he continued the legacies of his father in strengthening the spread of Islam and the construction of Kota Batu. Although there are several ideas about how the Brunel Legal Code came to be, its provisions were put into effect under his father's reign and following ones. For instance, two royal siblings were charged with having incest sex. Sultan Sulaiman passed a judgement, ordering the construction of an underground cell, the confinement and execution of the defendants. From these indications, Sultan Sulaiman fairly applied the law to all defendants no matter their status or affiliation with the royal family. Even during his rule, royal relatives who disobeyed Islamic teachings faced harsh punishment regardless of their position or rank.

In 1485, he abdicated in favour of his son, Bolkiah. His title was then changed to Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan, and was still alive when the Spanish invaded Brunei in April 1578, and they referred to him as the Raja Tua. Sultan Sulaiman died in 1513, and his tombstone is located the Royal Mausoleum Jalan Subok. The inscription his tombstone mentions the name of the sultan and the date of his death.

Personal life Sultan Sulaiman had the following issue:

Sultan Bolkiah, 5th Sultan of Brunei

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Important facts

Born
1450, Brunei
Birth century
Died
1511, Brunei
Nationality
Positions held
Sultan of Brunei Darussalam
Also known as
Suleiman do Brunei

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Sulaiman of Brunei's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Sulaiman of Brunei?

Sultan of Brunei

When was Sulaiman of Brunei born?

Sulaiman of Brunei was born in 1450 in Brunei.

When did Sulaiman of Brunei die?

Sulaiman of Brunei died in 1511 in Brunei.

What nationality was Sulaiman of Brunei?

Sulaiman of Brunei was Bruneian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Sulaiman of Brunei

· Wikidata: Q31888

· DBpedia: Sulaiman of Brunei

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Sulaiman of Brunei. https://biography.guide/sulaiman-of-brunei/

MLA: "Sulaiman of Brunei." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sulaiman-of-brunei/.

Chicago: "Sulaiman of Brunei." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sulaiman-of-brunei/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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