The flag of Brunei was introduced in the year 1906. It is yellow with a wide white-black diagonal stripe. The coat of arms of the state was added in 1959. After the achievement of independence (1st of January in 1984) the flag was maintained unchanged. Yellow is in the whole back-indian area the color of the kingship. In Brunei it symbolizes herewith the might of the ruling sultan. White and black were or are the colors for marking of the royal hierarchy in the almost Malay states: white is the colour of the Premier (Temenggong) and black is the colour of the Second Minister (Bendahara). The colors given for the flags are: yellow = pt 102, red = pt 032 and black.
The coat of arms contains known islamic symbols: a crescent and a canopy (parasol). The canopy towers above the lying down crescent. Since 1959 – Brunei got in this year a constitution – stand to the left and on the right of the coat of arms ever one forearm. The Arabian inscriptions on the crescent and underneath in a typeface ribbon say: "Through gods hand the good will thrive" and "Brunei, home of peace".
17th of September 1888 · separation of British North Borneo (Sabah), Brunei becomes a British protectorate
1890 · separation of Labuan and annexation to British North Borneo
5th of December 1905 · Brunei becomes a British protectorate under the rule of a British resident who will represent the country abroad, the Sultan is in charge for inner politics and religion
1942–1945 · occupied by Japanese troops
1945–1946 · British military administration
29th of September 1959 · United Kingdom grants independence, adoption of a constitution, the Islam becomes the state religion
1962 · rebellion, state of emergency
1967 · coronation of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
23rd of November 1971 · United Kingdom grants full internal self government
1st of January 1984 · United Kingdom grants independence
1998 · Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah determines his eldest son Prince al-Muhtadee Billah to Crown Prince
The name of the country has its roots in the Chinese word "Poni", which became as "Brunei" to the name of Kalimantan Island, and to the name of the on the island placed state. European sailors and traders changed the word "Brunei" to the word "Borneo" in the 16th century, as the name for the island.
