FASS Seminar by Dr Frank Dhont
On Saturday, 2 April, 2016, Dr Frank Dhont from the Institute of Asian Studies, UBD, gave a presentation as part of the FASS seminar series entitled A Story of Sultans and Subjects: Traditional Power in Early 20th Century Borneo. The quick rise of of colonial power in the 19th and 20th centuries changed traditional rule in Borneo, as it did in many other islands in the region of Nusantara. |
Until the arrival of the Dutch and British, various sultans held power over different parts of Borneo. However, by the end of the 19th century, their power had been substantially eroded. Meanwhile the Dayaks in many places continued to run their own affairs. |
By the early 20th century, there were two sultanates/kingdoms in the British part of Borneo (including Brunei) and 17 in Dutch Borneo. |