Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah M’izzaddin Waddualah, 29th sultan of Brunei, is descended from 600 years of sultans, one of the longest unbroken monarchies in the world.  He was born July 15, 1946. Appointed crown prince in 1961, was sent to England to be educated at  the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, receiving his degree in October, 1967. He became sultan the same year, on his father’s voluntary abdication. His coronation was held in Bandar Seri Begawan on August 1, 1968, apparently a very grand affair. When we visited the Regalia Museum, during our “Bandar Splendour Tour”, the only photographs allowed (our cameras were locked away) was of the coronation chariot and the various  items of processional regalia which accompanied it on parade.  Inside the museum, another chariot was shown with costumed mannequins, each dressed in uniform. Some of these  mannequins represented the men who pushed, while others represented the men who pulled this great carved wooden wagon, upon which the newly crowned sultan sat enthroned. It must have been a very colorful event. Some photos gave us a glimpse of the spectacle, with notes as follows:

1. •PAYUNG KAWAN: 40 Umbrellas in cubic design, which consisted of two colors: yellow and red, were carried by 40 Orang Muda-Muda (the youth) and stationed to stand on both sides of the area called Peningkah Lapau (the ceremonial street).
   

2. •LEMBING PERAK DAN TAMING: 8 Lembing (spears) with silver band and 8 taming shields were carried by 8 Biduanda Kecil.
   

3. •PAYUNG DADU: 8 umbrellas with gold top in cubic design, which consists of 5 colors: yellow, white, green, black, and red, were carried by 8 Awang-Awangs (Aristocrats)  and stationed to stand on both sides of an area called “Peningkah Lapau”.
   

4. •DIAN ALAM BERNAGA: 8 readily lit candles are placed before  the Petarana (throne) at the time when the sultan sits on the throne. They are borne by the eight Pengarah (Overseers) during the procession.
   

5. •PAYUNG BERWARNA; 40 golden multicolored umbrellas are borne by 40 Awang-Awangs (Aristocrats)  who stand on either side of the Peningkah Lapu (ceremonial street) The umbrellas are comprised of: 8 of each of these colors: yellow, white, green, black, and red.
   

6. •TUMBAK BENDERANGAN: 16 royal ceremonial spears, plated in gold and silver are borne by 16 Awang-Awangs (Aristocrats) dressed in ceremonial attire.
   

7. •PEDANG DAN PERISAI: 16 swords with gold, silver and brass bands on the hilt and 16 shields were carried by 16 Awang-Awangs (Aristocrats)
   

•LEMBLING KERAJAAN DAN TAMING: 6 special royal spears and shields with golden                    

    tips borne by 6 Biduanda Cecil.

While attempting to impress the visitors with the layout of the coronation parade, another exhibition, a set of vitrines, laid out on  several levels of the building, contained gifts, I was told, given to the “man who has everything”.  I was half expecting to see an accumulation of riches unknown to the ordinary man. Instead, I saw all sorts of memorabilia and monogrammed things that commemorate the occasion of a monarch’s visit or a diplomatic call, some no more interesting than the corporate “thank you gift” to a guest speaker. The real treasures, which he keeps in his 1,788 room palace, are his two wives, his children and grandchildren,  and his collection of cars, numbering over 100.

PHOTOS: Left Column: 1. Special “Presentation” Canon. 2. Detail: Payung Dadu 3. Tumbak Benderangan. 4..  Center, Top: Domed ceiling above the chariot. Center, Bottom: The great wooden coronation chariot. Right Column: 1. Dian Alam Bernaga. 2. Payung Kawan. 3. Tumbak Benderangan. 4. Pedang Dan Perisai.

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