Quick Facts
Biography
Sultan Saiful Rijal (also Saiful Rehal) was the eighth sultan of Brunei. He ruled from 1533, from the abdication of his uncle, until his death in 1581. During his reign, the Castille War broke out in 1578. He was succeeded by his son Shah Berunai.
== Uncertainties ==
The earliest historical record of the Sultans of Brunei is not clearly known due to the poor early documentation of Brunei history. Many elder members of the House of Bolkiah claim that their ancestors were the BaHassan and BaAlawi Saadah from Tarim and Hadhramawt in Yemen. In addition there has been an effort to Islamise the history, with the "official history" not matching up with verifiable foreign sources. The Batu Tarsilah, the genealogical record of the kings of Brunei, was not started until 1807. Therefore, much of the intepretation on history relied on earlier Chinese sources and legends. It seems that the early Sultanate of Brunei was dependent on Chinese support, and perhaps early Sultans were of Chinese origin. Furthermore the earliest Sultans may have been practising the Hindu or Buddhist religions, with early names indicating this origin.
See also
- List of Sultans of Brunei