Sarawak, Raj of

The Raj of Sarawak (also known as the State of Sarawak) is an independent state, and later a British protectorate, located in the northwestern part of the island of Borneo.

It is established as an independent kingdom from a series of land concessions acquired by an Englishman, James Brooke, from the Sultanate of Brunei.

Sarawak receives recognition as an independent state from the United States in 1850, and from the United Kingdom in 1864.

Following recognition, Brooke expands the kingdom territory at the expense of Brunei.

Several major rebellions occur against his rule, causing him to be plagued by debt incurred in countering the rebellions, and the sluggish economic situation at this time.

His nephew, Charles Brooke, succeeds James and normalizes the situation by improving the economy, reducing government debts and establishing public infrastructure.

In 1888, the Raj acquires protectorate status from the British Government.

To gear up economic growth, the second Rajah encourages the migration of Chinese workers from China and Singapore to work in the agricultural fields

With proper economic planning and stability, Sarawak prospers and emerges as one of the world's major producers of black pepper, in addition to oil and the introduction of rubber plantations.

Charles Brooke is succeeded by his son Charles Vyner Brooke but the Second World War and the arrival of Japanese forces ultimately bring an end to the Raj and the Protectorate administration, with the territory placed under a military administration on the Japanese capitulation in 1945, and ceded to Britain as a Crown Colony in 1946.

The area now forms the Malaysian state of Sarawak.

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