The Reign of Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin (1924-1950).

- Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Akazul Khairi Waddin was born on 4th June 1913 at the Istana in Pekan Brunei.

- The eldest son of Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II. 

- He ascended the throne on 19th September 1924. He was just 11 years old when he came to the throne. 

- Two cheif Wazirs, Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman and Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohammad Yassin were served as his regents. 

- He assumed rule of his state in 1931 when he was 18 years old.

- Officially coronated as the 27th Sultan of Brunei on 17th March 1940.

Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin received his formal education at the Istana. From a young age, he studied Islamic knowledge. He spent one year in England to learn the English language. He became the first monarch to travel  to the West.

In 1934, he married the daughter of Sultan Alauddin Sulaiman Shah of Selangor named Tengku Ampuan Raihani. 

Significant Events During Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin's Reign.

During Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin's reign, two significant events occured in Brunei.

1. The Considerable Growth of the State's Economy with the Discovery of Oil

The subsequence increase in state revenue, not only from oil exports but from other sources too. This enabled the social and economic welfare of the state to be improved.

2. The Invasion of the Japanese in December 1941

The Japanese occupied Brunei for three and a half years. During the Japanese Occupation, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin retained his throne, bestowed with a pension and received Japanese honours. Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin and the Royal Family left Brunei to stay at a temporary palace at Tantuya in Limbang. He returned to Brunei in 1945 when the Allied Forces landed and freed Brunei from the Japanese. He was then restored to his throne.

Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin was concerned with the expansion and improvement of formal education and religious education, like his father. Other than that, he was a keen writer. He wrote a book called the Panduan Keselamatan, which contained useful advice.

Brunei Darussalam's national anthem, 'Allah Peliharakan Sultan' or 'God save the Sultan' was composed by Awang Besar Sagap and lyrics written by Pengiran Mohammad Yussof bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahim in 1947.

In 1947, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin bestowed the title 'Wazir' to his brother, Pengiran Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien as Yang Teramat Mulia Duli Pengiran Bendahara. 

On 20th September 1949, he celebrated his Silver Jubilee or 25th anniversary of ascending the throne. He was knighted and bestowed with the KBE by the British High Commissioner to Brunei on behalf of King George VI.

Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin was on his way to Britain for an official visit to Britain when he was taken ill. He passed away in Singapore due to haemorrhage on 4th June 1950 at the age of 36 years old. His body was buried in the Brunei Royal Mausoleum. 

Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin only had a daughter, Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Puteri Noorehsani. Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien, his younger brother was appointed as the new Sultan and became the 28th Sultan of Brunei.

Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin's reign represented the start of a new era in Brunei. The discovery of oil changed the whole course of Brunei's history and enabled faster development in all sectors of the country. The expansion and improvement of formal education and his encouragement of religious education were some of his additional contributions to Brunei Darussalam. 

updated by, Afifah Mahamud. ;D