Vizier (Brunei)

The Wazir (English: ''Vizier''; Jawi: وازير) are a group of royal dignitaries within the Sultanate of Brunei whose position ranks the second-highest official in the country behind the Sultan. The vizier had formerly held the position of the Sultan's highest official in the administration of the then-reigning government throughout Brunei's history, particularly during the times prior to and after the British protectorate (British Resident and Assistant British Resident). The core of Brunei's nobility consisted of this class of governmental offices, and it consists of a Perdana Wazir (head of the vizier), and four Wazir under him, namely Bendahara, Di-Gadong, Pemancha and Temenggong. Notably, they are sometimes referred to as and acted as senior ministers.

History

In the administration of the Government of Brunei, the vizier position has long been the top one in Brunei. The only viziers during the early Sultans of Brunei's rule were Bendahara and Temenggong. Traditionally, the ranking of the four wazirs is as folows; Bendahara, Di-Gadong, Temenggong and Pemancha. At the end of the 16th century, under Sultan Muhammad Hasan, Pemancha and Di-Gadong were first used. During the reign of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the present Sultan of Brunei, Perdana Wazir was only recently introduced. The viziers sit above the cheteria and manteri. These ministers, who are often men of royal descent, fly separate flags above their homes: white for the Bandahara, green for the Di-Gadong, and scarlet for the Temenggong. The flags are remarkably straightforward and affordable.

Copper, silver, and gold crafts used in royal traditions reveal the identity of the user or owner. Tools like daggers and ''betel''were given to royal dignitaries who received the titles of Wazir, Ceteria, and Manteri, for instance. The ''kaskol'' given to the Wazir and Kepala Ceteria is made of gold. Pehin Dato Perdana Menteri and Pehin Orang Kaya Di-Gadong received a silver-bearing ''tipa'' for the Besar Ceteria, Besar Pengalasan Ceteria, Damit Pengalasan Ceteria, and Manteri-Manteri. While copper-born ''tipa'' was granted for the other people.

Bendahara

The office of bendahara (a Sanskrit title) increased in significance during the Malacca Sultanate about 1400. In the traditional Malay states, the bendahara is the chief minister and is second only to the sultan in rank, power, and authority. Its duties included carrying out the sultan's orders, serving as prime minister, and serving as commander in chief. In order to increase the sultan's independence, the bendahara also provided him with a palace and a bride who was a member of his own family. After a sultan passed away, this official's most significant task may have been to gather the royal regalia and serve as regent during the interim until he turned the regalia over to the heir. The role was frequently held by a senior member of the sultan's family.

Di-Gadong

Di-Gadong is a high official title whose definitions are ambiguous. His responsibilities were differently described but generally included three components. He was in charge of the treasury or finances. The Sultan's household was under his management. In particular, he was in charge of taxation inside the Sultanate's domains. Considering the latter, it should be understood that he was in charge of the Sultan's apprehensions. Notably, the Bruneian Malay term for the colour green is ''gadong''. The term "Gadong" refers to a greenish affluent of the Brunei River, which is itself an affluent of the Kedayan River, which it joins.

Temenggong

In the traditional Malay states, the person in charge of enforcing the law and overseeing the army and police was known as a Temenggong. This significant nonhereditary role was defined during the rise of the Malaccan Sultanate in the 15th century, which served as a hub for trade between Southeast Asia, China, and India. The ''temenggong'' played a crucial role in upholding the household tranquility necessary for the thriving trade of the Malaccan Sultanate. His responsibilities included maintaining order, caring for criminals, constructing jails, policing city streets, and ensuring the precision of weights and measures in commerce. Although Malacca's prominence declined after the 15th century, other Malay rulers adopted its administrative system, which included the office of temenggong, and it flourished and persisted till the 19th century.

Pemancha

Pemancha is a high official title whose definitions are ambiguous. Lower-level evidence suggests that district chiefs in Sabah are known as Orang Kaya Kaya and that the Land Dayak counterpart of a Penghulu in Sarawak is known as Orang Kaya Pemancha. The headmen of several villages are also referred to as "Pemancha" in Sarawak.

Hierarchy

The Head Vizier (Kepala Wazir)'s official title is ''Perdana Wazir'', while the Four Viziers (Wazir Empat)'s official titles are ''Bendahara'', ''Di-Gadong'', ''Pemancha'', and ''Temenggong''. The title is invariably followed by ''Pengiran'', nevertheless, because wazirs are typically chosen from the people with ''Pengiran'' titles, particularly the royal family and ''Pengiran Bertaras''. In addition, a few additional words were added following the basic title of vizier. But only when the incumbent is still alive will these extra words be used. Wazir's list is as follows:

*Kepala Wazir
**''Pengiran Perdana Wazir Sahibul Himmah Wal-Waqar''
*Wazir Empat
**''Pengiran Bendahara Seri Maharaja Permaisuara''
**''Pengiran Di-Gadong Sahibul Mal''
**''Pengiran Pemancha Sahibul Rae' Wal-Mashuarah''
**''Pengiran Temenggong Sahibul Bahar''

Title and styling

Every person who becomes a wazir possesses a certain set of rules that they must follow when discussing certain aspects of the ''surat-menyurat'' (letters used for activities carried out by one party to another party continuously, whose activities are carried out by sending letters to each other), including naming the wazir in question. Wazir is understood to originate from a prince who is either ''gahara'' (pure royal lineage) or not. For the wazir who is the prince of the Sultan, it is styled as Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri, while other than that, it is referred to as Yang Teramat Mulia Seri Paduka.

Viziers

The vizier must be a member of the Royal Family, namely one of the royal princes who is ''gahara'' (pure descendants of the sultan), as stated in Chapter 2 (1) of the Proclamation to Lift and Appoint Regent from 1959. ''Pengiran-Pengiran Kebanyakan'', however, may also be given the title of vizier with the Sultan's consent. A ceremony known as ''mengarak'' is used to designate someone as vizier and bestow the appropriate title.

See also

* Cheteria
* Manteri
* Council of Cabinet Ministers

References

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Politics of Brunei
Lists of Bruneian people
Titles in Brunei