| Kuching before was known as
'Sarawak' which was a typical Malay principality under control of
the Sultan of Brunei. It was officially named Kuching in August
1872 and became a city on 1st August 1988.
The vital history of Kuching begins in 1830s. It had been a
remarkably peaceful place until trouble arose from the tyranny in
the Brunei Sultanate causing a large demonstration against the
Brunei Empire during 1836-1839. This was the time an English
adventurer named James Brooke appeared and volunteered to quell
the revolt. Brooke was actually successful, and as a reward, he
was appointed as a Governor of Sarawak. Soon after, James Brooke
requested British Navy assistance to protect his position and
chased out all Sultan Brunei's officers from Sarawak. With anger,
the Sultan of Brunei tried to stop James Brooke but did not
successful, instead, he was forced to sign an agreement which made
Sarawak fully handed over to James Brooke who then became the
first English Rajah of Sarawak on 24th November 1841.
 With his death in 1868, James Brooke was succeeded by his
nephew, Charles Brooke, who was then the second Rajah of Sarawak.
Charles was not the adventurer like his uncle but truly was an
excellent administrator and politician. He set up a proper system
of government, gradually expanding his area of control until it
formed the present day Sarawak. His legacy is apparent today in
several buildings such as the Istana, Fort Margherita, the Court
House and the Sarawak Museum. Charles died in 1917 and was
succeeded by his son, Charles Vyner Brooke, the third Rajah.
Charles built on his father's achievements and improved the
general administration of the state. In 1941, he set up a State
Council to oversee the passing of new laws, bringing the first
stirrings of democracy to Sarawak. However, with the outbreak of
World War II, and the invasion of the Japanese, this State Council
was short-lived and the third Rajah fled to Australia.
With the Japanese surrender in 1945, Sarawak came under
Australian military administration until Vyner Brooke ceded it to
the British Government. Sarawak became a British Crown Colony on
1st July, 1946. And on 16th September, 1963, Sarawak and Sabah
gained independence and joined other 11 states of Malaya to form
the Federation of Malaysia.
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