Sir Charles Vyner de Windt Brooke
Quick Summary
Sir Charles Vyner de Windt Brooke was the third and final "white raja" of Sarawak, ruling from 1917 to 1946. He inherited the position from his father, Charles Anthony Johnson Brooke, and his great-uncle, James Brooke, who had established the Brooke Raj dynasty in Sarawak in 1841.1
Under Vyner Brooke's rule, Sarawak saw gradual modernization, including the development of public services and the introduction of a penal code modeled on British India. Following World War I, economic booms in rubber and oil further integrated Sarawak into the global economy. In 1941, on the centenary of Brooke rule, a constitution was proclaimed to establish self-government, but Sarawak was subsequently occupied by the Japanese during World War II. After the war, Vyner Brooke decided to cede Sarawak to Great Britain, ending the Brooke rule on July 1, 1946, after a family dispute.1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
- Brooke Raj
Sir Charles Vyner de Windt Brooke (b. Sept. 26, 1874, Londonād. May 9, 1963, London) was the third and last āwhite rajaā (1917ā46). He joined the Sarawak administration in 1897. After World War I, a boom in rubber and oil drew Sarawak further into theā¦
Read MoreSir Charles Vyner de Windt Brooke (b. Sept. 26, 1874, Londonād. May 9, 1963, London) was the third and last āwhite rajaā (1917ā46). He joined the Sarawak administration in 1897. After World War I, a boom in rubber and oil drew Sarawak further into theā¦
Read More
Sarawakā¦was succeeded by his son Charles Vyner Brooke. In 1941 the latter Brooke abrogated his absolute powers by enacting a constitution that was designed to establish democratic self-government, but the effort was delayed by the Japanese occupation (1942ā45). The territory, devastated by war, was ceded to the British crown inā¦
Read Moreā¦was succeeded by his son Charles Vyner Brooke. In 1941 the latter Brooke abrogated his absolute powers by enacting a constitution that was designed to establish democratic self-government, but the effort was delayed by the Japanese occupation (1942ā45). The territory, devastated by war, was ceded to the British crown inā¦
Read More
