The sultan of Brunei is the world's second longest-reigning current monarch.

Hassanal Bolkiah is the current Sultan of Brunei, one of the world's few surviving absolute monarchy. On July 15, 1946, he was born as the oldest son of Sir Omar Ali III. After being pressed by the British, Brunei experimented with democracy in 1962, with the Brunei People's Party capturing virtually all parliamentary seats. The party led a revolution against Sultan Omar Ali, Hassanal's father, but the insurrection was defeated with the assistance of British forces. Omar announced a state of emergency, resuming total powers for the Sultan that still exist today.

Hassanal took over the sultanate on October 4, 1967, when his father abdicated in a desperate bid to withstand the concurrent clamors for democracy and communist influences. Omar Ali III went on to govern in secret until he had a falling out with his son and the army swore loyalty to Hassanal. Hassanal crowned himself King, Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense when Brunei obtained complete independence from the British on January 1, 1984.