1987

February 16, 1987



Philippines with various demarcations

1987 Constitution comes into full force and effect, in fulfilment of the first stipulation of the Malaysians.

National Territory:

The national territory comprises the Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, fluvial and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other submarine areas. The waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the Philippines.

1942-1945

1942-1945

World War II






(c) http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/

1901, 1902

(c) http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/

1900, 1901

November 7, 1900

Convention of 1900

Consolidate the American possessions in the Sulu archipelago by including the islands of Sibutu and Cagayan, both of which had always formed part of the possessions of the Sulu sultanate.

British North Borneo Company obtains from Sultan of Sulu even more territory.



Philippines, Borneo: 1901 London Atlas


(c) http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/

1898, Paris Treaty

December 10, 1898

Treaty of Paris

Spain cedes the Philippine Islands to the United States of America. The treaty lines did not include North Borneo (Sabah).

Treaty of Paris



(c) http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/

1894-1936, 1898

1894-1936

Sultan Jamalul Kiram II rules the Sultanate of Sulu.









(c) http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/

1892, 1893

1892

Jose Rizal proposes to the Spanish government to establish a Filipino colony in Sabah. This plan, however, does not push through.

(c) http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/

1890

(c) http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/

1881

November 16, 1881

Spaniards protest granting of Royal Charter

By virtue of treaties of capitulation of 1836, 1851, and 1878, Spain exercised sovereignty over Sulu and its dependencies including North Borneo; Sultan of Sulu had no right to enter into any treaties or make any cessions whatsoever.


W.J. Turner 1881 Royal Geographical Society Map: Drawn by W.M. Crocker, representative of British North Borneo Company for 16 years. Compare to 1901 and 1902 maps to see ultimate adjustments of various borders. (map located by Roel Balingit)


W.J. Turner 1881 Royal Geographical Society Map, detail.


W.J. Turner 1881 Royal Geographical Society Map, inset map showing general divisions of North Borneo. Compare to 1901 Map to see further adjustments of borders.

(c) http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/

1867

January 17, 1867

Earl of Derby to Lord Odo Russel:

“That, whatever Treaty rights Spain may have had to the sovereignty of Sulu and its dependencies, those rights must be considered as having lapsed owing to the complete failure of Spain to attain a de facto control over the territory claimed.”

The High Colonial Age 1870-1914






(c) http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/

1851

April 30, 1851

Treaty signed with Spain by the Sultan of Sulu, Mohammed Pulalun. The Sultanate of Sulu was incorporated into the Spanish Monarchy.

(c) http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/

1847

May 7, 1847

James Brooke is instructed by the British Government to conclude a treaty with the Sultan of Brunei

British occupation of Labuan is confirmed and Sultan concedes that no territorial cession of any portion of his country should ever be made to any foreign power without the sanction of Great Britain.
Labuan(c) http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/

1824

March 17, 1824

Treaty of London signed by the Netherlands and Great Britain.
Allocates certain territories in the Malay archipelago to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands (Dutch East Indies).

(c) http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/

1800–1850

1800–1850

This area (territory ceded to Sulu by Brunei) had been effectively controlled by the Sultanate of Bulungan in Kalimantan, reducing the boundary of Sulu to a cape named Batu Tinagat and Tawau River. (United Nations Publications)



Map showing Tawau river and Kalimantan.


(c) http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/

1792-1860

1640's

Spain signed peace treaties with the strongest sultanates, Sulu and Maguindanao, recognizing their de facto independence.

1704

Sultan of Sulu became sovereign ruler of most of North Borneo by virtue of a cession from the Sultan of Brunei whom he had helped in suppressing a rebellion.

There is no document stating the grant of North Borneo from Sultan of Brunei to Sultan of Sulu, but it is accepted by all sides.




Autonomous States and Colonies 1792-1860


(c) http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/

1200-1450

Kingdoms, Sultanates, and Trade 1200-1450





(c) http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/