Credits to this thread for bringing the idea up. Also, bonus points if the title is hereditary instead of elective, but not necessary. Additional bonus points to be had if the religious and/or racial requirements aren't put on it (i.e. Anglo-Christian Sultan), but also not necessary.
The White Rajahs always fascinated me, and it's a shame it all came under because of one jealous queen who didn't take kindly to Islamic succession rules barring her daughters from the crown. But what if Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke and Ranee Sylvia got lucky with a son, say... Leonard Brooke instead of Leonora. Certainly, the entire falling-out with Anthony Brooke may as well not existed, but that still won't resolve Sylvia's chillingly lax parenting. If anything, any male Brooke heir by her might end up growing up as a debauched prince unless Charles Vyner and his council puts his foot down.
That aside, assuming the Federation of Malaysia is formed more or less with its OTL members, there's also the Crown of Malaysia itself. It isn't just an elective title, but a symbol of a Malay Muslim monarchy. An Anglo-Christian representing Islam in Malaysia would likely be a very sour point of contention, and the solution would have been simply to skip every Brooke due to be crowned until one of them converts to Sunni Islam. It's my idea for an eventual write-up.
As for my brief write-up:
The White Rajahs always fascinated me, and it's a shame it all came under because of one jealous queen who didn't take kindly to Islamic succession rules barring her daughters from the crown. But what if Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke and Ranee Sylvia got lucky with a son, say... Leonard Brooke instead of Leonora. Certainly, the entire falling-out with Anthony Brooke may as well not existed, but that still won't resolve Sylvia's chillingly lax parenting. If anything, any male Brooke heir by her might end up growing up as a debauched prince unless Charles Vyner and his council puts his foot down.
That aside, assuming the Federation of Malaysia is formed more or less with its OTL members, there's also the Crown of Malaysia itself. It isn't just an elective title, but a symbol of a Malay Muslim monarchy. An Anglo-Christian representing Islam in Malaysia would likely be a very sour point of contention, and the solution would have been simply to skip every Brooke due to be crowned until one of them converts to Sunni Islam. It's my idea for an eventual write-up.
As for my brief write-up:
- Leonora Brooke (or any of the three daughters) is born a male, Leonard Brooke
- Leonard Brooke grows up a debauched prince, despite the efforts of the Sarawak Council and Charles Vyner to tutor him on statecraft.
- Japanese Occupation did less damage than OTL, reducing the cost of reconstruction. (This one, I'm not too sure)
- Succession dispute with Anthony heats up, with the council preferring Anthony.
- Hoping to exclude Anthony from power, broaden his appeal and maintain his lavish lifestyle without the burdens of statecraft, Leonard converts to Islam and accedes to Malaysia in 1963, after succeeding his father.
- This... didn't work out too well, as the peninsular sultans still regarded him as an outsider, and worse, regarded him as impious. The populous and council also distrusted his conversion and generally wanted to stay independent.
- In the end, the British and/or Malayan government, hoping to quell the crisis and keep Sarawak out of the hands of Indonesia, forced a compromise. Sarawak will still accede to Malaysia, but Leonard (or whatever his Malay name is now) has to abdicate in Anthony's favour. This had a two-fold purpose. One, it kept Sarawak in Malaysia, and two, it kept an unpopular, European sultan out of the rotating succession.
- After many, many terms with Sarawak's Brooke Rajahs passed over for Yang-di Pertuan Agong, the first Muslim Brooke Rajah of Sarawak is crowned Sultan of Malaysia