From this line a princely state was established, centered in Tanjung Selor, which had territory of Bulungan, Tana Tidung, Malinau, Nunukan, Tarakan, and some part of Sabah.

In 1777, the royal family converted to Islam, with the king Wira Amir changing his name to Aji Muhammad, and title to Sultan Amirul Mukminin.

In 1853, The Dutch signed a Politiek Contract to impose their sovereignty over the Bulungan kingdom, Sulu was not able to respond as it was also in a war with Spain.

During World War II, the Japanese occupying forces had an agreements with Bulungan in which they shared natural resources and in exchange the region largely escaped the Romusha system.

On 24 April 1964, leader of regional military commands Mulawarman, Brigadier General Soeharjo ordered the capture and killing of Bulungan aristocracy.

According to Burhan Djabier in his 1991 book, East Kalimantan: The Decline of a Commercial Aristocracy, the central TNI leadership did not act or replace him because, Brigadier General Soeharjo was a known leftist and politically connected.

This is also the position of the sultanate, as according to Dato' Seri Pangeran Sanusi Hussin, the PKI was responsible for the burning of the royal palace and ethnic cleansing.

In July 2014, the airport authority initials to build 183 meters taxiway to the military apron which can accommodate 4 Sukhoi and 2 Hercules together and the project is predicted to be finished in December 2014.

The North Kalimantan Electoral District consists of all of the 4 regencies in the province, together with the city of Tarakan, and elects 3 members to the People's Representative Council.