The White Rajahs were a hereditary monarchy of the Brooke family, who founded and ruled the Raj of Sarawak as a sovereign state, located on the northwest coast of the island of Borneo in Maritime Southeast Asia, from 1841 to 1946.

The Raj of Sarawak developed and expanded during the rule of the first two White Rajahs, growing to occupy much of the north region of the island of Borneo.

He ended the absolute rule of the rajah in 1941, before the Japanese invasion during World War II, by granting new powers to the Council Negri (the parliament).

The core of the early Sarawak economy was antimony, later followed by gold, which was mined in Bau by a Chinese company which imported numerous workers from China and Singapore.

Rajah Charles formed a small paramilitary force, the Sarawak Rangers, to police and defend the expanding state.

This small army also manned a series of forts around the country, acted as the rajahs' personal guard, and performed ceremonial duties.

Rajah Vyner's nephew and legal heir, Anthony Brooke, initially opposed annexation by the Crown, as did a majority of the native members of the Council Negri.

Because of his opposition to the cession, Anthony Brooke was considered a suspect when Duncan Stewart, the second British governor to Sarawak, was assassinated by two people that were believed to be members of a group dedicated to restoring him as rajah.

Documents released in the late 20th century indicate that the British government knew that Brooke was not involved, but chose not to reveal the truth of the matter so as not to provoke Indonesia.

In addition, it received numerous Chinese and Indian immigrants, whose businesses and labour were encouraged at various times by the White Rajahs.

It consisted of a red and black cross per pale on a yellow shield, crested by a badger, known in heraldic parlance as a "brock" and hence alluding to the dynastic surname.