THE EPIC OF HANG TUAH - A Historical Background

 Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum

The beginings of Melaka are to be found in legend and have been incorporated in the Sulalat al-Salatin (Malay Annals), in which it was recast as the King of Bentan who ordered his Bendahara (Vizier or Prime Minister) to find a location for a new state. They found an auspicious site, marked by an extraordinary incident in which a gallant albino mousedeer attacked their hunting dog, and kicked it into the water. In the middle of the "island' grew a 'Melaka' tree which later was also taken to be the name of the new negeri.

The frontispiece of a Jawi edition of the Malay Annals

The founding of Melaka is believed to have taken place under the aegis of Parameswara, a Prince of Palembang (Srivijaya), who left his negeri to escape the invading Majapahit army, between 1379 and 1400.

Map of Melaka, Sumatra and Java

Melaka is situated in a prime strategic location - on the Melaka River, with the whole Peninsula as its hinterland, and on the Straits of Melaka, which has been the trade route between the Middle East, Europe and India and China in the east since time immemorial. 

 Javanese traders with spices, rattan and herbs.

 Its natural harbour and population composed of various peoples from the other islands, essentially the Javanese, Sumatrans and Buginese, conspired to make it an attractive commercial, cosmopolitan city. 

  Gujerat and Indian traders with spices and slaves.

 The coming of Indians, Arabs and Chinese, who chose to settle there, attracted by its potential, drew other traders, and hence quickly became an indispensable port at which to do commerce. Commercial success inexorably courted political and territorial power. It traded products from all over the Archipelago, especially gold, spices, rattan, fragrant woods and other forest products. Spices from the Archipelago found a lucrative trade in Europe.

Melaka's territories extended to Johor-Riau, in the south, Pahang (Inderapura of the Hikayat)and Terengganu in the east, and to Selangor in the north. siak and Kampar in Sumatra also became its colonies.

Chinese traders with pottery, silk and brimstone.

Its relationship with China and the Indian states was strong, and as a consequence it ttracted growing numbers of traders from all around the known world.

The Sulalat al-Salatin does not confine itself to pilitical relationships, but also devotes considerable attention to significant marital alliances between Melaka and the royal families of these two great countries - between Melakan princes and Indian and Chinese royal maidens.

Melaka Sultanate 

Seven sultans ruled Melaka, beginning with its founder Parameswara, who converted to islam in 1414 and assumed the title of Sultan Iskandar Shah (circa 1390-1424). He was succeeded by Seri Maharaja (1424-1444), Abu Shahid Shah (1444-1445), Muzaffar Shah (1445-1456), Mansur Shah (1456-1477) and Alauddin Riayat Shah (1477-1488) and finally Mahmud Shah (1488-1511, in Melaka, later toreign also in Johor and Kampar till 1528).

Though Melaka rose to greatness, insidious cracks in its palace of power cause by the different factions of elite undermined its glory.

Inevitably such a rich port had rivals across the straits and throughout the Southeast Asian region. Siam had been at war with the Malays for many decades and had attacted Melaka at least three times. The great Majapahit empire was able to tolerate neither Srivijaya in Sumatra nor in Melaka on Peninsula, but as its own strength was sapped, Melaka grew stronger.

The last king, Mahmud saw the initial arrival of the Portuguese, who were duly repelled and driven from the Malaccan port. The respite was brief as in 1511, a larger fleet returned and bombared the fortress and city. Melaka fell, the Sultan and his court fled to Johor and then to Bentan and Kampar. The Sultanate had lasted for about 120nyears and was succeeded by Acheh.