Sultanate of Malacca

The Sultanate of Malacca (1402 - 1511) was a Malay sultanate founded by Parameswara, a Srivijayan prince who escaped the Majapahit capture of Palembang.

In 1402, he founded a new capital, Malacca (Melaka in Malay), located at the chokepoint of the Straits of Malacca. In 1414, he converted to Islam and became the Sultan of Malacca.

The Sultanate thrived as an entrepot and became the most important port in Southeast Asia during the 15th and the early 16th century. Furthermore, Malacca was as a major player in spice trade, serving as a gateway between the Spice Islands and high-paying Eurasian markets. This is reflected by the Portuguese writer Duart Barbarosa who once wrote "He who is lord of Malacca has his hand on the throat of Venice".

One of the factors that contributed to the rise of Malacca was the monsoon winds that enabled Arab and Indian traders from the west to travel to China in the east and vice versa. At the height of its power, the Sultanate encompassed most of modern day Peninsula Malaysia, the site of modern day Singapore and a great portion of eastern Sumatra. It was also the center of Islam in the eastern sphere.

The Sultanate's most important regional rivals were Siam in the north and the declining Majapahit Empire in the south. Majapahit was not able to control or effectively compete with Malacca within the archipelago, and came to an end during the later 15th century. Siam on the other hand attacked Malacca three times, but all attacks were repelled. At the same time, Malacca had a good relationship with China. One of the Malaccan Sultans even married a Chinese princess named Hang Li Po. This friendly relationship with China helped deter Siam from further threatening Malacca.

It was in 1509, during the reign of the last Sultan of Malacca, Sultan Mahmud Shah that the Portuguese became the first European power to reach Malacca and Southeast Asia in general. The Portuguese delegation was led by Admiral Lopez de Sequira. Trouble however ensued immediately after the general feeling of rivalry between Islam and Christianity was invoked by a few groups in the Sultan's court. Soon, the Portuguese fleet was attacked by the Malacca and was forced to flee.

In 1511, a larger Portuguese fleet from Cochin, India led by Viceroy Alfonso d'Albuquerque came back to Malacca. The Viceroy made a few demands but all were refused by the Sultan. As a result, conflict was unavoidable. On August 24, Malacca fell after 40 days and the Sultanate was effectively divided into two Malay states - Perak in the north and Johore in the south - and thus ended the Sultanate of Malacca.

Malacca remained a European colony, first of Portugal, then of the Dutch, then of the United Kingdom. For its later history, see Malacca.

ja:マラッカ王国 pl:Malakka (sułtanat)