The Segamat River ( Malay : Sungai Segamat ) is a river which flows within the District of Segamat , Johor , Malaysia which also flows through Segamat town center. The source of the river is at Gunung Besar which is located within Endau Rompin National Park and its confluence is at the Muar River .
164-564: The Segamat River was discovered by Bendahara Tepok and his troops while fleeing after the Sultanate of Malacca was conquered by the Portuguese troops led by Afonso de Albuquerque in 1511. The Bendahara took a rest at an area by the river and drank the water there. He reportedly exclaimed, "Segar amat!" (Very Refreshing), thus the river got its name. Then, the Bendahara and his troops established
328-584: A 7th-century Kota Kapur inscription (discovered in 1892). However, at that time he believed that it referred to a king named "Vijaya", with " Sri " as an honorific title for a king or ruler. The Sundanese manuscript of Carita Parahyangan , composed around the late 16th century in West Java , mentioned the name "Sang Sri Wijaya". The manuscript describes princely hero that rose to be a king named Sanjaya that—after he secured his rule in Java —was involved in battle with
492-513: A Muslim kingdom. The Chinese government, without knowing about the event, sent a censor Ch'en Chun to Champa in 1474 to install the Champa King, but he discovered Vietnamese soldiers had taken over Champa and were blocking his entry. He proceeded to Malacca instead and its ruler sent back tribute to China. In 1469, Malaccan envoys on their return from China was attacked by the Vietnamese who castrated
656-673: A Srivijayan envoy was sent to the Chinese court in Guangzhou . After sojourning for about two years in China , the envoy learned that his country had been attacked by Java which made him unable to return home. In 992 an envoy from Java arrived in the Chinese court and explained that their country was involved in continuous war with Srivijaya. In 999 the Srivijayan envoy sailed from China to Champa in an attempt to return home, however, he received no news about
820-491: A battle broke out in which the Pahangites were decisively defeated and its entire royal court were captured. The Malaccan fleet returned home with Dewa Sura and his daughter, Wanang Seri who were handed over to Sultan Mansur Shah. The Sultan appointed Tun Hamzah to rule Pahang. A policy of rapprochement with Ligor was later initiated by Mansur Shah to ensure steady supplies of rice. On his royal visit to Majapahit , Mansur Shah
984-536: A centre of international trade. Malacca had an edge over these ports because its rulers created an environment that was safe and conducive for business. Chinese records of the mid-15th century stated that Malacca flourished as a centre for trade on account of its effective security measures. It also had a well-equipped and well-managed port. Among the facilities provided for merchants were warehouses , where they could safely house their goods as they awaited favourable trade winds, as well as elephants for transporting goods to
1148-626: A centre of trade and commerce began to spread across the eastern part of the world. In 1405, the Yongle Emperor of the Ming dynasty ( r. 1402–1424 ) sent his envoy headed by Yin Qing to Malacca. Yin Qing's visit paved the way for the establishment of friendly relations between Malacca and China. Two years later, Admiral Zheng He made his first of six visits to Malacca. Zheng He called at Malacca and brought Parameswara with him on his return to China,
1312-417: A complex urban centre under the lens of a sinocentric model, leading to parameters of a new proposed model. Parameters for such a model of a city-like settlement included isolation in relevance to its hinterland. No hinterland makes low archaeological visibility. The settlement must also have access to both easy transportation and major interregional trade routes, crucial in a region with few resources. Access to
1476-493: A defensive line was made near Batu Pahat . The forces were commanded by Tun Perak and assisted by Tun Hamzah, a warrior known as Datuk Bongkok. The two sides clashed in a fierce naval battle in which the more advanced Malaccan navy succeeded in driving off the Siamese, pursuing them to Singapura and forcing them to return home. Malacca's victory in this battle gave it new confidence to devise strategies to extend its influence throughout
1640-456: A fishing village at the mouth of Bertam River (modern-day Malacca River ). The village belonged to the Orang Laut who were left alone by Majapahit's forces that not only sacked Singapura but also Langkasuka and Pasai. As a result, the village became a safe haven and in the 1370s it began to receive a growing number of refugees fleeing Majapahit's attacks. By the time Parameswara reached Malacca in
1804-532: A great empire to balance Java's Majapahit in the east. In the 20th century, both empires were referred to by nationalistic intellectuals to argue for an Indonesian identity within a united Indonesian state that had existed prior to the colonial state of the Dutch East Indies . Srivijaya, and by extension Sumatra, had been known by different names to different peoples. The Chinese called it Sanfotsi , Sanfoqi or Che-li-fo-che ( Shilifoshi ), and there
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#17328557482831968-575: A landlord in Central Java . The political move that seemed to be an effort to secure peace and Sailendran rule on Java by reconciling the Mahayana Buddhist with Shivaist Hindus . Prince Balaputra , however, opposed the rule of Pikatan and Pramodhawardhani in Central Java . The relations between Balaputra and Pramodhawardhani are interpreted differently by some historians. An older theory according to Bosch and De Casparis holds that Balaputra
2132-686: A letter from the King. His mission was to establish trade with Malacca. The Tamil Muslims who were now powerful in the Malaccan court and friendly with Tun Mutahir , the Bendahara, were hostile towards the Christian Portuguese. The Gujarati merchants who were also Muslims and had known the Portuguese in India, preached a holy war against "the infidels". Because of the dissension between Mahmud Shah and Tun Mutahir,
2296-487: A low-lying plain which is frequently flooded by the Musi River. Experts suggests that the ancient Palembang settlement was formed as a collection of floating houses made from thatched materials , such as wood, bamboo and straw. Zhao Rukuo 's 13th century Chinese account Zhu Fan Zhi confirmed this; "The residents of Sanfo-tsi (Srivijaya) live scattered outside the city on the water, within rafts lined with reeds." It
2460-401: A major expansion of the sultanate. Among the earliest territory ceded to the sultanate was Pahang , with its capital, Inderapura —a massive unexplored land with a large river and abundant source of gold which was ruled by Maharaja Dewa Sura , a relative of the King of Ligor . The Sultan dispatched a fleet of two hundred ships, led by Tun Perak and 19 Malaccan hulubalangs . On reaching Pahang,
2624-645: A network of alliances with the Srivijaya maharaja or king. Force was the dominant element in the empire's relations with rival river systems such as the Batang Hari River , centred in Jambi . The Telaga Batu inscription , discovered in Sabokingking, eastern Palembang , is also a siddhayatra inscription, from the 7th century. This inscription was very likely used in a ceremonial sumpah (allegiance ritual). The top of
2788-604: A new kingdom called Singapura . In the 14th century, Singapura developed concurrently with the Pax Mongolica era and rose from a small trading outpost into a centre of international trade with strong ties to the Yuan dynasty . In an effort to revive the fortune of Malayu in Sumatra, in the 1370s, a Malay ruler of Palembang sent an envoy to the court of the first emperor of the newly established Ming dynasty . He invited China to resume
2952-600: A number of scholars who served at the Malacca royal court as teachers and counselors to the various sultans. Maulana Abu Bakar served in the court of Sultan Mansur Shah and introduced the Kitab Darul Manzum , a theological text translated from the work of an Arab scholar in Mecca . A scholar by the name of Maulana Kadi Sardar Johan served as a religious teacher to both Sultan Mahmud Shah and his son. In addition to Kitab Darul Manzum ,
3116-506: A plot was hatched to kill de Sequeira, imprison his men and capture the Portuguese fleet anchored off the Malacca River. The plot leaked out and de Sequeira managed to escape from Malacca in his ship, leaving behind several of his men who were taken captive. In April 1511 Afonso de Albuquerque , who was the Portuguese expedition leader together with his armada , arrived in Malacca to sever its Islamic and Venetian trade. His intention
3280-409: A recognition of his position as ruler of Malacca. In exchange for regular tribute, the Chinese emperor offered Malacca protection from the constant threat of Siamese attack. Due to Chinese involvement, Malacca had grown as a key alternative to other important and established ports. Chinese merchants began calling at the port and pioneering foreign trading bases in Malacca. Other foreign traders, notably
3444-521: A ruler of Rokan and a ruler named Tuan Telanai from Terengganu . Alauddin Riayat Shah placed a great importance in maintaining peace and order during his reign. He extended the conquests of his father to include the Riau-Lingga islands . He was succeeded by his son, Sultan Mahmud Shah ( r. 1488–1511 ) who was a teenage boy upon his accession. Hence Malacca was administered by Bendahara Tun Perak with
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#17328557482833608-612: A small settlement to a cosmopolitan Entrepôt within the span of a century. This rapid progression was attributable to several factors, key among which were its strategic location along one of the world's most important shipping lanes, the Strait of Malacca and the increasing demand for commodities from both the East and the West. Ships from the East bearing goods from China, the Ryukyu Islands , Java and
3772-516: A stealth attack and raided Srivijaya's 14 ports. The strike took Srivijaya by surprise and unprepared; they first ransacked the capital city of Palembang and then swiftly moved on to other ports including Kadaram (modern Kedah). The Cholas are known to have benefitted from both piracy and foreign trade. At times, the Chola's seafaring led to outright plunder and conquest as far as Southeast Asia. An inscription of King Rajendra states that he had captured
3936-467: A well-defined government with a set of laws. At the top of the sultanate's hierarchy sat the Sultan who was an absolute monarch. The earlier Srivijayan concept of kingship in which the king's right to rule was based on legitimate lineage still prevailed, and with the coming of Islam, it was reintroduced with the name daulat (sovereignty). Malacca's legal codes identified four main state officials appointed by
4100-534: Is a distinct possibility that they may have been referring to Sumatra instead. According to the Kedukan Bukit inscription , dated 605 Saka (683), Srivijaya was first established in the vicinity of today's Palembang , on the banks of the Musi River . It mentions that Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa came from Minanga Tamwan. The exact location of Minanga Tamwan is still a subject of discussion. The Palembang theory as
4264-523: Is a tributary of the Musi River, with its confluence located in Palembang. Other than the Kedukan Bukit inscription and other Srivijayan inscriptions, immediately to the west of modern Palembang city, a quantity of artefacts have been revealed through archaeological surveys commenced since the 20th century. Artefacts unearthed include large amounts of Chinese ceramics and Indian rouletted ware remains, also
4428-597: Is bridged by three bridges in Segamat town. 2°30′44.8″N 102°49′29.3″E / 2.512444°N 102.824806°E / 2.512444; 102.824806 This Johor location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to a river in Malaysia is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Sultanate of Malacca The Malacca Sultanate ( Malay : Kesultanan Melaka ; Jawi script : کسلطانن ملاک )
4592-761: Is now Palembang , South Sumatra , Indonesia). Palembang is called in Chinese : 巨港 ; pinyin : Jù gǎng ; lit. 'Giant Harbour', this is probably a testament of its history as a once a great port. In 2021 numbers of treasures were surfaced from shallows and riverbed of the Musi River by local fishermen that turns to be treasure divers. The troves includes coins of certain periods, gold jewelries, Buddhist statues, gems, colourful beads, and Chinese ceramic fragments. However, these troves were immediately lost as local treasure hunters immediately has sold them to international antiquities dealers before archaeologists could properly study them. These discoveries led to
4756-465: Is referred to as the time when Srivijaya ruled over present-day southern Thailand. In the region of Chaiya, there is clear evidence of Srivijayan influence seen in artwork inspired by Mahayana Buddhism . Because of the large amount of remains, such as the Ligor stele, found in this region, some scholars have attempted to prove that Chaiya was the capital. This period was also a time for art. The Buddhist art of
4920-568: Is uncertainty in the chronology of the early rulers of Malacca due to discrepancies contained in Malay, Chinese and Portuguese sources, such as the names, number of rulers and reign details: Due to the differences, there are disagreements about the early rulers of Malacca. It is, however, generally accepted that the Parameswara of Portuguese and Chinese sources and Iskandar Shah of the Malay Annals were
5084-619: The Laylat al-Qadr . It began with a daytime procession, led by the Temenggung on elephant-back, conveying the Sultan's prayer mat to the mosque for Tarawih performed after the mandatory night prayers. On the following day the Sultan's turban would be carried in procession to the mosque. Similar ceremonies accompanied the grand celebrations of both Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha . Apparently Malaccan Malay society had become so infused with
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5248-519: The Malay Annals noted that it was during the reign of the third ruler Muhammad Shah ( r. 1424–1444 ), that the ruling class and their subjects began accepting Islam. While there are differing views on when the Islamization of Malacca actually took place, it is generally agreed that Islam was firmly established during the reign of Muzaffar Shah ( r. 1445–1459 ). Islamisation in
5412-519: The lingua franca of Maritime Southeast Asia and Jawi script became the primary medium for cultural, religious and intellectual exchange. It is through these intellectual, spiritual and cultural developments, that the Malaccan era witnessed the establishment of a Malay identity , the Malayisation of the region and the subsequent formation of the Malay world . In 1511, the capital of Malacca fell to
5576-615: The Borobudur project. It was in these years, at the beginning of the 9th century, that the Khmer prince Jayavarman II was appointed governor of Indrapura in the Mekong Delta under Sailendran rule. This decision was later proven to be a mistake, as Jayavarman II revolted, moved his capital further inland north from Tonle Sap to Mahendraparvata , severing the link to Srivijaya and proclaimed Khmer independent from Java in 802. Samaragrawira
5740-556: The Chinese references to Sanfoqi , previously read as Sribhoja or Sribogha , and the inscriptions in Old Malay refer to the same empire. The Srivijayan historiography is based on two main sources: the Chinese historical accounts and the Southeast Asian stone inscriptions that have been discovered and deciphered in the region. The Buddhist monk Yijing 's account is especially important in describing Srivijaya, when he visited
5904-676: The Chola Empire upon their ports. After Srivijaya fell, it was largely forgotten. It was not until 1918 that French historian George Cœdès , of the French School of the Far East , formally postulated its existence. Srivijaya is a Sanskrit -derived name: श्रीविजय, Śrīvijaya . Śrī means "fortunate", "prosperous", or "happy" and also has some association with the divine, at least in Hinduism . Vijaya means "victorious" or "excellence". Thus,
6068-769: The Javanese Mataram kingdom became more intense and hostile. The animosity was probably caused by Srivijaya's effort to reclaim the Sailendra lands in Java or by Mataram's aspiration to challenge Srivijaya domination in the region. In East Java , the Anjukladang inscription dated 937 mentions an infiltration attack from Malayu — which refers to a Srivijayan attack upon the Mataram Kingdom of East Java . The villagers of Anjuk Ladang were awarded for their service and merit in assisting
6232-526: The Javanese invasion, he secured Chinese political support by appeasing the Chinese Emperor. In 1003, a Song historical record reported that the envoy of San-fo-qi was dispatched by the king Shi-li-zhu-luo-wu-ni-fo-ma-tiao-hua (Sri Cudamani Warmadewa). The Srivijayan envoy told the Chinese court that in their country a Buddhist temple had been erected to pray for the long life of Chinese Emperor, and asked
6396-645: The Kra Isthmus . The Ligor inscription in Vat Sema Muang says that Maharaja Dharmasetu of Srivijaya ordered the construction of three sanctuaries dedicated to the Bodhisattvas Padmapani , Vajrapani , and Buddha in the northern Malay Peninsula . The Sailendras of Java established a relationship with the Sumatran Srivijayan lineage, and then further established their rule and authority in
6560-528: The Malay Annals also mentions the Kitab al-luma' fi tasawwuf ('Book of Flashes'), a tenth-century treatise on Sufism by Abu Nasr al-Sarraj. Certain elaborate ceremonies that blend Islamic traditions with local culture were also created in the Malacca Sultanate. One example was recorded during the reign of Muhammad Shah . A special ceremony was held that marked the celebration of the 27th night of Ramadan ,
6724-536: The Malay Peninsula , the Riau Islands and a significant portion of the northern coast of Sumatra in present-day Indonesia . As a bustling international trading port, Malacca emerged as a centre for Islamic learning and dissemination, and encouraged the development of the Malay language , literature and arts. It heralded the golden age of Malay sultanates in the archipelago, in which Classical Malay became
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6888-644: The Malayu and Keling against their king Sang Sri Wijaya. Subsequently, after studying local stone inscriptions, manuscripts and Chinese historical accounts, historians concluded that the term "Srivijaya" was in reference to a polity or kingdom . The main concern is to define Srivijaya's amorphous statehood as a thalassocracy , which dominated a confederation of semi autonomous harbour cities in Maritime Southeast Asia. Little physical evidence of Srivijaya remains. There had been no continuous knowledge of
7052-560: The Maluku Islands would sail in by the northeast monsoon from December to January, while ships leaving for ports along Indian coastline, the Red Sea and East Africa would sail with the southwest monsoon . There were other ports along the Strait of Malacca such as Kedah in the peninsula and Jambi and Palembang in Sumatra, yet none of them came close to challenging Malacca's success as
7216-526: The Mataram Kingdom of Central Java . It is unknown what the exact nature of their relationship was, with Arab sources mentioning that Zabag (Java) ruled over Sribuza (Srivijaya), Kalah (a place in the Malay peninsula, probably Kedah), and Ramni (a place in Sumatra, probably Lambri ). In Java , Dharanindra 's successor was Samaragrawira (r. 800–819), mentioned in the Nalanda inscription (dated 860) as
7380-672: The Muaro Jambi Temple Compounds , suggesting that the initial centre of Srivijaya was located in the Muaro Jambi Regency , Jambi on the Batang Hari River , rather than on the originally-proposed Musi River. The archaeological site includes eight excavated temple sanctuaries and covers about 12 square kilometers, and stretches 7.5 kilometers along the Batang Hari River, while 80 mounds ( menapos ) of temple ruins, are not yet restored. The Muaro Jambi archaeological site
7544-505: The Muslim writer Ibn Rustah was so impressed with the wealth of the Srivijayan ruler that he declared that one would not hear of a king who was richer, stronger or had more revenue. The main urban centres of Srivijaya were then at Palembang (especially the Karanganyar site near Seguntang Hill area), Muara Jambi and Kedah . In the 10th century, the rivalry between Sumatran Srivijaya and
7708-479: The Nalanda inscription dated 860. After a trade disruption at Canton between 820 and 850, the ruler of Jambi (Melayu Kingdom) was able to assert enough independence to send missions to China in 853 and 871. The Melayu Kingdom 's independence coincided with the troubled times when the Sailendran Balaputradewa was expelled from Java and later seized the throne of Srivijaya. The new maharaja
7872-433: The Portuguese Empire , forcing the last Sultan, Mahmud Shah ( r. 1488–1511 ), to retreat south, where his progenies established new ruling dynasties, Johor and Perak . The political and cultural legacy of the sultanate has endured for centuries, where Malacca has been held up as an exemplar of Malay-Muslim civilisation to this day. It established systems of trade, diplomacy, and governance that persisted well into
8036-435: The Sumatran branch of Sailendra dynasty and was enthroned in the Srivijayan capital of Palembang . Historians have argued that this was because Balaputra's mother Tara, the queen consort of King Samaragrawira, was the princess of Srivijaya, making Balaputra the heir of the Srivijayan throne. Balaputra the Maharaja of Srivijaya later stated his claim as the rightful heir of the Sailendra dynasty from Java , as proclaimed in
8200-401: The Zhengde Emperor of China when he received the envoys from the exiled Sultan Mahmud. The furious Chinese emperor responded with force, culminating in a period of persecution of Portuguese in China which lasted three decades. Among the earliest victims were the Portuguese envoys led by Tomé Pires in 1516 that were greeted with great hostility and suspicion. The Chinese confiscated all of
8364-432: The siddhayatra journey to acquire wealth, power, and 'magical powers'. Under the leadership of Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa, the Melayu Kingdom became the first kingdom to be integrated into Srivijaya. This possibly occurred in the 680s. Melayu , also known as Jambi , was rich in gold and was held in high esteem at the time. Srivijaya recognised that the submission of Melayu would increase its own prestige. The empire
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#17328557482838528-447: The 13th century, the Javanese Singhasari followed by the Majapahit had become dominant. According to the Malay Annals , a prince from Palembang named Seri Teri Buana who claimed to be a descendant of Alexander the Great and Rajendra Chola I , stayed on Bintan Island for several years before he set sail and landed on Temasek in 1299. The Orang Laut , known for their loyal services to Srivijaya, eventually made him king of
8692-414: The 1920s and 1930s focused more on art and epigraphy found in the regions. Some northern urban settlements were sited due to some overlap in fitting the sinocentric model of city-state urban centres. An approach to differentiate between urban settlements in the southern regions from the northern ones of Southeast Asia was initiated by a proposition for an alternative model. Excavations showed failed signs of
8856-409: The 19th century, and introduced concepts such as daulat —a distinctly Malay notion of sovereignty—that continues to shape contemporary understanding of Malay kingship. The founding of Malacca is generally taken to be c. 1400 . The region was dominated by the Srivijaya empire centered on Palembang in Sumatra until it was weakened by the Chola Empire in the 11th century. By the end of
9020-441: The 5th monarch of the Mataram kingdom . This would mean that Samaratungga was the successor of Samaragrawira. Dewi Tara, the daughter of Dharmasetu, married Samaratunga, a member of the Sailendra family who assumed the throne of Srivijaya around 792. By the 8th century, the Srivijayan court was virtually located in Java , as the Sailendras monarch rose to become the Maharaja of Srivijaya. After Dharmasetu, Samaratungga became
9184-406: The Arabs, Indians, and Persians came to establish their trading bases and settle in Malacca, raising its population to 2,000. In 1411, Parameswara headed a royal party of 540 people and left for China with Admiral Zheng He to visit the Ming court. In 1414, the Ming Shilu mentions that the son of the first ruler of Malacca visited the Ming court to inform Yongle that his father had died. There
9348-417: The Asian trade network. The previously centralised port of exchange that policed the Strait of Malacca to maintain its safety for commercial traffic, was replaced with scattered trading network with multiple ports rivalling each other in the strait. The efforts to propagate Christianity which was also one of the principal aims of Portuguese imperialism did not, meet with much success, primarily because Islam
9512-432: The Batang Hari river whilst Pelembang has no comparable temples or building structures. The proponents of the theory that Muaro Jambi was Srivijaya's capital point out that the descriptions written by Yijing and Zhao Rukuo , the description of Srivijaya realms by the Cholas and archaeological findings, suggest that Srivijaya's capital fits Muaro Jambi's environment better than the marshy Palembang. The study also compares
9676-399: The Buddhist Pala of Bengal , as well as with the Islamic Caliphate in the Middle East . Although it was once thought of as a maritime empire, new research on available records suggests that Srivijaya was primarily a land-based polity rather than a maritime power; fleets were available but acted as logistical support to facilitate the projection of land power. In response to the change in
9840-481: The Emperor of China with the fame and grandeur of Sultan Mansur Shah that the Emperor decreed that his daughter, Hang Li Po , should marry the Sultan. The Malay Annals further asserts that a senior minister of state and five hundred ladies in waiting accompanied the "princess" to Malacca. The Sultan built a palace for his new consort on a hill known ever afterwards as Bukit Cina ("Chinese Hill"). As trade flourished and Malacca became more prosperous, Mansur Shah ordered
10004-480: The Imperial Chinese Right Deputy Commander Zhu Wan killed all the pirates and razed the Shuangyu Portuguese base, using force to prohibit trading with foreigners by sea. Moreover, Chinese traders boycotted Malacca after it fell under Portuguese control, with some Chinese in Java even assisting in Muslim attempts to invade the city. Relations gradualy improved and aid was given against the Japanese Wokou pirates along China's shores. By 1557 Ming China agreed to allow
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#173285574828310168-454: The Islamic worldview that on the eve of the fall of Malacca, warriors at the court requested copies of two Islamic heroic epics, the Hikayat Amir Hamzah and the Hikayat Muhammad Hanafiah , to inspire them in battle the next day. The rise of Malacca as a centre of Islam had a number of implications. Firstly, Islam transformed the notion of kingship so that the Sultan was no longer viewed as divine, but as God's Khalifah . Secondly, Islam
10332-417: The Malaccan princes, in 1420, 1421 and 1423. Between 1424 and 1433, two more royal visits to China were made during the reign of the third ruler, Raja Tengah ( r. 1424–1444 ), named Sri Maharaja in some sources. During Raja Tengah's rule, it was said that an ulama called Saiyid Abdul Aziz came to Malacca to spread the teaching of Islam. The king together with his royal family, senior officials and
10496-420: The Malay Archipelago, such as camphor , sandalwood , spices , fish, fish roe and seaweed . From the coastal regions on both sides of Straint of Malacca came forest products; rattan , resin , roots and wax , and some gold and tin. These goods were then shipped to ports west of Malacca especially Gujarat . Srivijaya Srivijaya ( Indonesian : Sriwijaya ), also spelled Sri Vijaya ,
10660-422: The Malay Peninsula, probably Kedah), and Ramni (a place in Sumatra, probably Lambri ). However, it's unknown whether Srivijaya's capital moved to Java or Srivijaya simply became a subordinate of Java. Another theory suggests that Dapunta Hyang came from the east coast of the Malay Peninsula, and that the Chaiya district in Surat Thani province , Thailand , was the centre of Srivijaya. The Srivijayan Period
10824-433: The Ming dynasty of China; the Chinese were also displeased about the kidnapping of many Chinese children by the Portuguese in Tuen Mun . In retaliation for Portugal's activity in Malacca, several Portuguese were later killed by the Chinese in the battles of Tunmen and Xicaowan in China. Following the 1511 conquest, the city of Malacca remained under Portuguese control for the next 130 years despite incessant attempts by
10988-536: The Portuguese property and goods in the Pires' embassy's possession. Many of the envoys were imprisoned, tortured and executed. Pires himself was said among those who died in the Chinese dungeons. Two successive Portuguese fleets bound for China in 1521 and 1522 were attacked and defeated in the first and second Battle of Tamao . In response to Portuguese piracy and the illegal installation of bases in Fujian at Wuyu island, Yue harbour at Zhangzhou , Shuangyu island in Zhejiang , and Nan'ao island in Guangdong ,
11152-401: The Portuguese to settle at Macau in a new Portuguese trade colony. The Malay Sultanate of Johor also improved relations with the Portuguese. The exiled Sultan Mahmud Shah made several attempts to retake the capital but his efforts were fruitless. The Portuguese retaliated and forced the Sultan to flee to Pahang . Later, the Sultan sailed to Bintan and established his capital there. From
11316-495: The Srivijayan Kingdom was believed to have borrowed from Indian styles like that of the Dvaravati school of art. Some scholars believe that Chaiya probably comes from Srivijaya . It was a regional capital in Srivijaya. Some Thai historians argue it was the capital of Srivijaya itself, but this is generally discounted. Around 500 CE, the roots of the Srivijayan empire began to develop around present-day Palembang , Sumatra . The Kedukan Bukit inscription (683)—considered to be
11480-423: The Sultan's aid in reclaiming their throne. One such examples was Sultan Zainal Abidin of Pasai who was toppled by his relatives. He fled to Malacca and pleaded with Sultan Mansur Shah to reinstall him as a ruler. Malacca armed forces were immediately sent to Pasai and defeated the usurpers. Although Pasai never came under the control of Malacca afterwards, the event greatly demonstrated the importance of Malacca and
11644-551: The Sultan. Below the Sultan was a Bendahara , a position similar to that of a vizier , who acted as an advisor to the Sultan. It was the highest-ranking office that could be held by any common people in Malacca. The Bendahara was also responsible for ensuring cordial relations with foreign states. Malacca's fifth Bendahara, Tun Perak , excelled in both war and diplomacy. Twice during the reign of Sultan Muzaffar Shah, Tun Perak successfully led Malaccan armed forces in repelling Siamese attacks on Malacca. When Sultan Mansur Shah ascended
11808-414: The administration was hampered by organizational confusion and command overlap, corruption and inefficiency. Competition from other regional ports such as Johor which was founded by the exiled Sultan of Malacca, saw Asian traders bypass Malacca and the city began to decline as a trading port. Rather than achieving their ambition of dominating it, the Portuguese had fundamentally disrupted the organisation of
11972-677: The affairs of the Gujarati traders; another was responsible for traders from Southern India, Bengal, Burma and Pasai; a third for traders from Maritime Southeast Asia; and fourth for traders from Annam, China and the Ryukyu Islands. Lesser titled state officials were also appointed. They were known as the Orang Besar . In addition, a governor called the Mandulika oversaw the administration of appanages and territories annexed by conquest. The sultanate
12136-415: The assassination of Raja Rokan and to install Raja Kasim on the throne. Both the Sultan and Raja Rokan were eventually killed in the attack in 1446. Raja Kasim was then appointed as the fifth ruler of Malacca and reign as Sultan Muzaffar Shah ( r. 1446–1459 ). The looming threat from the Siamese kingdom of Ayutthaya became a reality when it launched a land invasion of Malacca in 1446. Tun Perak ,
12300-452: The booming trade in the region , thus transforming it into a prestige goods -based economy. The earliest reference to it dates from the 7th century. A Tang dynasty Chinese monk , Yijing , wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for six months. The earliest known inscription in which the name Srivijaya appears also dates from the 7th century in the Kedukan Bukit inscription found near Palembang , Sumatra , dated 16 June 682. Between
12464-515: The chief of Klang brought his men to help Malacca in the battle against the Siamese, in which Malacca emerged victorious. His strong leadership qualities gained the attention of the Sultan, whose desire to see Malacca prosper made him appoint Tun Perak as the Bendahara . In 1456, during the reign of King Trailokanat , Ayutthaya launched another attack, this time by sea. When news about the attack reached Malacca, naval forces were immediately rallied and
12628-402: The combined word Srivijaya means "shining victory", "splendid triumph", "prosperous victor", "radiance of excellence" or simply "glorious". Early 20th-century historians who studied the inscriptions of Sumatra and the neighboring islands thought that the term "Srivijaya" referred to a king's name. In 1913, H. Kern was the first epigraphist that identified the name "Srivijaya" written in
12792-459: The condition of his country. The Srivijayan envoy then sailed back to China and appealed to the Chinese Emperor for the protection of Srivijaya against Javanese invaders. Dharmawangsa's invasion led the Maharaja of Srivijaya, Sri Cudamani Warmadewa , to seek protection from China. Warmadewa was known as an able and astute ruler, with shrewd diplomatic skills. In the midst of the crisis brought by
12956-420: The construction of a large and beautiful palace at the foot of Malacca Hill. The royal palace reflected the wealth, prosperity and power of Malacca and embodied the excellence and distinct characteristics of Malay architecture . The brief conflict between Malacca and Đại Việt during the reign of Lê Thánh Tông ( r. 1460–1497 ), began shortly after the 1471 Vietnamese invasion of Champa , then already
13120-687: The death of Dharmawangsa and the fall of the Mataram capital, Srivijaya contributed to the collapse of Mataram kingdom, leaving Eastern Java in further unrest, violence and, ultimately, desolation for several years to come. The factors in the decline of Srivijaya were foreign piracy and raids that disrupted trade and security in the region. Rajendra Chola , the Chola king from Tamil Nadu in South India , launched naval raids on ports of Srivijaya in 1025. His navy sailed swiftly to Sumatra using monsoon winds, made
13284-518: The declining Majapahit . Its city of Malacca was the chief centre of trade in Indian cloth, Chinese porcelain and silk and Malay spices, and the headquarters of Muslim activity in the Malay Archipelago. Malacca was still looking to expand its territory as late as 1506, when it conquered Kelantan . While the legendary Princess of Gunung Ledang was said to have lived during the reign of Mahmud Shah and
13448-435: The dendritic patterns formed by the streams. The second being the overseas centre is economically superior to the ports found at the mouth of the rivers, having a higher population and a more productive and technologically advanced economy. Lastly, constraints on the land work against and do not develop urban settlements. An aerial photograph taken in 1984 near Palembang (in what is now Srivijaya Archaeological Park ) revealed
13612-510: The diaspora of the Palembang princes and nobles. By the second half of the 14th century, the Kingdom of Singapura grew wealthy. However, its success alarmed two regional powers at that time, Ayutthaya to the north and Majapahit to the south. As a result, the kingdom's fortified capital was attacked by at least two major foreign invasions before it was finally sacked by either Ayutthaya or Majapahit in 1398. The last king of Singapura then fled to
13776-475: The discovery of two tin mining areas in the northern part of the city, sago palms in the orchards and nipah palms lining in the estuaries and beaches. To improve the defence mechanism of the city from potential aggressors, Megat Iskandar Shah ordered the construction of a wall surrounding the city with four guarded entrances. A fenced fortress was also built in the town centre where the state's treasury and supply were stored. The growth of Malacca coincided with
13940-441: The early 1400s, the place was already cosmopolitan feel with Buddhists from the north, Hindus from Palembang and Muslims from Pasai. Legend has it that Parameswara saw a mouse deer outwit his hunting dog into the water when he was resting under the Malacca tree. He thought this bode well, stating, "this place is excellent, even the mouse deer is formidable; it is best that we establish a kingdom here". Tradition holds that he named
14104-481: The early 8th century, an influential Buddhist family related to Srivijaya, the Sailendra family of Javanese ancestry, dominated Central Java . During the 8th century, Langkasuka on the Malay Peninsula became part of Srivijaya. Soon after this, Pan Pan and Tambralinga , north of Langkasuka, came under Srivijayan influence. These kingdoms on the peninsula were major trading nations that transported goods across
14268-405: The early non-indigenous Hindu/Buddhist tradition, Islam and the indigenous "adat". Whether the first ruler of Malacca, Parameswara, converted to Islam is unknown as there is no evidence to suggest that he had. The 16th-century Portuguese writer Tomé Pires explicitly mentioned that Parameswara was succeeded by his son, Megat Iskandar Shah who only converted to Islam at age 72. On the other hand,
14432-489: The emperor to give the name and the bell for this temple which was built in his honor. Rejoiced, the Chinese Emperor named the temple Ch'eng-t'en-wan-shou ('ten thousand years of receiving blessing from heaven, which is China) and a bell was immediately cast and sent to Srivijaya to be installed in the temple. In 1006, Srivijaya's alliance proved its resilience by successfully repelling the Javanese invasion. This attack opened
14596-464: The end of the 8th century, many western Javanese kingdoms, such as Tarumanagara and Kalingga , were within the Srivijayan sphere of influence. The 7th-century Sojomerto inscription mentions that an Old Malay -speaking Shivaist family led by Dapunta Selendra had established themselves in the Batang area of the northern coast of Central Java . He was possibly the progenitor of the Sailendra family. By
14760-614: The environment, geographical location, and the economic wealth of both cities; arguing that Jambi, located on the mouth of the Batang Hari River basin with its connection to Minangkabau hinterland was the centre of gold trade in the area, that described as the fabulous wealth of Srivijaya. In the second half of the eighth century, the Srivijayan mandala seems to have been ruled by the Sailendra dynasty of Central Java. Several Arabic sources mentioned that Zabag (the Javanese Sailendra dynasty) ruled over Sribuza (Srivijaya), Kalah (a place in
14924-585: The establishment of the Śrīksetra garden endowed by King Jayanasa of Srivijaya for the well-being of all creatures. It is likely that the Seguntang Hill site was the location of the Śrīksetra garden. According to the Kota Kapur inscription discovered on Bangka Island , the empire conquered most of southern Sumatra and the neighbouring island of Bangka as far as Palas Pasemah in Lampung . Also, according to
15088-469: The eyes of Srivijayan Maharaja to the threat of the Javanese Mataram Kingdom, so he laid a plan to destroy his Javanese rival. Srivijaya assisted Haji (king) Wurawari of Lwaram to revolt, which led to the attack and destruction of the Mataram palace. This sudden and unexpected attack took place during the wedding ceremony of Dharmawangsa's daughter, which left the court unprepared and shocked. With
15252-484: The father of Balaputradewa , and the son of Śailendravamsatilaka (the jewel of the Śailendra family) with the stylised name Śrīviravairimathana (the slayer of a heroic enemy), which refers to Dharanindra. Unlike his predecessor, the expansive and warlike Dharanindra, Samaragrawira seems to have been a pacifist, enjoying the peaceful prosperity of interior Java in the Kedu Plain and being more interested in completing
15416-596: The former and later played a major role in the creation of an extreme economic surplus in the absence of an exploited hinterland. The urban centre must be able to organize politically without the need for ceremonial foci such as temples, monuments and inscriptions. Lastly, habitations must be impermanent, being highly probable in the region Palembang and of southern Southeast Asia. Such a model was proposed to challenge city concepts of ancient urban centres in Southeast Asia and basic postulates themselves such as regions found in
15580-400: The former rulers of Malacca and other regional powers to dislodge them (see Malay–Portuguese conflicts ). Around the foothill on which the Sultan's Istana (palace) once stood, the Portuguese built the stone fort known as A Famosa , completed in 1512. Malay graves , the mosque and other buildings were dismantled to obtain the stone that was used to build the fort. Despite numerous attacks,
15744-532: The fort was only breached once, when the Dutch and Johor defeated the Portuguese in 1641 . It soon became clear that Portuguese control of Malacca did not mean they controlled the Asian trade centred on it. Their rule in Malacca was marred with difficulties. They could not become self-sufficient and remained highly dependent on Asian suppliers, as had their Malay predecessors. They were short of both funds and manpower and
15908-435: The help of other senior officials. The town of Malacca continued to prosper with an influx of foreign traders after the appointment of Tun Mutahir as Bendahara. This was due to his efficient and wise administration and his ability to attract more foreign traders to Malacca. By about 1500, Malacca was at the height of its power and glory, this can be exemplified by Mahmud Shah's rejection of the overlordship of both Ayutthaya and
16072-538: The history of Srivijaya even in Indonesia and Maritime Southeast Asia ; its forgotten past has been resurrected by foreign scholars. Contemporary Indonesians, even those from the area of Palembang (around where the kingdom was based), had not heard of Srivijaya until the 1920s when the French scholar, George Cœdès , published his discoveries and interpretations in Dutch and Indonesian language newspapers. Cœdès noted that
16236-607: The inscriptions, Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa launched a military campaign against Java in the late 7th century, a period which coincided with the decline of Tarumanagara in West Java and the Kalingga in Central Java . The empire thus grew to control trade on the Strait of Malacca , the western side of Java Sea , and possibly the Gulf of Thailand . Chinese records dating to the late 7th century mention two Sumatran kingdoms and three other kingdoms on Java as being part of Srivijaya. By
16400-469: The king's army, under the leadership of Mpu Sindok , in repelling invading Malayu (Sumatra) forces; subsequently, a jayastambha (victory monument) was erected in their honor. In 990, King Dharmawangsa of Java launched a naval invasion against Srivijaya and attempted to capture the capital Palembang . The news of the Javanese invasion of Srivijaya was recorded in Chinese Song period sources. In 988,
16564-615: The kingdom in 671 for six months. The 7th-century siddhayatra inscriptions discovered in Palembang and Bangka Island are also vital primary historical sources. Also, regional accounts that some might be preserved and retold as tales and legends, such as the Legend of the Maharaja of Zabaj and the Khmer King also provide a glimpse of the kingdom. Some Indian and Arabic accounts also vaguely describe
16728-507: The late 7th and early 11th century, Srivijaya rose to become a hegemon in Southeast Asia . It was involved in close interactions, often rivalries, with the neighbouring Mataram , Khom or Khmer Empire and Champa . Srivijaya's main foreign interest was nurturing lucrative trade agreements with China which lasted from the Tang to the Song dynasty . Srivijaya had religious, cultural and trade links with
16892-561: The lucrative spice trade directly from its source. This led to the expansion of Portuguese sea exploration, pioneered by Vasco da Gama , into the east coasts of India that resulted in the establishment of Portuguese stronghold in Calicut . Years later, during the reign of Manuel I , a fidalgo named Diogo Lopes de Sequeira was assigned to analyse trade potential in Madagascar and Malacca. He arrived in Malacca on 1 August 1509 carrying with him
17056-428: The maritime Asian economy, and threatened by the loss of its dependencies, the kingdoms around the Strait of Malacca developed a naval strategy to delay their decline. The naval strategy was mainly punitive; this was done to coerce trading ships to be called to their port. Later, the naval strategy degenerated to raiding fleet. The kingdom may have disintegrated after 1025 CE following several major raids launched by
17220-517: The most unique, which no other 1st-millennium kingdom held, was its location in junction to three major rivers, the Musi River, the Komering River , and the Ogan River . The historical evidence was contrasted in 1975 with publications by Bennet Bronson and Jan Wisseman. Findings at certain major excavation sites, such as Geding Suro, Penyaringan Air Bersih, Sarang Wati, and Bukit Seguntang, conducted in
17384-497: The mutual support it had established among leaders and states in the region. Sultan Mansur Shah died in 1477 whilst Malacca was at the peak of its splendour. The prosperous era of Malacca continued under the rule of his son, Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah ( r. 1477–1488 ) and more foreign rulers within the region began paying homage to the Sultan of Malacca. Among them were a ruler from the Moluccas who were defeated by his enemies,
17548-647: The new base, the Sultan rallied the disarrayed Malay forces and organised several attacks and blockades against the Portuguese's position. Frequent raids on Malacca caused the Portuguese severe hardship and helped convince the Portuguese that the exiled Sultan's forces needed to be destroyed. A number of attempts were made to suppress the Malay forces but were unsuccessful, until 1526 when the Portuguese razed Bintan. The Sultan retreated to Kampar in Sumatra where he died two years later. He left behind two sons named Muzaffar Shah and Alauddin Riayat Shah II . Muzaffar Shah
17712-403: The next Maharaja of Srivijaya. He reigned from 792 to 835. Unlike the expansionist Dharmasetu, Samaratungga did not indulge in military expansion but preferred to strengthen the Srivijayan hold on Java . He personally oversaw the construction of the grand monument of Borobudur ; a massive stone mandala , which was completed in 825, during his reign. According to Cœdès, "In the second half of
17876-423: The ninth century Java and Sumatra were united under the rule of a Sailendra reigning in Java ... its center at Palembang ." Samaratungga , like Samaragrawira, seems to have been influenced by peaceful Mahayana Buddhist beliefs and strove to become a peaceful and benevolent ruler. His successor was Princess Pramodhawardhani who was betrothed to Shivaite Rakai Pikatan , son of the influential Rakai Patapan,
18040-559: The oldest inscription related to Srivijaya, discovered on the banks of the Tatang River near the Karanganyar site , states about the "glorious Srivijaya", a kadatuan (kingdom or polity) which was founded by Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa and his retinue. He had embarked on a sacred siddhayatra journey and led 20,000 troops and 312 people in boats with 1,312 foot soldiers from Minanga Tamwan to Jambi and Palembang . Many of these armed forces gathered under Srivijayan rule would have been
18204-669: The place where Srivijaya was first established was presented by Cœdes and supported by Pierre-Yves Manguin. Soekmono , on the other hand, argues that Palembang was not the capital of Srivijaya and suggests that the Kampar River system in Riau where the Muara Takus temple is located as Minanga Tamwan. However, a recent study suggests that Minanga Tamwan is located by the upper Komering River in modern Minanga village, Cempaka district, East Ogan Komering Ulu Regency , South Sumatra. Komering River
18368-483: The region during the 10th and 11th centuries, held written proof, named the kingdom of Srivijaya. As far as early state-like polities in the Malay Archipelago , the geographical location of modern Palembang was a possible candidate for the 1st-millennium kingdom settlement like Srivijaya as it is the best described and most secure in historical context, its prestige was apparent in wealth and urban characteristics, and
18532-418: The region played major roles in the negative evidence of the 1st-millennium kingdom in the same region. It was noted that the region contained no locatable settlements earlier than the middle of the second millennium. Lack of evidence of southern settlements in the archaeological record comes from the disinterest in the archeologist and the unclear physical visibility of the settlements themselves. Archeology of
18696-682: The region surrounding Malacca gradually intensified between the 15th and 16th centuries through study centres in Upeh, the district on the north bank of the Malacca River. Islam spread from Malacca to Jambi, Kampar, Bengkalis, Siak, Aru and the Karimun Islands in Sumatra, throughout much of the Malay Peninsula, Java and the Philippines. The Malay Annals mention that the courts of Malacca and Pasai posed theological questions and problems to one another. Of
18860-473: The region. The defeat of Ayutthaya brought political stability to Malacca and enhanced its reputation in South East Asia. Malacca reached its height of glory between the mid to late 15th century up to before the Portuguese occupation. The reign of Sultan Muzaffar Shah saw the territorial incorporation of the region between Dindings and Johor, and was the first Malaccan ruler to impose authority over both
19024-486: The reign of Sultan Muhammad Shah ( r. 1424–1444 ), who called the kingdom "Malakat" ( Arabic for "congregation of merchants") because it was home to many trading communities. Following the establishment of his new city in Malacca, Parameswara began to develop the city and laid the foundation of a trade port. The Orang Laut , were employed to patrol the adjacent sea areas, to repel pirates, and to direct traders to Malacca. Within years, news about Malacca becoming
19188-461: The remnants of ancient man-made canals, moats, ponds, and artificial islands, suggesting the location of Srivijaya's urban centre. Several artefacts such as fragments of inscriptions, Buddhist statues, beads, pottery and Chinese ceramics were found, confirming that the area had once been densely populated. By 1993, Pierre-Yves Manguin had shown that the centre of Srivijaya was along the Musi River between Bukit Seguntang and Sabokingking (situated in what
19352-643: The rest of early Southeast Asia. Bronson's model was based on the dendritic patterns of a drainage basin where its opening leads out to sea. Being that historical evidence places the capital in Palembang, and in junction of three rivers, the Musi River, the Komering River, and the Ogan River, such model can be applied. For the system to function appropriately, several constraints are required. The inability for terrestrial transportation results in movements of all goods through water routes, lining up economical patterns with
19516-482: The riches of the king of Zabag . It's likely that the Zabag-Khmer story was based on Javanese overlordship over Cambodia. The historical records of Srivijaya were reconstructed from a number of stone inscriptions, most of them written in Old Malay using Pallava script , such as the Kedukan Bukit , Talang Tuwo , Telaga Batu and Kota Kapur inscriptions. Srivijaya became a symbol of early Sumatran importance as
19680-507: The rising power of Ayutthaya to the north. The growing ambitions of Ayutthaya against its neighbours and the Malay Peninsula had alarmed the ruler of Malacca. In a preemptive measure, the king headed a royal visit to China in 1418 to raise his concerns about the threat. Yongle responded in October 1419 by sending his envoy to warn the Siamese ruler. Relationship between China and Malacca were further strengthened by several envoys to China, led by
19844-402: The ruins of stupa at the foot of Bukit Seguntang . Furthermore, a significant number of Hindu-Buddhist statuary has been recovered from the Musi River basin. These discoveries reinforce the suggestion that Palembang was the centre of Srivijaya. Nevertheless, Palembang left little archaeological traces of ancient urban settlement. This is probably because of the nature of Palembang's environment —
20008-414: The same person, but a number of authors also accept the similarly named Megat Iskandar Shah as Parameswara's son. During the reign of Megat Iskandar Shah ( r. 1414–1424 ), the kingdom continued to prosper, the Sultan's control spread from Kuala Linggi to Kuala Kesang, roughly corresponding to the modern state of Malacca . The period saw the diversification of economic sources of the kingdom with
20172-461: The sea people, referred to generally as the orang laut . In establishing its power, Srivijaya had first to consolidate its position in Southeast Sumatra, which at that time consisted of multiple quasi-independent polities ruled by local Datus (chieftain). From the Old Malay inscriptions, it is known that Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa launched a maritime conquest in 684 with 20,000 men in
20336-407: The settlement after the tree he was leaning against while witnessing the portentous event. Today, the mouse deer is part of modern Malacca's coat of arms . The name "Malacca" itself was derived from the fruit-bearing Melaka tree ( Malay : Pokok Melaka ) scientifically termed as Phyllanthus emblica . Another theory to the origin of Malacca's name is that it originated from Arab merchants, during
20500-448: The settlement called Rantau Panjang which later became Segamat town center. Since then, the river became the main transportation between Rantau Panjang and Muar until the advent of the national railway system and the road system ( Federal Route 1 and Federal Route 23 ) by the British colonial government. Since then, the river was no longer used as an important transportation. The river
20664-416: The so-called Wali Sanga responsible for spreading Islam on Java, at least two, Sunan Bonang and Sunan Kalijaga , are said to have studied in Malacca. Tomé Pires mentions in his Suma Oriental that the rulers of Kampar and Indragiri on the east coast of Sumatra converted to Islam as a result of Sultan Muzaffar Shah's influence and went on to study the religion in Malacca. The Malay Annals also mentions
20828-502: The son of Tun Wati who in turn a daughter of a wealthy Indian merchant, and Raja Ibrahim, the son of the Princess of Rokan. He was succeeded by his younger son, Raja Ibrahim, who reigned as Sultan Abu Syahid Shah ( r. 1444–1446 ). Abu Syahid was a weak ruler and his administration was largely controlled by Raja Rokan, a cousin of his mother who stayed in the court of Malacca during his reign. The situation prompted court officials to plan
20992-518: The south, like Palembang, based their achievements in correlation with urbanization. Due to the contradicting pattern found in southern regions, like Palembang, in 1977 Bennet Bronson developed a speculative model for a better understanding of coastal-oriented states in Insular Southeast Asia, such as insular and Peninsular Malaysia , the Philippines , and western Indonesia . Its main focus
21156-401: The stone is adorned with seven nāga heads, and on the lower portion there is a water spout to channel liquid that was likely poured over the stone during a ritual. The ritual included a curse upon those who commit treason against Kadatuan Srivijaya. The Talang Tuwo inscription is also a siddhayatra inscription. Discovered in Seguntang Hill , western Palembang , this inscription describes
21320-471: The subjects of Malacca listened to his teachings. Shortly after, Raja Tengah adopted the Muslim name, Muhammad Shah and the title Sultan on the advice of the ulama. He began to Islamise his administration—customs, royal protocols, bureaucracy and commerce were made to conform to the principles of Islam. As Malacca became increasingly important as an international trading centre, the equitable regulation of trade
21484-500: The surviving population. As a result of mutual agreement between the Dutch and Johor earlier in 1606, Malacca was handed over to the Dutch. The fall of Malacca benefited other kingdoms such as Brunei whose ports became a new entrepôt as the kingdom emerged as a new center of trade in the Malay Archipelago, attracting many Muslim traders who fled from the Portuguese occupation after the ruler of Brunei's conversion to Islam . Malacca had
21648-638: The territory of Melaka will they be allowed to come to Court to offer a gift. If they refuse and blindly hold to their ways, although the foreign yi are not used to using weapons, we will have to summon the various yi to arms, proclaim the crimes and punish the Fo-lang-ji, so as to make clear the Great Precepts of Right Conduct. — Qiu Dao Long, the Investigating Censor of Ming, Ming Shilu , 13 January 1521 The Portuguese conquest of Malacca enraged
21812-581: The throne, acting on Tun Perak's advice, he agreed to dispatch a peace envoy to Siam. Tun Perak also advised the Sultan to marry the daughter of the King of Majapahit, Malacca's traditional enemy. Next to the Bendahara was a state treasurer, called the Penghulu bendahari . Next was the Temenggung which was comparable to a chief of public police and state security. After the Temenggung was the Laksamana. The Laksamana
21976-575: The treasure rush in Musi River in 2021, where locals formed groups of treasure divers operating in some parts of the Musi River in and around Palembang. These troves seem to confirm that Palembang was indeed the commercial centre of Srivijaya. Some scholars argue that the centre of Srivijaya was located in Muaro Jambi , and not Palembang. In 2013, archaeological research led by the University of Indonesia discovered several religious and habitation sites at
22140-403: The tributary system, just like Srivijaya did centuries earlier. Learning of this diplomatic maneuver, King Hayam Wuruk of Majapahit sent an envoy to Nanking and convinced the emperor that Malayu was their vassal, and not an independent country. Subsequently, in 1377—a few years after the death of Gajah Mada , Majapahit sent a punitive naval attack against a rebellion in Palembang, which caused
22304-510: The warehouses. To administer the cosmopolitan marketplace, the traders were grouped according to region and placed under one of four shahbandars . Malacca had few domestic products with which to trade. It produced small amounts of tin and gold as well as dried fish , yet even the salt for preserving the fish had to be sourced from elsewhere in the region. Basic goods, including vegetables , cattle and fish , were supplied by Malacca's trading partners. Rice , mainly for local consumption,
22468-453: The west coast of the Malay Peninsula . Malay and Portuguese sources give different accounts of the fall of Singapura and its last king. In Portuguese sources, he is referred to as Parameswara and originated in Palembang but usurped the throne of Singapura, but in Malay sources he is Iskandar Shah, a descendant Seri Teri Buana who became the fifth king of Singapura. Parameswara fled north to Muar , Ujong Tanah and Biawak Busuk before reaching
22632-608: The western and eastern ends of the Malay Peninsula . The kingdom controlled a section of global trade on a vital choke point; the narrow strait that today bears its name, the Strait of Malacca . Its port city had become the centre of regional and international trade, attracting regional traders as well as traders from major states such as the Chinese Ming dynasty , the Ryukyu Kingdom as well as Persians, Gujarats and Arabs. The reign of Mansur Shah ( r. 1459–1477 ) witnessed
22796-502: The young and enslaved them. In view of the Lê dynasty's position as a protectorate to China, Malacca abstained from any act of retaliation. Instead, Malacca sent envoys to China in 1481 to report on the Vietnamese aggression and their invasion plan against Malacca, as well as to confront the Vietnamese envoys who happened to be present in the Ming court. However, the Chinese informed that since the incident
22960-406: Was Mahayana - Vajrayana Buddhist in nature, which suggests that the site served as a Buddhist learning centre, connected to the 10th century Buddhist scholar Suvarṇadvipi Dharmakīrti . Chinese sources also mentioned that Srivijaya hosted thousands of Buddhist monks . Compared to Palembang, Muaro Jambi has richer archaeological sites, i.e. multiple red brick temples and building structures along
23124-487: Was a Hindu - Buddhist thalassocratic empire based on the island of Sumatra (in modern-day Indonesia ) that influenced much of Southeast Asia . Srivijaya was an important centre for the expansion of Buddhism from the 7th to 11th century AD. Srivijaya was the first polity to dominate much of western Maritime Southeast Asia . Due to its location, Srivijaya developed complex technology utilizing maritime resources. In addition, its economy became progressively reliant on
23288-480: Was a Malay sultanate based in the modern-day state of Malacca , Malaysia . Conventional historical thesis marks c. 1400 as the founding year of the sultanate by King of Singapura, Parameswara , also known as Iskandar Shah, although earlier dates for its founding have been proposed. At the height of the sultanate's power in the 15th century, its capital grew into one of the most important transshipment ports of its time, with territory covering much of
23452-494: Was able to dispatch a tributary mission to China by 902. Two years after that, the weakening Tang dynasty conferred a title on a Srivijayan envoy. In the first half of the 10th century, between the fall of Tang dynasty and the rise of Song , there was brisk trading between the overseas world with the Fujian kingdom of Min and the rich Guangdong kingdom of Nan Han. Srivijaya undoubtedly benefited from this. Sometime around 903,
23616-466: Was already strongly entrenched among the local population. Melaka is a country which offers tribute and which has been Imperially enfeoffed. The Fo-lang-ji have annexed it and, enticing us with gain, are seeking enfeoffment and rewards. Righteousness will certainly not allow this. It is requested that their gift be refused, that the difference between according and disobedience be clearly made known and that they be advised that only after they have returned
23780-477: Was also able to vassalise Siak in Sumatra. Later in his reign, Pahang, Kampar and Indragiri rebelled but were eventually subdued. The friendly relations between China and Malacca escalated during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah. The Sultan sent an envoy headed by Tun Perpatih Putih to China, carrying a diplomatic letter from the Sultan to the Emperor. According to the Malay Annals , Tun Perpatih succeeded in impressing
23944-515: Was also accompanied by these warriors. At that time, Majapahit was already declining and found itself unable to overcome the rising power of the Malaccan Sultanate. After a display of Malaccan military prowess in his court, the king of Majapahit, afraid of losing more territories, agreed to marry off his daughter, Raden Galuh Cendera Kirana to Sultan Mansur Shah and hand over control of Indragiri, Jambi, Tungkal and Siantan to Malacca. Mansur Shah
24108-471: Was an even older kingdom of Kantoli , which could be considered the predecessor of Srivijaya. The Arabs called it Zabag or Sribuza and the Khmer called it Melayu . While the Javanese called them Suvarnabhumi , Suvarnadvipa , Melayu , or Malayu . This is another reason why the discovery of Srivijaya was so difficult. While some of these names are strongly reminiscent of the name of Java , there
24272-810: Was an important factor in enabling Malacca to foster good relations with other Islamic polities, including the Ottoman Empire , thereby attracting Muslim traders to Malacca. Thirdly, Islam brought many great transformation into Malaccan society and culture, and ultimately it became a definitive marker of a Malay identity. This identity was in turn enriched further through the standards set by Malacca in some important aspects of traditional Malay culture, notably in literature , architecture , culinary traditions , traditional dress, performing arts, martial arts, and royal court traditions. Over time, this common Malay cultural idiom came to characterise much of Maritime Southeast Asia through Malayisation . Malacca developed from
24436-418: Was captured on that day . The Portuguese constructed a fortress called A Famosa using rocks and stones taken from Muslim graves, mosques, and other buildings. Several churches and convents, a bishop's palace, and administrative buildings such as the governor's palace were built. The Portuguese imposed higher taxes on Chinese traders and restricted their ownership of land. The news of the city's capture reached
24600-476: Was chased away by a Malaccan army that beheaded 30,000 Đại Việt soldiers. The expansionist policy of Mansur Shah was maintained throughout his reign when he later added Kampar and Siak to his realm. He also turned a number of states in the archipelago into his imperial dependencies. The ruler of such states would come to Malacca after their coronation to obtain the blessing of the Sultan of Malacca. Rulers who had been overthrown also came to Malacca requesting
24764-562: Was described in his own words when he arrived to Malacca: If they were only to take "Malaca" out of the hands of the Moors , Cairo and Mecca would be entirely ruined, and Venice would then be able to obtain no spiceries except what her merchants might buy in Portugal. The Portuguese launch their first attack on 25 July 1511, but this was met with failure. Albuquerque then launched another attack on 15 August 1511, which proved successful as Malacca
24928-692: Was governed with several sets of laws. The formal legal text of traditional Malacca consisted of the Undang-Undang Melaka (Laws of Malacca), variously called the Hukum Kanun Melaka and Risalat Hukum Kanun , and the Undang-Undang Laut Melaka (the Maritime Laws of Malacca'). The laws as written in the legal digests went through an evolutionary process. The legal rules that eventually evolved were shaped by three main influences, namely
25092-664: Was imported. Much of the mercantile activity in Malacca, therefore, relied on the flow of goods from other parts of the region. Among Malacca's most crucial functions was its role as both a collection centre for cloves , nutmeg and mace from the Maluku Islands and a redistribution centre for cotton textiles from ports in Gujarat , the Coromandel Coast , Malabar Coast and Bengal . Other goods traded in Malacca included porcelain , silk and iron from China and natural products of
25256-537: Was invited by the people in the north of the peninsula to become their ruler, establishing the Sultanate of Perak. Meanwhile, Mahmud Shah's other son, Alauddin succeeded his father and established the Sultanate of Johor . Malacca was later conquered by the Dutch in a joint military campaign in January 1641. The Portuguese fortress, did not fall to the force of Dutch or Johorean arms as much as to famine and disease that decimated
25420-514: Was mentioned as the king of Java that married Tārā, daughter of Dharmasetu . He was mentioned by his other name Rakai Warak in the Mantyasih inscription . Earlier historians, such as N. J. Krom and Cœdes, tend to equate Samaragrawira and Samaratungga as the same person. However, later historians such as Slamet Muljana equate Samaratungga with Rakai Garung, mentioned in the Mantyasih inscription as
25584-481: Was once wooed by the sultan himself. By the 15th century, Europe had developed an appetite for spices . At that time, the spice trade was virtually monopolised by Venetian merchants via a convoluted trade route through the Arabian Peninsula and India, which in turn linked to its source in the Maluku Islands via Malacca. Upon becoming king in 1481, John II of Portugal decided to break this chain and control
25748-450: Was organised in three main zones: the estuarine capital region centred on Palembang , the Musi River basin which served as a hinterland, and estuarine areas capable of forming rival power centres. The areas upstream of the Musi River were rich in various commodities valuable to Chinese traders. The capital was administered directly by the ruler, while the hinterland remained under local datus or tribal chiefs , who were organised into
25912-447: Was probably that only Kedatuan (king's court) and religious structures were built on land, while the people live in floating houses along the Musi River. Palembang and its relevance to the early Malay state were controversial in terms of its evidence build-up through the archaeological record. Strong historical evidence found in Chinese sources, speaking of city-like settlements as early as 700 AD, and later Arab travelers, who visited
26076-531: Was strong enough militarily to defend itself. In spite of these developments, China maintained a continuous show of friendship, suggesting that it placed Malacca in high regard. In fact, although it was China's practice to consider most foreign countries as vassal states – including Italy and Portugal – its relations with Malacca were characterised by mutual respect and friendship, such as that between two sovereign countries. Muhammad Shah died in 1444 after reigning for twenty years and left behind two sons; Raja Kasim,
26240-529: Was the head of the navy and also the chief emissary of the Sultan. He ensured that the Malacca Strait was safe and enforced the Undang-Undang Laut Melaka (Maritime Laws of Malacca). Malacca's most prominent Laksamana was Hang Tuah . At the bottom of this nobility structure were the four Shahbandars ('harbour masters') for the different communities in the port—one focused exclusively on handling
26404-464: Was the key to continued prosperity—and the Undang-Undang Laut Melaka (Maritime Laws of Malacca), promulgated during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Shah, was an important facet of this. So too was the appointment of four Shahbandars for the different communities of the port. This accommodated foreign traders, who were also assigned their own enclaves in the city. In the 1430s, China had reversed its policy of maritime expansion. However, by then Malacca
26568-416: Was the relationship of political, economic and geographical systems. The general political and economic pattern of the region seems irrelevant to other parts of the world of their time, but in correlation with their maritime trade network, it produced high levels of socio-economic complexity. He concluded, from his earlier publications in 1974 that state development in this region developed much differently than
26732-520: Was the son of Samaratungga , which means he was the younger brother of Pramodhawardhani. Later historians such as Muljana, argued that Balaputra was the son of Samaragrawira and the younger brother of Samaratungga , which would make himthe uncle of Pramodhawardhani. It is not known whether Balaputra was expelled from Central Java because of a succession dispute with Pikatan, or already ruled in Sumatra . Either way, it seems that Balaputra eventually ruled
26896-489: Was years old, they could do nothing about it, and the Chinese Emperor Chenghua sent a letter to the Vietnamese ruler reproaching him for the incident. The Emperor also granted permission for Malacca to retaliate with violent force should the Vietnamese attack, an event that never happened again. An unsubstantiated Chinese account reported that Lê Thánh Tông led 90,000 men on an invasion to Lan Sang but this force
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