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Parameswara (sultan)
Encyclopedia
Parameswara also called Iskandar Shah or Sri Majara, was a Malay-Hindu
prince from Temasek
(modern-day Singapore
) who founded the Malacca Sultanate
around 1402.
, a Hindu
concept literally meaning the "Supreme Lord". The word "parama" meaning "the supreme" is added to Ishvara
to intensify the title of God. Parameśhvara is also one of the names of Lord Shiva
. The name is believed to be a small part of a longer regnal title
which was something common among Malay royals until present day. Apart from Parameswara the founder of Malacca, there were two other rulers from the same lineage that use Parameswara in their regnal title, they are Sang Nila Utama
, the founder of ancient Singapura (titled "Sri Maharaja Sang Utama Parameswara Batara Sri Tri Buana") and Abu Syahid Shah, the fourth Sultan of Malacca (titled "Raja Sri Parameswara Dewa Shah").
was losing its influence and faced threats from various corners of the Maritime Southeast Asia
. The Majapahit empire, centered in Java
, was expanding its borders beyond Java
. The Srivijayan empire had previously controlled parts of Java but it was driven out of in 1290 by the increasingly powerful Singhasari
, a predecessor to Majapahit. He later attacked the Srivijaya palace in the Malayu. As a result, Srivijaya had to move its court from Palembang
, on the bank of Musi River
in southern Sumatra
, to Malayu (now Jambi province) on Batang Hari River
bank. Although the royal court had moved to Malayu, Palembang remained an important imperial city. Some time in the later half of the 14th century, Singhasari
sent its navy towards Palembang and Malayu, thus conquering the cities. This invasion ended the 1000-year old empire.
According to the Malay Annals, after the sacking of Palembang
, the descendants of the Srivijaya ruling house took refuge on the island of Bintan
. Although the empire had been destroyed and its capital sacked, Malay and Orang Laut
populations inhabiting the surrounding islands and the Malay peninsula remained loyal to the Srivijayan royals. In 1324, a Srivijayan prince, Sang Nila Utama
removed himself from Bintan to Temasek
where he defeated and killed the Ayuthaya
-appointed local ruler, Temagi.
Sang Nila Utama later founded Singapura Lama: Old Lion Island. He maintained control over the island for 48 years and recognized as ruler by an envoy of the Chinese Emperor in 1366. He was officially styled Sri Maharaja Sang Utama Parameswara Batara Sri Tri Buana (meaning: "Lord Central King Batara of "Sri Tri Buana" 'Three world Realm'" signifying Lordship over Palembang, Bintan and Singapura).
Sang Nila Utama was succeeded by son Paduka Sri Pekerma Wira Diraja (1372–1386) who was in turn succeeded by grandson, Paduka Seri Rana Wira Kerma (1386–1399). In 1401, his great grandson, Paduka Sri Maharaja Parameswara fled from Singapura after a retaliatory invasion by Majapahit.
This younger Parameswara fled north to found a new settlement. At Muar, Parameswara contemplated establishing his new kingdom at either Biawak Busuk
or at Kota Buruk
. Finding that the Muar location was not suitable, he continued northwards. Along the way, he reportedly visited Sening Ujong (former name of present day Sungai Ujong) before reaching a fishing village at the mouth of the Bertam River (former name of the Malacca River). This evolved over time to become the location of modern day Malacca Town
. According to the Malay Annals, it was here that he witnessed a small white mouse deer outwitting his hunting dog while resting under an Indian gooseberry
tree. He took this as a good omen
and decided there to establish a kingdom called Malacca, building and improving facilities for the purpose of trade. More credible accounts argue the name "Malacca" was a local folk-adaptation of the Arabic word 'mulaqa' meaning 'meeting place': which the port of Malacca indeed was.
The Sultanate of Malacca ultimately succeeded Srivijaya as the next most important Malay political entity of the Maritime Southeast Asia.
and he adopted the Persian
title 【Iskandar Shah
】after his son's conversion to the faith.
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to inform them that his father had died. Parameswara's son was then officially recognised as the second ruler of Malacca by the Chinese Emperor and styled Raja Sri Rama Vikrama, Raja of Parameswara of Temasik and Melaka, and he ruled Malacca from 1414 to 1424. http://www.sabrizain.org/malaya/parames.htm http://www.sabrizain.org/malaya/parames1.htm
(also known as Cape Rachado) , near Port Dickson
or either Fort Canning
in Singapore
. A symbolic Muslim
grave exists near Fort Canning. If he had remained a Hindu, it is also likely that his body was cremated in accordance to Hindu rites which would explain the missing grave. Parameswara was succeeded by his son, Megat Iskandar Shah who in turn ruled Malacca
until 1424.
community and the traditional Hindu Malay
because Raja Ibrahim only has islamic name but did not embraced the new religion but instead adopted the traditional Hindu title Sri Parameswara Dewa Shah
. As a result, Raja Ibrahim ruled for less than seventeen months and he was stabbed to death in a palace coup de dat by Raja Kasim who was exiled earlier by Raja Ibrahim.
Raja Ibrahim's elder half-brother, Raja Kasim, by a Tamil Muslim mother, assumed the throne and taking on the Islamic title Sultan Mudzafar Shah
. This signalled a new era for the Melaka Sultanate sealing the fate of Hindus and Hinduism. http://www.sabrizain.org/malaya/parames.htm
(Chinese: 永樂)(Wade-Giles
Yung-lo) Zhū Dì 朱棣. In 1403, the first official Chinese trade envoy lead by Admiral Yǐn Qìng 尹慶 (Wade-Giles:Yin Ch'ing) arrived in Malacca. Later, Parameśwara was escorted by Zhèng Hé 郑和, (Wade-Giles: Cheng Ho) and other envoys in his successful visits. Malacca's relationships with Ming
granted protection to Malacca against attacks from Siam and Majapahit and Malacca officially submitted as a protectorate
of Ming China. This encouraged the development of Malacca into a major trade settlement on the trade route between China and India
, Middle East
, Africa
and Europe
.
In 1411, Parameswara and his wife together with 540 officials from Malacca went to China to pay homage to the Yongle Emperor
(r. 1402–1424). Upon arriving, a grand welcoming ceremony was held with sacrification of animals. The historical meeting between Parameswara and Yongle was recorded accurately in the Ming chronicle. The Geoff Wade translations: http://www.epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/entry/1730?hl=melaka
Tributes that Malacca paid to Ming included: agate
, carnelian, pearl, hawksbill, coral, crane beak, golden female crane beak, suit, white cloth, Western fabric, Sa-ha-la, rhino horn, ivory, black bear, black ape, white muntjac, turkey, parrot, pian-nao, rosebush dew, su-he oil, gardenia flower, wu-ye-ni, aromatic wood, incense sticks, gold silver incense sticks.
. 80 languages were reportedly spoken in Malacca. Malacca became an important port in the far east during the 16th century. It became so rich that the Portuguese writer and trader Tome Pires
said "Whoever is lord of Malacca shall have his hands on the throat of Venice.".
Parameswara Maharaja of Malacca (as a prosperous international port) changed the entire Maritime Southeast Asia
. Its success was admired by kings from neighbouring kingdoms. Melaka's dominance in the region also influenced the spread of Islam in the Maritime Southeast Asia. In 1447, Kertawijaya became King of Majapahit and converted to Islam on the advice of his wife, Darawati, a princess of Champa
. The nephew of Kertawijaya, Sunan Ampel works to spread Islam around Surabaya
, and around the same time, Palembang
converted to Islam. In 1459, Sultan Mansur Shah
of Malacca sent Tun Perak
to conquer Kedah
and Pahang
. Pahang became an Islamic sultanate under Malacca. In 1470, Dai-Viet captured Vijaya
, the capital of Champa, killing 60,000 Cham and caused a mass Cham emigration to Malacca and Cambodia
. The Islamic Kingdom of Demak was founded in 1478 by Raden Patah, son of King Kertawijaya and his Champa
wife. An Islamic Sultanate was founded at Cirebon
in Sunda
too.
Ming Shi-lu:
district of Srivijaya Empire
. Parameswara supposedly formally settled on a hill in the Malacca
town area around 1402.
The early rulers of Melaka always bestowed the title of Raja Parameswara of Temasik on their eldest sons who usually went on to become the Raja Parameswara (later Sultans) of Melaka.
written 5 centuries ago has sparked controversy by claiming that Parameswara was a descendant of Raja Iskandar Dhul-Qarnayn
(Iskandar of the two horns).
The story of Dhul-Qarnayn can be found in the Muslim's holy book of Qur'an
. Dhul-Qarnayn
appears in sixteen verses of the Qur'an
, specifically in verses 18:83–98.
The real identity of Dhul-Qarnayn
has become a matter of great controversy in modern times. Most western scholars held the belief that Dhul-Qarnayn
was the Macedonian King, Alexander the Great (336–323 BC). However, the prominent contemporary theory reveals that the Dhul-Qarnayn
mentioned in the Qur'an
was none other than Cyrus the Great
of Achaemenid Persia (559-530 BC).
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
prince from Temasek
Temasek
Temasek was the name of an early city on the site of modern Singapore. From the 14th century, the island has also been known as Singapura, which is derived from Sanskrit and means "Lion City"...
(modern-day Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
) who founded the Malacca Sultanate
Malacca Sultanate
Established by the Malay ruler Parameswara, the Sultanate of Malacca was first a Hindu kingdom in 1402 and later became Muslim following the marriage of the princess of Pasai in 1409. Centered in the modern town of Malacca, the sultanate bordered the Ayutthaya Kingdom of Siam in the north to...
around 1402.
Etymology
The name Parameswara is derived from the Sanskrit word ParameśhvaraParameshwara (God)
Parameshwara or Parameshwar, also transliterated from Sanskrit in other ways, is a Hindu concept literally meaning the Supreme God. The word "param" meaning the highest is added to Ishwara to intensify the title of God.-Conceptualization:...
, a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
concept literally meaning the "Supreme Lord". The word "parama" meaning "the supreme" is added to Ishvara
Ishvara
Ishvara is a philosophical concept in Hinduism, meaning controller or the Supreme controller in a theistic school of thought or the Supreme Being, or as an Ishta-deva of monistic thought.-Etymology:...
to intensify the title of God. Parameśhvara is also one of the names of Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
. The name is believed to be a small part of a longer regnal title
Regnal title
A regnal title is the title held by a monarch while in office. Monarchs can have various titles, including king or queen, prince or princess , emperor or empress , or even duke or grand duke or duchess...
which was something common among Malay royals until present day. Apart from Parameswara the founder of Malacca, there were two other rulers from the same lineage that use Parameswara in their regnal title, they are Sang Nila Utama
Sang Nila Utama
Sang Nila Utama was a Srivijayan prince from Palembang who founded the kingdom of Singapura in 1324. He was officially styled as Sri Maharaja Sang Utama Parameswara Batara Sri Tri Buana...
, the founder of ancient Singapura (titled "Sri Maharaja Sang Utama Parameswara Batara Sri Tri Buana") and Abu Syahid Shah, the fourth Sultan of Malacca (titled "Raja Sri Parameswara Dewa Shah").
Life
- 1344: Born as Dharmaraja (Desia Raja), a prince of Paduka Sri Rana Wira KermaRana Wira KermaPaduka Sri Rana Wira Kerma was the eldest son of Pekerma Wira with his wife Nila Panjadi, and the third Raja of Singapura. He was known as Raja Muda before his accession and married to a daughter of Bendahara Tun Perpatih Muka Berjajar . His reign was from 1386 to 1399....
, Raja of Singapura (1386–1399). His mother was a daughter of Tun Perpatih Permuka Berjayar, BendaharaBendaharaBendahara is an administrative position within classical Malay kingdoms before the intervention of European powers during the 19th century. A bendahara was appointed by a sultan and was a hereditary post. It was the office that is held by bendahara family...
of Singapura. - 1399: Succeeded his father and officially styled as Paduka Sri Maharaja Parameswara, Raja of Singapura.
- 1401: Expelled from Singapura
- 1402: Founded Malacca
- 1405: Visited the Ming Emperor
- 1409: Married PasaiPasaiPasai, also known as Samudera and Samudera-Pasai sometimes called Samudera Darussalam was a Muslim harbour kingdom on the north coast of Sumatra from the 13th to the 15th centuries CE. It was believed the word Samudera derived from Samudra meaning ocean in Sanskrit...
's princess, Sultanate of Malacca founded. - 1411: Visited the Ming Emperor
- 1414: Died at the age of 69 or 70.
Discovery of Malacca
In the 14th century, SrivijayaSrivijaya
Srivijaya was a powerful ancient thalassocratic Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia. The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6...
was losing its influence and faced threats from various corners of the Maritime Southeast Asia
Maritime Southeast Asia
Maritime Southeast Asia refers to the maritime region of Southeast Asia as opposed to mainland Southeast Asia and includes the modern countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, East Timor and Singapore....
. The Majapahit empire, centered in Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, was expanding its borders beyond Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
. The Srivijayan empire had previously controlled parts of Java but it was driven out of in 1290 by the increasingly powerful Singhasari
Singhasari
Singhasari was a kingdom located in east Java between 1222 and 1292. The kingdom succeeded Kingdom of Kediri as the dominant kingdom in eastern Java.-Foundation:...
, a predecessor to Majapahit. He later attacked the Srivijaya palace in the Malayu. As a result, Srivijaya had to move its court from Palembang
Palembang
Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...
, on the bank of Musi River
Musi River (Indonesia)
The Musi River is located in southern Sumatra, Indonesia.It is about 750 kilometers long, and drains most of South Sumatra province. After flowing through Palembang, the provincial capital, it joins with the several other rivers, including the Banyuasin River, to form a delta near the city of...
in southern Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, to Malayu (now Jambi province) on Batang Hari River
Batang Hari River
The Batang Hari is the longest river in Sumatra, Indonesia. It originates in the Minangkabau highlands and flows to the east coast of Sumatra. The city of Jambi is located at the mouth of the river.-External links:...
bank. Although the royal court had moved to Malayu, Palembang remained an important imperial city. Some time in the later half of the 14th century, Singhasari
Singhasari
Singhasari was a kingdom located in east Java between 1222 and 1292. The kingdom succeeded Kingdom of Kediri as the dominant kingdom in eastern Java.-Foundation:...
sent its navy towards Palembang and Malayu, thus conquering the cities. This invasion ended the 1000-year old empire.
According to the Malay Annals, after the sacking of Palembang
Palembang
Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...
, the descendants of the Srivijaya ruling house took refuge on the island of Bintan
Bintan
Bintan Island or Negeri Segantang Lada is an island in the Riau archipelago of Indonesia. It is part of the Riau Islands province, the capital of which, Tanjung Pinang, lies in the island's south and is the island's main community....
. Although the empire had been destroyed and its capital sacked, Malay and Orang Laut
Orang Laut
The Orang Laut, or Bajau Laut are a group of Malay people living in the Riau Islands of Indonesia. It also may refer to any Malay origin people living on coastal islands, including those of Andaman Sea islands in Thailand and Burma, commonly known as Moken.-Etymology:The Malay term orang laut...
populations inhabiting the surrounding islands and the Malay peninsula remained loyal to the Srivijayan royals. In 1324, a Srivijayan prince, Sang Nila Utama
Sang Nila Utama
Sang Nila Utama was a Srivijayan prince from Palembang who founded the kingdom of Singapura in 1324. He was officially styled as Sri Maharaja Sang Utama Parameswara Batara Sri Tri Buana...
removed himself from Bintan to Temasek
Temasek
Temasek was the name of an early city on the site of modern Singapore. From the 14th century, the island has also been known as Singapura, which is derived from Sanskrit and means "Lion City"...
where he defeated and killed the Ayuthaya
Ayutthaya kingdom
Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the...
-appointed local ruler, Temagi.
Sang Nila Utama later founded Singapura Lama: Old Lion Island. He maintained control over the island for 48 years and recognized as ruler by an envoy of the Chinese Emperor in 1366. He was officially styled Sri Maharaja Sang Utama Parameswara Batara Sri Tri Buana (meaning: "Lord Central King Batara of "Sri Tri Buana" 'Three world Realm'" signifying Lordship over Palembang, Bintan and Singapura).
Sang Nila Utama was succeeded by son Paduka Sri Pekerma Wira Diraja (1372–1386) who was in turn succeeded by grandson, Paduka Seri Rana Wira Kerma (1386–1399). In 1401, his great grandson, Paduka Sri Maharaja Parameswara fled from Singapura after a retaliatory invasion by Majapahit.
This younger Parameswara fled north to found a new settlement. At Muar, Parameswara contemplated establishing his new kingdom at either Biawak Busuk
Biawak Busuk
Kota Biawak Busuk, literally mean "Fort of Smelly Monitor Lizard" in Malay is a historic site believed to be located near the site of another historic site the Kota Buruk, most possibly nearby or at today's Kampung Tanjung Selabu, Jorak, Sungai Terap, Bukit Pasir, Pagoh, Muar, Johor, Malaysia...
or at Kota Buruk
Kota Buruk
Kota Buruk, literally mean "Fort of Ruins" in Malay is a historic site believed to be located at the today's Kampung Tanjung Selabu, Jorak, Sungai Terap, Bukit Pasir, Pagoh, Muar, Johor, Malaysia. This site purportedly said to be identified as the original Kota Buruk location and is being preserved...
. Finding that the Muar location was not suitable, he continued northwards. Along the way, he reportedly visited Sening Ujong (former name of present day Sungai Ujong) before reaching a fishing village at the mouth of the Bertam River (former name of the Malacca River). This evolved over time to become the location of modern day Malacca Town
Malacca Town
Most tourist attractions are concentrated in its small city centre which encompasses Jonker Walk which houses Malacca's traditional Chinatown that exhibits Peranakan architecture. A Famosa Fort, St. Paul Hill are among the tourist attractions located in the Bandar Hilir, old city area. There are...
. According to the Malay Annals, it was here that he witnessed a small white mouse deer outwitting his hunting dog while resting under an Indian gooseberry
Indian gooseberry
Phyllanthus emblica , the Indian gooseberry, or aamla, is a deciduous tree of the Phyllanthaceae family. It is known for its edible fruit of the same name.-Plant anatomy and harvesting:...
tree. He took this as a good omen
Omen
An omen is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the future, often signifying the advent of change...
and decided there to establish a kingdom called Malacca, building and improving facilities for the purpose of trade. More credible accounts argue the name "Malacca" was a local folk-adaptation of the Arabic word 'mulaqa' meaning 'meeting place': which the port of Malacca indeed was.
The Sultanate of Malacca ultimately succeeded Srivijaya as the next most important Malay political entity of the Maritime Southeast Asia.
Marriage
It was generally believed that in the year 1409 he married princess of PasaiPasai
Pasai, also known as Samudera and Samudera-Pasai sometimes called Samudera Darussalam was a Muslim harbour kingdom on the north coast of Sumatra from the 13th to the 15th centuries CE. It was believed the word Samudera derived from Samudra meaning ocean in Sanskrit...
and he adopted the Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
title 【Iskandar Shah
Shah
Shāh is the title of the ruler of certain Southwest Asian and Central Asian countries, especially Persia , and derives from the Persian word shah, meaning "king".-History:...
】after his son's conversion to the faith.
| Sultan of Malacca | Reign |
|---|---|
| Parameswara Sultan Mahmud Iskandar Shah |
1400–1414 |
| Megat Iskandar Shah Megat Iskandar Shah (Sultan of Malacca) Megat Iskandar Shah was the second Sultan of Malacca and also the son of Parameswara. The position of Megat Iskandar Shah as the second ruler of Malacca has historically been contested.... |
1414–1424 |
| Muhammad Shah | 1424–1444 |
| Abu Syahid Abu Syahid (Sultan of Malacca) Sultan Abu Syahid Shah was the sultan of Malacca from 1444 to 1446. Despite the fact that Malacca was a Muslim kingdom, Syahid Shah was a practicing Hindu.He styled himself as Raja Sri Parameswara Dewa Shah. His predecessor, Sultan Muhammad Shah had alleged a meeting with the Prophet Muhammad and... |
1444–1446 |
| Muzaffar Shah | 1446–1459 |
| Mansur Shah | 1459–1477 |
| Alauddin Riayat Shah | 1477–1488 |
| Mahmud Shah Mahmud Shah (Sultan of Malacca) Sultan Mahmud Shah ruled Malacca from 1488 to 1528. He was the son of Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah.Upon his father's premature death, he was installed at a very young age. The regent at that time was the prime minister Tun Perak. During his initial years as a young adult, the sultan was known to... |
1488–1511 |
Supposed conversion to Islam
Parameswara's conversion to Islam was unclear so far with no evidence as to whether Parameswara had actually converted. According to a theory by Sabri Zain http://www.sabrizain.org/malaya/parames.htm, Parameswara became a Muslim when he married a Princesss of Pasai and he took the fashionable Persian title "Shah", calling himself Iskandar Shah. There are also references that indicate that some members of the ruling class and the merchant community residing in Malacca were already Muslims. The Chinese chronicles mention that in 1414, the son of the first ruler of Malacca visited MingMing Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
to inform them that his father had died. Parameswara's son was then officially recognised as the second ruler of Malacca by the Chinese Emperor and styled Raja Sri Rama Vikrama, Raja of Parameswara of Temasik and Melaka, and he ruled Malacca from 1414 to 1424. http://www.sabrizain.org/malaya/parames.htm http://www.sabrizain.org/malaya/parames1.htm
Death
In 1414, Parameswara died at age 70. It is generally believed that he was buried on top of a hill at Tanjung TuanTanjung Tuan
Tanjung Tuan or Cape Rachado is an exclave of the state of Malacca, Malaysia. It is a cape with a lighthouse facing the Strait of Malacca...
(also known as Cape Rachado) , near Port Dickson
Port Dickson
Port Dickson or PD to locals is a beach and holiday destination situated about 32 km from Seremban and 90 km from Kuala Lumpur. It is located in the state of Negeri Sembilan in Peninsular Malaysia...
or either Fort Canning
Fort Canning
Fort Canning is a small hill slightly more than 60 metres high in the southeast portion of the island city-state of Singapore, within the Central Area that forms Singapore's central business district...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. A symbolic Muslim
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
grave exists near Fort Canning. If he had remained a Hindu, it is also likely that his body was cremated in accordance to Hindu rites which would explain the missing grave. Parameswara was succeeded by his son, Megat Iskandar Shah who in turn ruled Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
until 1424.
Successor
The Malays refer to the third ruler of Malacca as Raja Tengah (or Radin Tengah) with the title Seri Maharaja but according to the Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals), he then embraced Islam and took the title Muhammad Shah. Scholars believe it could have been due to him marrying a Tamil Muslim wife. On his death, he was succeeded by the son of a princess coming from Rokan: Raja Ibrahim.Hindu-Malay and Tamil-Muslim conflict
During the time of Raja Ibrahim, tension occurred in Melaka between the growing Tamil MuslimTamil Muslim
Tamil Muslim refers to those Muslims who have Tamil as their mother tongue. There are around 500,000 in Malaysia which is 2.6% of the total population of Malaysia and 20,000 in Singapore.Tamil Muslims are largely urban traders rather than farmers...
community and the traditional Hindu Malay
Srivijaya
Srivijaya was a powerful ancient thalassocratic Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia. The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6...
because Raja Ibrahim only has islamic name but did not embraced the new religion but instead adopted the traditional Hindu title Sri Parameswara Dewa Shah
Abu Syahid (Sultan of Malacca)
Sultan Abu Syahid Shah was the sultan of Malacca from 1444 to 1446. Despite the fact that Malacca was a Muslim kingdom, Syahid Shah was a practicing Hindu.He styled himself as Raja Sri Parameswara Dewa Shah. His predecessor, Sultan Muhammad Shah had alleged a meeting with the Prophet Muhammad and...
. As a result, Raja Ibrahim ruled for less than seventeen months and he was stabbed to death in a palace coup de dat by Raja Kasim who was exiled earlier by Raja Ibrahim.
Raja Ibrahim's elder half-brother, Raja Kasim, by a Tamil Muslim mother, assumed the throne and taking on the Islamic title Sultan Mudzafar Shah
Muzaffar Shah of Malacca
Sultan Muzaffar Shah was the fifth Sultan of Malacca. He ruled from 1445 to 1459. He is the son of Sultan Muhammad Shah....
. This signalled a new era for the Melaka Sultanate sealing the fate of Hindus and Hinduism. http://www.sabrizain.org/malaya/parames.htm
Foreign relations and tribute to Ming Dynasty
The relation with Ming China started in the early 15th century http://www.epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/search/?q=melaka when Parameśwara embarked on several voyages to visit the Yǒnglè Emperor YǒnglèYongle Emperor
The Yongle Emperor , born Zhu Di , was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means "Perpetual Happiness".He was the Prince of Yan , possessing a heavy military base in Beiping...
(Chinese: 永樂)(Wade-Giles
Wade-Giles
Wade–Giles , sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a romanization system for the Mandarin Chinese language. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Wade during the mid-19th century , and was given completed form with Herbert Giles' Chinese–English dictionary of 1892.Wade–Giles was the most...
Yung-lo) Zhū Dì 朱棣. In 1403, the first official Chinese trade envoy lead by Admiral Yǐn Qìng 尹慶 (Wade-Giles:Yin Ch'ing) arrived in Malacca. Later, Parameśwara was escorted by Zhèng Hé 郑和, (Wade-Giles: Cheng Ho) and other envoys in his successful visits. Malacca's relationships with Ming
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
granted protection to Malacca against attacks from Siam and Majapahit and Malacca officially submitted as a protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
of Ming China. This encouraged the development of Malacca into a major trade settlement on the trade route between China and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
In 1411, Parameswara and his wife together with 540 officials from Malacca went to China to pay homage to the Yongle Emperor
Yongle Emperor
The Yongle Emperor , born Zhu Di , was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means "Perpetual Happiness".He was the Prince of Yan , possessing a heavy military base in Beiping...
(r. 1402–1424). Upon arriving, a grand welcoming ceremony was held with sacrification of animals. The historical meeting between Parameswara and Yongle was recorded accurately in the Ming chronicle. The Geoff Wade translations: http://www.epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/entry/1730?hl=melaka
Tributes that Malacca paid to Ming included: agate
Agate
Agate is a microcrystalline variety of silica, chiefly chalcedony, characterised by its fineness of grain and brightness of color. Although agates may be found in various kinds of rock, they are classically associated with volcanic rocks and can be common in certain metamorphic rocks.-Etymology...
, carnelian, pearl, hawksbill, coral, crane beak, golden female crane beak, suit, white cloth, Western fabric, Sa-ha-la, rhino horn, ivory, black bear, black ape, white muntjac, turkey, parrot, pian-nao, rosebush dew, su-he oil, gardenia flower, wu-ye-ni, aromatic wood, incense sticks, gold silver incense sticks.
Parameswara's trading port
Melaka grew into an international trading port and heralded the golden age of NusantaraNusantara
Nusantara is an Indonesian word for the Indonesian archipelago. It is originated from Old Javanese and literally means "archipelago".The word Nusantara was taken from an oath by Gajah Mada, as written on an old Javanese manuscript Pararaton and Negarakertagama...
. 80 languages were reportedly spoken in Malacca. Malacca became an important port in the far east during the 16th century. It became so rich that the Portuguese writer and trader Tome Pires
Tomé Pires
Tomé Pires was an apothecary from Lisbon who spent 1512 to 1515 in Malacca immediately after the Portuguese conquest, at a time when Europeans were only first arriving in South East Asia...
said "Whoever is lord of Malacca shall have his hands on the throat of Venice.".
Parameswara Maharaja of Malacca (as a prosperous international port) changed the entire Maritime Southeast Asia
Maritime Southeast Asia
Maritime Southeast Asia refers to the maritime region of Southeast Asia as opposed to mainland Southeast Asia and includes the modern countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, East Timor and Singapore....
. Its success was admired by kings from neighbouring kingdoms. Melaka's dominance in the region also influenced the spread of Islam in the Maritime Southeast Asia. In 1447, Kertawijaya became King of Majapahit and converted to Islam on the advice of his wife, Darawati, a princess of Champa
Champa
The kingdom of Champa was an Indianized kingdom that controlled what is now southern and central Vietnam from approximately the 7th century through to 1832.The Cham people are remnants...
. The nephew of Kertawijaya, Sunan Ampel works to spread Islam around Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
, and around the same time, Palembang
Palembang
Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...
converted to Islam. In 1459, Sultan Mansur Shah
Mansur Shah of Malacca
Sultan Mansur Shah was the sixth Sultan of Malacca. He ruled Malacca from 1459 to 1477. He ascended the throne after the death of his father, Muzaffar Shah.-Expansions of Malaccan Empire:Mansur Shah implemented a policy of expansionism during his rule...
of Malacca sent Tun Perak
Tun Perak
Bendahara Paduka Raja Tun Perak was the fifth and most famous bendahara, a Malay rank similar to a prime minister, of the Sultanate of Malacca. He served under four sultans from 1456 to 1498. Early in his life, Perak was a soldier-statesman for Malaccan rulers...
to conquer Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
and Pahang
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
. Pahang became an Islamic sultanate under Malacca. In 1470, Dai-Viet captured Vijaya
Vijaya (Champa)
Vijaya was a city-state in the ancient kingdom of Champa in what is now south-central Vietnam. It was the capital of Champa for several centuries until it was conquered by Vietnam in 1471.-Geography, Economy, Transport:...
, the capital of Champa, killing 60,000 Cham and caused a mass Cham emigration to Malacca and Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. The Islamic Kingdom of Demak was founded in 1478 by Raden Patah, son of King Kertawijaya and his Champa
Champa
The kingdom of Champa was an Indianized kingdom that controlled what is now southern and central Vietnam from approximately the 7th century through to 1832.The Cham people are remnants...
wife. An Islamic Sultanate was founded at Cirebon
Cirebon
Cirebon is a port city on the north coast of the Indonesian island of Java. It is located in the province of West Java near the provincial border with Central Java, approximately 297 km east of Jakarta, at .The seat of a former Sultanate, the city's West and Central Java border location have...
in Sunda
Sunda Kingdom
The Sunda Kingdom was a Hindu kingdom located on the western part of Java from 669 to around 1579, covering areas of present-day Banten, Jakarta, West Java, and the western part of Central Java...
too.
Sources
- Sejarah MelayuSejarah MelayuSejarah Melayu or Malay Annals is a Malay literary work which covers a period of over 600 years that chronicles the, then and now, Genealogies of Rulers in the Malay Archipelago...
a Malay literature written by Tun Sri LanangTun Sri LanangTun Muhammad bin Tun Ahmad, better known as Tun Sri Lanang, is the Bendahara of the royal Court of Johor Sultanate who lived between the 16th and 17th centuries...
in 1621. (see Sang Nila UtamaSang Nila UtamaSang Nila Utama was a Srivijayan prince from Palembang who founded the kingdom of Singapura in 1324. He was officially styled as Sri Maharaja Sang Utama Parameswara Batara Sri Tri Buana...
) - Suma Oriental written by PortuguesePortuguese peopleThe Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
Tom Pires during the conquering of Melaka in early 16th century. - The Ming Shi-lu http://www.epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/ (Chinese: 明實錄) also known as the Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty, has a comprehensive 150 records or more on Parameswara (Bai-li-mi-su-la 拜里迷蘇剌) and Melaka. The massive translation work was contributed by Dr.Geoff Wade, a senior researcher in the Asia Research Institute, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. http://www.epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/search/?q=melaka
Ming Shi-lu:
- 28 Oct 1403: eunuch Yǐn Qìng 尹慶 was sent to Melaka http://www.epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/entry/7?hl=melaka
- 3 Oct 1405: Bai-li-mi-su-la, the native ruler of the country of Melaka followed the Imperial envoy Yin Qing and visit the Ming court to offer tribute. http://www.epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/entry/514?hl=melaka
- 16 Feb 1409: envoy A-bu-la Jia-xin 阿卜剌賈信 sent by Bai-li-mi-su-la visit Ming court and offered tribute of local products...http://www.epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/entry/1449?hl=melaka
- 4 Aug 1411: Bai-li-mi-su-la, on banquet in reward him on visit to Ming court. http://www.epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/entry/1787?hl=melaka
- 14 Aug 1411: Bai-li-mi-su-la, and his wife, children and attendant ministers, a total of over 540 persons, visit Ming Court. http://www.epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/entry/1781?hl=melaka
- 17 Aug 1411: banquet was conferred upon Bai-li-mi-su-la and his consort Bā-ér-mí-sū-lǐ 八兒迷蘇里 and others in the Interpreters Institute. http://www.epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/entry/1783?hl=melaka
- 5 Oct 1414: son of the king of the country of Melaka, Mǔ-gàn Sā-yúgān-dí ér Shā 母幹撒于干的兒沙 visit Ming court and memorialized that his father Bai-li-mi-su-la had died. And the Imperially commanded that Mǔ-gàn Sā-yúgān-dí ér Shā should inherit his father's title as king. http://www.epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/entry/2115?hl=melaka
Unsourced information
Coming from the unpublished Palembang royal records, Parameswara (1344 – 1414) whose full title was Paduka Sri Maharaja, Raja Parameswara of Temasik. He was called Desa Raja at birth and was the son of Paduka Sri Maharaja Vikramavira, Raja of Temasik. He was officially styled Raja Kecil Besar Paduka Sri Pekerma Di Raja and was a Hindu Malay prince-consort whose family originally hailed from the PalembangPalembang
Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...
district of Srivijaya Empire
Srivijaya
Srivijaya was a powerful ancient thalassocratic Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia. The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6...
. Parameswara supposedly formally settled on a hill in the Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
town area around 1402.
The early rulers of Melaka always bestowed the title of Raja Parameswara of Temasik on their eldest sons who usually went on to become the Raja Parameswara (later Sultans) of Melaka.
Controversy
The historical Malay literary work Sejarah MelayuSejarah Melayu
Sejarah Melayu or Malay Annals is a Malay literary work which covers a period of over 600 years that chronicles the, then and now, Genealogies of Rulers in the Malay Archipelago...
written 5 centuries ago has sparked controversy by claiming that Parameswara was a descendant of Raja Iskandar Dhul-Qarnayn
Dhul-Qarnayn
Dhul-Qarnayn , literally "He of the Two Horns" or "He of the two centuries" is a figure mentioned in the Qur'an, the sacred scripture of Islam, where he is described as a great and righteous ruler who built a long wall that keeps Gog and Magog from attacking the people who he met on his journey...
(Iskandar of the two horns).
The story of Dhul-Qarnayn can be found in the Muslim's holy book of Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
. Dhul-Qarnayn
Dhul-Qarnayn
Dhul-Qarnayn , literally "He of the Two Horns" or "He of the two centuries" is a figure mentioned in the Qur'an, the sacred scripture of Islam, where he is described as a great and righteous ruler who built a long wall that keeps Gog and Magog from attacking the people who he met on his journey...
appears in sixteen verses of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
, specifically in verses 18:83–98.
The real identity of Dhul-Qarnayn
Dhul-Qarnayn
Dhul-Qarnayn , literally "He of the Two Horns" or "He of the two centuries" is a figure mentioned in the Qur'an, the sacred scripture of Islam, where he is described as a great and righteous ruler who built a long wall that keeps Gog and Magog from attacking the people who he met on his journey...
has become a matter of great controversy in modern times. Most western scholars held the belief that Dhul-Qarnayn
Dhul-Qarnayn
Dhul-Qarnayn , literally "He of the Two Horns" or "He of the two centuries" is a figure mentioned in the Qur'an, the sacred scripture of Islam, where he is described as a great and righteous ruler who built a long wall that keeps Gog and Magog from attacking the people who he met on his journey...
was the Macedonian King, Alexander the Great (336–323 BC). However, the prominent contemporary theory reveals that the Dhul-Qarnayn
Dhul-Qarnayn
Dhul-Qarnayn , literally "He of the Two Horns" or "He of the two centuries" is a figure mentioned in the Qur'an, the sacred scripture of Islam, where he is described as a great and righteous ruler who built a long wall that keeps Gog and Magog from attacking the people who he met on his journey...
mentioned in the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
was none other than Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great
Cyrus II of Persia , commonly known as Cyrus the Great, also known as Cyrus the Elder, was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire. Under his rule, the empire embraced all the previous civilized states of the ancient Near East, expanded vastly and eventually conquered most of Southwest Asia and much...
of Achaemenid Persia (559-530 BC).
Other references
- The Encyclopedia of Malaysia: Languages & Literature, edited by Prof. Dato' Dr Asmah Haji Omar (2004) ISBN 981-3018-52-6
External links
- The history of spices is the history of trade
- Parameswara at Sejarah Melayu
- Malacca Genealogy by Christopher Buyers
- Beyond the Monsoon
- Genealogy of Malacca Sultanate
- The Travels Of Marco Polo
- The Golden Chersonese and The Way Thither. Isabella L. Bird
- Parameswara at National Library of Malaysia
- Article by Muzaffar Tate in Star Online 1999