Parameswara (13441414), also called Iskandar Shah (Jawi: ) , was the last king of Singapura who ruled from

m 1389 to 1398. The king fled the island kingdom after a Majapahit naval invasion in 1398 and founded his new stronghold on the mouth of Bertam river in 1402. Within decades, the new city grew rapidly to become the capital of the Malacca Sultanate.

Etymology
Further information: Parameshwara (God) The name Parameswara is derived from the Sanskrit word Paramehvara, a Hindu concept literally meaning the "mighty Lord". The word "parama" meaning "the supreme" is added to Ishvarato intensify the title of God. Paramehvara is also one of the names of Lord Shiva. There is basically only one record which give in some detail on the kingdoms of Singapura and Malacca the Malay Annals written during the heyday of Malacca and re-compiled in 1612 by the Johor court. It is the basis for accounts of its founding, the succession of its rulers and its eventual decline. Another important record, the Suma Oriental written shortly after thePortuguese conquest of Malacca. Both Suma Oriental and Malay Annals do contain similar stories about a fleeing Srivijayan prince arriving in Singapura and about the last king of Singapura who fled to the west coast of Malay peninsula to found Malacca. However, both accounts differ markedly when Suma Oriental identified the fleeing prince and the last king of Singapura as the same person known as "Parameswara". On the other hand, the more detailed Malay Annals identified the fleeing prince and the last king as completely two different persons separated by five generations. Suma Oriental noted further that the fleeing Srivijayan prince usurped the throne of Singapura from a Siamese viceroy named "Temagi" sometimes around 1390s. However, this is refuted by the only Chinese first-hand account of 14th century Singapura, Dao Yi Zhi Lue written by Wang Dayuan, that explicitly mentioned that Singapura was ruled by a local government. [1] The Ming Chronicle (Ming Shilu) recorded that the consort of Parameswara known as B-r-m-s-l ( ) ('Parameswari') attended a banquet together with the king Bai-li-mi-su-la ('Parameswara') in the Ming court.[2] It is more likely that 'Parameswari' ("Supreme Lordess") referred to a title rather than a given name, which is in fact still in use today in the form of "Permaisuri" ('Queen') in Malay language. Therefore, the name Parameswara is also believed to be a small part of a longer regnal title which was something common among Malay royals until the 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 Neela Uthaman, 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"). [edit]Life

Parameswara found Malacca 1400. [edit]Fall

of Singapura

In 1389, Paduka Seri Maharaja of Singapura was succeeded by Iskandar Shah. Based on his peculiar Persian name and title, there is no evidence of his conversion to Islam however as described in the Malay Annals, early evidences of Islamic influence traced back to the reign of Paduka Seri Rana Wikrama when he first established relationships with a Sumatran Muslim Kingdom, Peureulak.[3] As mentioned in the Malay annals, the story of the fall of Singapura and the flight of its last king begins with Iskandar Shah's accusation of one of his concubines of adultery. As punishment, the king had her stripped naked in public. In revenge, the concubine's father, Sang Rajuna Tapa who was also an official in Iskandar Shah's court, secretly sent a message to the king of Majapahit, pledging his support should the king choose to invade Singapura. In 1398, Majapahit dispatched a fleet of three hundred main warships and hundreds of smaller vessels, carrying no less than 200,000 men. Initially. the Javanese soldiers engaged with the defenders in a battle outside the fortress, before forcing them to retreat behind the walls. The invasion force laid a siege of the city and repeatedly tried to attack the fortress. However the fortress proved to be impregnable.[4][5][6] After about a month, food in the fortress began to run low and the defenders were on the verge of starvation. Sang Rajuna Tapa was then asked to distribute whatever grain left to the people from the royal store. Seeing this opportunity for revenge, the minister lied to the King, saying the stores were empty. The grains were not distributed and the people eventually starved. The final assault came when the gates were finally opened under the order of the treacherous minister. The Majapahit soldiers rushed into the fortress and a terrible massacre ensued.[7] According to the Malay Annals, blood flowed like a river and the red stains on the laterite soil of Singapore are said to be blood from that massacre. [8] Knowing that defeat was imminent, Iskandar Shah and his followers fled the island. [edit]Foundation

of Malacca

Iskandar Shah or 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, legend has it that the king saw a mouse deer outwittint his hunting dog into the water when he was resting under the Malacca tree. He thought this boded well, remarking, 'this place is excellent, even the mouse deer is formidable; it is best that we establish a kingdom here'. Tradition holds that he named 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 Malacca tree (Malay: Pokok Malacca) scientifically termed as Phyllanthus emblica.[9]Another account on the origin the naming of Malacca elaborates that during the reign of Muhammad Shah (1424-1444), the Arab merchants called the kingdom 'Malakat' (Arabic for 'congregation of merchants') because it was home to many trading communities. [edit]Reign

in Malacca

After the foundation of the new settlement in Malacca, Parameswara initiated the development of the place and ordered his men to cultivate the lands with banana, sugar cane, yam and other crops for food. Taking the advantage of the harbour that is protected by a hill and sheltered ships well from the danger of strong tides, Parameswara laid the foundation of a trading port by building the storage and market facilities to serve as a meeting point to exchange goods. The indigenous inhabitants of Malacca and the strait, the Orang Lauts, who were also known as the loyal servants of Malay rulers since the time of Singapura and Srivijaya, were said to have been employed by Parameswara to patrol the adjacent seas, to repel other petty pirates, and to direct traders to their Malay overlords' port. Ironically, Orang Lauts themselves were known to be ferocious pirates in history. Within years, news about Malacca becoming a centre of trade and commerce began to spread all over the eastern part of the world and reached as far as China. Yongle Emperor of Ming Dynasty who reigned from 1402 till 1424 send his envoy known as Ying Ching to Malacca in 1405. Yin Ching's visit opened the way for the establishment of friendly relations between Malacca and China. Chinese merchants began calling at the port of Malacca and they can be said to be among the first traders to set up bases here. Apart from Chinese, other foreign traders notably the Javanese, Indians, Chinese, and Burmese came to establish their trading bases and settle in Malacca, soaring its population to 2000 during Parameswara's reign. In 1411, Parameswara himself, his wife and son with a royal party of 540 people left for China with Admiral Zheng He to pay homage to Yongle Emperor. When the envoy of Malacca paid homage to the Emperor of China, the emperor praised Parameswara and acknowledged him as the rightful ruler of Malacca. Yongle Emperor then presented Parameswara with a seal, silk and a yellow umbrella as symbols of royalty and also a letter appointing Parameswara as the ruler of Malacca. Malacca was then recognized as a kingdom by the Emperor of China. The envoy returned to Malacca together with a fleet led by Admiral Zheng He who was the first Chinese man to sail and explore the areas in the southern region. The Chinese chronicles mention that in 1414, the son of the first ruler of Malacca visited Ming to inform them that his father had died. It is generally believed that he was buried on top of a hill at Tanjung Tuan (also known as Cape Rachado), near modern-day Port Dickson. Parameswara was succeeded by his son, Megat Iskandar Shah who in turn ruled Malacca until 1424. [edit]Conversion

to Islam

Parameswara's conversion to Islam was unclear so far with no evidence as to whether he had actually converted. It was generally believed that in the year 1409 he married a princess of Pasai and adopted the Persian title Iskandar Shahafter his conversion to the faith.[10] However, the Malay Annals indicates that he used the Persian title Iskandar Shah since his reign in Singapura in 1390s. The text further noted that the Islamic influence in Singapura traced back to the reign of Rana Wikrama who established ties with the Sumatran Muslim kingdom, Peureulak and there was even a presence of an ulama from Pasai in Singapura during the reign of his successor, Seri Maharaja. However, the 16th century Portuguese writer Tom Pires explicitly mentioned that Parameswara was succeeded by his son, Megat Iskandar Shah, and that only the latter converted to Islam at the age 72. On the other hand, the Malay Annals noted that it was during the reign of the third ruler Muhammad Shah, that the ruling class and the subjects began to convert to Islam. While there are differing views on when the Islamisation if Malacca actually took place, it is generally agreed that Islam was firmly established by the reign of Muzaffar Shah.
[11]

[edit]Foreign

relations with the Ming Dynasty

The relation with Ming China started in the early 15th century [12] when Paramewara embarked on several voyages to visit Yongle Emperor. In 1403, the first official Chinese trade envoy led by Admiral Yin Qing arrived in Malacca. Later, Paramewara was escorted by Zheng He 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 aprotectorate 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.

Part of original copy of Ming Dynasty history (13681644), chapter 325. Parameswara visits the Yongle emperor .

In 1411, Parameswara and his wife together with 540 officials from Malacca went to China to pay homage to the Yongle Emperor (r. 14021424). 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:[13]

You, king (refer to Parameswara), travelled tens of thousands of li across the ocean to the capital, confidently and without anxiety, as your loyalty and sincerity assured you of the protection of the spirits. I (emperor Yongle) have been glad to meet with you, king, and feel that you should stay. However, your people are longing for you and it is appropriate that you return to soothe them. The weather is getting colder and the winds are suited for sailing South. It is the right time. You should eat well on your journey and look after yourself, so as to reflect my feelings of concern for you. Now I am conferring upon you, king, a gold and jade belt, ceremonial insignia, two "saddled horses", 100 liang of gold, 500 liang of silver, 400,000 guan of paper money, 2,600 guan of copper cash, 300 bolts of embroidered fine silks and silk gauzes, 1,000 bolts of thin silks......

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. [edit]Legacy

Map of 1400s Malacca and its contemporaries.

Within decades after its foundation, Malacca grew into an international trading port and heralded the golden age of Alam Melayu. 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. "[14] The new Malay sultanate emerged as the primary base in continuing the historic struggles of its predecessors, Singapura and Srivijaya, against their Java-based nemeses. By the mid-15th century, Majapahit found itself unable to control the rising power of Malacca that began to gain effective control of Malacca straits and expands its influence to Sumatra. The Malay Annals records that, at the height of its power, following the accession to the throne of Sultan Mansur Shah in 1459, Malacca's territory covered much of the Malay peninsula as well as the Riau-Lingga islands and parts of the east coast of Sumatra namely Indragiri, Kampar, Siak, Rokan, Haru and Siantan. Malacca was still looking to expand its territory as late as 1506 when it conquered Kelantan.[15]

The prosperity of Malacca as an international port changed the entire Maritime Southeast Asia and its success was admired by kings from neighbouring kingdoms. As a major entreport, Malacca attracted Muslim traders from various part of the world and became a centre of Islam, disseminating the religion throughout the Maritime Southeast Asia. The process of Islamisation in 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 even Philippines. The Malay Annals even reveals that the courts of Malacca and Pasai posed theological questions and problems to one another. Of the so-called Wali Sanga ('nine saints') responsible in spreading Islam on Java, at least two, Sunan Bonang and Sunan Kalijaga, are said to have studied in Malacca.[16] The expansion of Islam into the interiors of Java in the 15th century led to the gradual decline of Malacca's long standing foe, Hindu-Majapahit, before it finally succumbed to the emerging local Muslim forces in the early 16th century. Ultimately, the period spanning from Malaccan era right until the age of effective European colonization, saw the domination of Malay-Muslim sultanates in trade and politics that eventually contributed to the Malayisation of the region.