Fall of Singapura[edit]
Based on the account from the Malay Annals, Sri Maharaja of Singapura was succeeded by his son,
Iskandar Shah, in 1389. Despite the use of the peculiar Persian name and title, there is evidence of
his conversion to Islam. Accounts in the Malay Annals trace back the Islamic influence in Singapura
to the reign of Sri Rana Wikrama, when he first established relationships with a Sumatran Muslim
Kingdom, Peureulak.[8] One source claims that Parameswara had a Muslim woman as his wife and
converted to her religion.[9]
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 Wikramawardhana of Majapahit, pledging his support should the king choose to invade
Singapura. In 1398, Majapahit dispatched a fleet of three hundred main man of war 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.[8][10][11]
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.[11] 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.[12] Knowing that defeat was imminent, Iskandar Shah and his followers fled the
island.
Foundation of Malacca[edit]
Iskandar Shah or Parameswara fled north to found a new settlement.[13]:245246 In 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 outwitting 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 Melaka) scientifically termed as Phyllanthus emblica.[14] Another
account on the origin the naming of Malacca elaborates that during the reign of Muhammad
Shah (14241444), the Arab merchants called the kingdom 'Malakat' (Arabic for 'congregation of
merchants') because it was home to many trading communities.
