Malacca (Malay: Melaka), officially the Historic State of Malacca (Malay: Melaka Negeri
Bersejarah), is a state in Malaysia located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, facing
the Strait of Malacca. The state is bordered by Negeri Sembilan to the north and west and Johor to
the south. The exclave of Tanjung Tuan also borders Negeri Sembilan to the north. Its capital
is Malacca City, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 7 July 2008.[13]
[14] Malacca City is 148 kilometres (92 miles) southeast of Malaysia's capital city Kuala Lumpur, 235
kilometres (146 miles) northwest of Johor's largest city Johor Bahru and 95 km (59 miles) northwest
of Johor's second largest city, Batu Pahat.
Malacca has diverse tropical rainforest and experiences an equatorial climate. Situated immediately
south of the Titiwangsa Mountains, the state is mostly level and dotted with inselbergs, with Bukit
Gapis as the highest point.
Although it was the location of one of the earliest Malay sultanates, namely the Malacca Sultanate,
the local monarchy was abolished when the Portuguese conquered it in 1511. The head of state is
the Yang di-Pertua Negeri or Governor, rather than a Sultan. Malacca is noted for its unique history
and it is one of the major tourist destinations in Malaysia. With a highly strategic state position for
international trade routes, Malacca was once a well-known international trade centre in the East.
Many traders anchored in Malacca, especially traders from Arabia, China and India, traded at the port
of Malacca and from there were born many of the descendants and tribes that exist in Malacca to this
day.
A great diversity of races and ethnicities have long existed among the local community reflecting its
history. Malays, Chinese, Indians, Baba Nyonya, Kristang, Chitty and Eurasians are significant ethnic
groups living in the State of Malacca in the present day.[15][16][17]
History[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Historical affiliations
Portuguese Malacca 1511–1641
Dutch East India Company 1641–1795
Dutch East Indies 1818–1825
British Straits Settlements 1825–1946
Crown Colony of Malacca 1946–1957
Federation of Malaya 1957–1963
Malaysia 1963–present
The state's name dates to a popular legend surrounding the founding of the Malacca sultanate
by Parameswara, who sought a new location to establish a kingdom after fleeing a Majapahit invasion
of Singapura. As the story goes, Parameswara was resting under a Malacca tree (Malay: pokok
melaka) near a river during a hunt, when one of his dogs cornered a mouse deer. In self-defence, the
mouse deer pushed the dog into the river. Impressed by the courage of the deer, and taking it as a
propitious omen of the weak overcoming the powerful, Parameswara decided then to found an empire
at that spot. He named this empire after the tree where he had just taken shelter.[18] This story shows
remarkable similarities with and was probably adapted (as some historians argued) from folk-tales
from Kandy, Sri Lanka, and Pasai, Sumatra (both of which pre-date Malacca).[19][20]
The "Malacca tree" was taken as a basis for the species Phyllanthus emblica named by Carl
Linnaeus in 1753 through Latinising its original Sanskrit name आमलक (āmalaka), to which the species
have since been planted as ornamentals in various state attractions.[21] However, some researchers
like those of the Forestry Research Institute of Malaysia speculate that the legendary name-giving
tree may have been the species Phyllanthus pectinatus more endemic to Malay Archipelago forests
which does resemble P. emblica superficially. There is no geographical overlap between both
species.[21]
Another account on the origin of the naming of Malacca elaborates that during the reign of
Muhammad Shah (1424–1444), Arab merchants called the kingdom 'Malakat' (Arabic for
'congregation of merchants') because it was home to many trading communities.[22] One theory
suggests, as mentioned in Suma Oriental by Tomé Pires, that it is derived from the Javanese terms
melayu or mlayu (to steadily accelerate or to run), to describe the strong current of a river in Sumatra
that today bears the name Sungai Melayu ('Melayu river') which was later possibly adopted to be
Melaka as denoting a place for the fleeing prince.[23]
Sultanate of Malacca[edit]
Main article: Malacca Sultanate
Malacca Sultanate Palace Museum, modern
reconstruction of the palace of the Malacca Sultanate.
Before the arrival of the first Sultan, Malacca was a fishing village. Malacca was founded
by Parameswara, also known as Iskandar Shah. He found his way to Malacca around 1402 where he
found a good port—it was accessible in all seasons and on the strategically located narrowest point of
the Malacca Straits.[24] In collaboration with allies from wandering proto-Malay privateers of the Straits
called the orang laut ("sea-people"), he established Malacca as an international port by compelling
passing ships to call there, and establishing fair and reliable facilities for warehousing and trade.[24]
In 1403, the first official Chinese trade envoy led by Admiral Yin Qing arrived in Malacca. Later,
Parameśwara was escorted by Zheng He and other envoys in his successful visits. Malacca's
relationships with Ming China granted it protection from attacks by Siam and Majapahit. Malacca
officially submitted to Ming China as a protectorate. This encouraged the development of Malacca
into a major trade settlement on the trade route between China and India, Middle East, Africa and
Europe.[25]
Mao Kun map, from Wubei Zhi, which comes from the
early 15th century maps of Zheng He's navigators and cartographers, showing
Malacca (滿剌加) near the top left.
In Malacca during the early 15th century, Ming China actively sought to develop a commercial hub
and a base of operation for their treasure voyages into the Indian Ocean.[26] Malacca had been a
relatively insignificant region, not even qualifying as a polity prior to the voyages according to both Ma
Huan and Fei Xin, and was a vassal region of Siam.[26] In 1405, the Ming court dispatched
Admiral Zheng He with a stone tablet enfeoffing the Western Mountain of Malacca as well as an
imperial order elevating the status of the port to a country.[26] The Chinese also established a
government depot (官廠) as a fortified cantonment for their soldiers.[26] Ma Huan reported that Siam
did not dare to invade Malacca thereafter.[26] The rulers of Malacca, such as Parameswara in 1411,
would pay tribute to the Chinese emperor in person.[26] In 1431, when a Malaccan representative
complained that Siam was obstructing tribute missions to the Ming court, the Xuande Emperor
dispatched Zheng He carrying a threatening message for the Siamese king saying "You, king should
respect my orders, develop good relations with your neighbours, examine and instruct your
subordinates and not act recklessly or aggressively."[26] The early kings of Malacca—
Parameswara, Megat Iskandar Shah, and Sri Maharaja—understood that they could gain Ming
China's protection through skilful diplomacy and thereby could establish a strong foundation to their
kingdom against Siam and other potential enemies.[27] Chinese involvement was crucial for Malacca
to grow into a key alternative to other important and established ports.[28]
