Melaka Review

20^th Century

1904                 -           The Queen Victoria Fountain is erected to commemorate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.

1942                 -           The Japanese Occupation forces take over Melaka.

1945                 -           Melaka is returned to British rule after Japanese surrender to the British in Singapore.

1948                 -           A state of “Emergency” is proclaimed as Malaya fights against communist insurgency. Melaka joins the Federation of Malaya.

1956                 -           The proclamation of the date of independence by Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia’s first Prime Minister takes place at Padang Banda Hilir (Padang Pahlawan) in Melaka on 20^th February.

1957                 -           Malaysia achieves her independence on August 31^st. Melaka’s last British Resident Commissioner, H.G. Hammet, hands the instrument of independence to the first local Governer.

1989                 -           Melaka is declared a Historical City on April 15^th.

Melaka Review

18^th Century

1710                 -           St. Peter’s Church, the oldest functioning Christian Church in Malaysia, is built by the Dutch descendents comprising an architectural mix of Oriental and Occidental.

1753                 -           The Christ Church is completed.

1756                 -           The Bugis under Daing Kamboja attack Melaka.

1784                 -           Raja Haji lands in Melaka to capture it but is killed.

1795                 -           The British take over Melaka from the Dutch.

19^th Century

1806                 -           The British begin the demolition of the Portuguese fortress and total abandonment of Melaka. They planned to transfer the trade and population to Penang in order to weaken Melaka’s standing as a trading centre.

1808                 -           The timely arrival of Stamford Raffles, saves Melaka from total destruction.

1818                 -           With the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Melaka returned to the Dutch under Treaty of Venice.

1819                 -           Sultan Hussain Mohammad Shah of Johor cedes Singapore to the English East India Company. The Sultan’s grave lies within the ground of the Tranquerah Mosque.

1824                 -           By Anglo-Dutch Traty, or Treaty of London, Melaka is firmly placed under British rule. Along with Penang and Singapore, Melaka is incorporated into the Straits Settlement in 1826.

1867                 -           The administration of the Straits Settlements is transferred from the Governor – General of India’s Office to the Colonial Office in London and Melaka becomes a British colony.

Melaka Review

17^th Century

1606                 -           A combined Dutch and Johor force attacks Melaka. The Timely arrival of Portuguese reinforcement from Goa saves Melaka.

1615/16             -           The Acehnese mount another attack on Melaka.

1628/29             -           The Acehnese hold Melaka for eight months before withdrawing.

1636                 -           Dutch  ships destroy Portuguese ships off the habour.

1641                 -           The Dutch and Johor Malays attack again. After a fierce battle, the Portuguese and forced to surrender. Dutch rule in Melaka lasts for 154 years.

1645                 -           The Cheng Hoon Teng temple is built by Chinese head man, Lee Wei King. This is the oldest surviving temple in Malaysia.

1645 / 70           -           The Stadthuys or “State house”, the residence of the Dutch Governor, as well as the administrative centre is built.

Melaka Review

16th Century

1500 - Tun Mutahir, the cousin of Tun Perak, is appointed Bendahara.

1509 - The first Portuguese trading expedition, led by Diego Lopez de Sequiera arrives in Melaka with a fleet of ships, becoming the first European to reach this archipelago.

1510 - Bendahara Tun Mutahir is murdered. Sultan Mahmud Shah temporarily retires and is succeeded by his son, Sultan Ahmad Shah.

1511 - After a 10 day siege, Melaka falls to the Portuguese armada, led by Alfonso D’Albuquerque. The Portuguese rule in Melaka lasts for over 130 years.

1512 - Albuquerque returns to Goa in January after completing the ‘A Famosa’ fortress that incorporated a five storey tall tower. Sultan Mahmud Shah attacks the Portuguese in Melaka.

1513 - Patih Unus, a Javanese trader later to become Sultan Demak of Sumatra, attacks Melaka.

1516 - Laksamana (Admiral) Hang Nadim, son of Hang Tuah attacks Melaka.

1518/19 - Sultan Mahmud Shah’s army surrounds the city for three months.

1523 - Sultan Mahmud Shah attacks Melaka.

1524 - Admiral Hang Nadim besieges Melaka and cuts off its food supply.

1537 - First Acehnese attack on Portuguese in Melaka.

1545 - Fr. Francis Xavier arrives in Melaka for the first time. He was to visit Melaka five more times.

1551 - Combined forces of Johor, Japara and Perak attack Melaka and hold it under siege for three months.

1553 - Fr. Francis Xavier, who dies in Sanction Island, near Canton China, is buried in St. Paul’s Church. After nine months, his remains are moved to Goa.

1567/68 - With help from Johor, the Acehnese attack Melaka again but are defeated.

1571 - The Acehnese attempt an attack on Melaka again but their invasion is folled by a storm.

1575 - Japara attacks Melaka.

1585/86 - Johor attacks Melaka.

1588 - The first English visitor, Ralph Ritch, arrives in Melaka.

1597 - The Dutch attack Melaka.

Malacca Review

15th CENTURY

1400            After defeated by Majapahit forces, Parameswara a   prince from Palembang,moved to Temasik (the original name for Singapore) and later on opened Melaka.

1403               The first Chinese envoy, Yin Ching, arrives in  Melaka.

1409               The Chinese Emperial Fleet, under Admiral Cheng Ho, visits Melaka.

1411                Parameswara visits the Ming Emperor in China.

1414                Parameswara embraces Islam and changes his  name to Raja Iskandar Shah.

1424           Parameswara’s son , Seri Maharaja, ascends  the throne and later assumes the title ”Sultan”, becoming the first ruler to do so in this region. He changes his name to Sultan Muhammad Shah and rules according to the principles of Islam, establishing palace etiquettes and spreading Islam in his region.

1445                 Raja Ibrahim, the youngest son of Sultan  Muhammad Shah becomes ruler upon his father’s death and assumes the name,   Sultan Abu Shahid.

1446                 Sultan Abu Shahid’s accidental death results in   Sultan Muzaffar Shah, his elder brother, assuming the throne.

1447                 The first Siamese attack on Melaka but was repelled by Melakan fleet.

1456                 Tun Perak is appointed as the Bendahara, or Prime  Minister, and becomes the most well known of all the Bendaharas  responsible for the rise of Melaka.

1458                  Sultan Mansor Shah succeeds his father,   Sultan Muzaffar Shah.

1477                  Sultan Mansor Shah passes away and is  succeeded by his son, Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah.

1488                  An enterprising and just ruler, Sultan Alauddin dies of poisoning in Pagoh. Sultan Mahmud Shah ascends the throne due to the efforts of Tun Perak and Hang Tuah (a legendary warrior).

1498                  Tun Perak passes away.