| Parameswarah | |
|---|---|
| 1st Ruler of Malacca | |
An artist's impression of Parameswara, who ruled Singapore in the 1390s. |
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| Reign | Temasek: c.1399–1401, Malacca Sultanate: c. 1400–1414 |
| Titles | Prince of Srivijaya, Raja of Temasek |
| Born | 1344 |
| Died | 1414 (aged 71) |
| Place of death | Malacca, Sultanate of Malacca |
| Buried | Disputed |
| Predecessor | Paduka Seri Rana Wira Kerma, Raja of Temasek |
| Successor | Megat Iskandar Shah (Sultan of Malacca) |
| Offspring | Megat Iskandar Shah (Sultan of Malacca) |
| Royal House | Srivijaya |
| Father | Paduka Seri Rana Wira Kerma, Raja of Temasek |
Parameswara (1344–1414), also called Iskandar Shah or Sri Majara, was a Malay-Hindu prince from Temasek (modern-day Singapore) who founded the Malacca Sultanate around 1402.
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The name Parameswara is derived from the Sanskrit word Parameśhvara, 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").
In the 14th century, Srivijaya 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.[2]
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).[2]
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.[2]
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.[3][4]
It was generally believed that in the year 1409 he married princess of Pasai and he adopted the Persian title 【Iskandar Shah 】after his son's conversion to the faith.[5]
| Sultan of Malacca | Reign |
|---|---|
| Parameswara Sultan Mahmud Iskandar Shah |
1400–1414 |
| Megat Iskandar Shah | 1414–1424 |
| Muhammad Shah | 1424–1444 |
| Abu Syahid | 1444–1446 |
| Muzaffar Shah | 1446–1459 |
| Mansur Shah | 1459–1477 |
| Alauddin Riayat Shah | 1477–1488 |
| Mahmud Shah | 1488–1511 |
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 [1], 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 Ming 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. [2] [3]
In 1414, Parameswara died at age 70. It is generally believed that he was buried on top of a hill at Tanjung Tuan (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.
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.
During the time of Raja Ibrahim, tension occurred in Melaka between the growing Tamil Muslim 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. [4]
The relation with Ming China started in the early 15th century [5] when Parameśwara embarked on several voyages to visit the Yǒnglè Emperor Yǒnglè (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: [6]
| “ | 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.
Melaka grew into an international trading port and heralded the golden age of Nusantara. 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:
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 Palembang 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.
The historical Malay literary work Sejarah Melayu 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).
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Parameswara (sultan)
House of Srivijaya
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| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rana Wira Kerma |
Raja of Singapura 1399–1401 |
Succeeded by Kingdom fell |
| Preceded by Position established |
Raja of Malacca 1402–1409 |
Succeeded by Conversion to Islam |
| Preceded by Position established |
Sultan of Malacca 1409–1414 |
Succeeded by Megat Iskandar Shah |