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Last Updated: 20 Feb 2004 |
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Malacca The Legendary Malay Kingdom |
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Introduction Malacca was founded in 1396 by a yound Sumatran chieftan named
Parameswara. It is Malaysia's oldest city. In the early fifteenth
century, Malacca was a truly cosmopolitan port, adventurers and
merchants from India, Siam, China, Portugal, The wealth created by Malacca's bustling port attracted the interest of many powerful European countries, and in the year 1511 the Portuguese invaded the city, defeating the ruling Sultan Mahmud and taking control of the wealthy Sultanate. Malacca became a rich and vital Portuguese fortress which was not relinquished for 130 years. Photo: The Porta De Santiago is the only remnant of A Formosa fortress built by the Portuguese in 1512. In 1641, the Dutch came to challenge the Portuguese and after a bitter 8 month struggle the Portuguese were driven out. The Dutch controlled the city for a further 150 years before handing over to the British in exchange for Bencoolen. Upon Malaysia's independence in 1957, Malacca was, after 450 years, free of foreign influence. Today, Malacca retains a quiet charm and many architectural remnants of its colonial past.
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© Khoo Fang Chi |
Holland and Britain came to trade in carpets, silks, spices and
other exotic riches of the East.