The Sejarah Melayu or Malay Annals is a treasure trove of insights on medieval Malay history. It is a genealogy of Malay kings written in the 1500s. Its coverage range from Alexander the Great's invasion of India (327 BC) to the founding of Singapura (1299), the birth of Malacca sultanate (1400) till its fall to the Portuguese in 1511.
*I am studying the Sejarah Melayu for insights into the roots of Malay cuisine. Follow-on articles will highlight food references embedded in the Malay Annals.
The original manuscripts of Sejarah Melayu are fragmentary and there are different versions. In 1612, Yang di-Pertuan Di Hilir Raja Abdullah of Johor commissioned the current compilation entitled Sulalatus Salatin (Genealogy of Kings).
Authored by Tun Seri Lanang, the work was popularly known as Sejarah Melayu. In 2001, Sejarah Melayu was added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme International Register.
There are several English translations of the 1612 edition of Sejerah Melayu. This summary is based on the translation by Dr. John Leyden published in 1821. The Malay Annals has 30 chapters and over 300 pages.
Chapter 1, 2. From Alexander the Great of Macedonia to Sang Nila Utama of Singapura.
The story starts with Alexander the Great's invasion of India in 327 BC. After his victory, Alexander the Great married the daughter of the Indian king. The princess bored Alexander the Great a son. Generations later, one of Alexander the Great's descendants, Raja Suran decided to conquer China.
Raja Suran conquered every kingdom on his way from India to China. On his way to China, one of the kingdoms he subdued was today's Perak. Raja Suran married the king of Perak's sister who bored him three sons. But, Raja Suran did not proceed on to China as he was tricked into believing that China was decades away by sail. After Singapore, he turned back to India (with a detour to the undersea world).
A descendant of Rajan Suran and Puteri Gangga of Perak, Sang Sapurba arrived in Palembang, married the princess and became the king. Their son, Prince of Palembang Sang Nila Utama was the founder of the kingdom of Singapura.
Chapter 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 The Kingdom of Singapura.
Five chapters cover the founding of Singapura by Sang Nila Utama in 1299, to the two invasions by the Javanese Majapahit empire ending in the fall of Singapura in 1398.
Major events covered include the story of how Singapura the Lion City got its name, strong man Badang and the Singapore stone, Hang Nadim saving Singapura from swordfish attacks, execution of Parameswara's favourite concubine and the fall of Singapura to Majapahit.
Chapter 11, 12, 13. Founding of Malacca Sultanate by Parameswara (1400 - 1414) to the Reign of Sultan Muzaffar Shah (1446 - 1459).
Parameswara fled the Majapahit invasion of Singapura and arrived at Sungai Bartam river. While resting under a Malacca tree, he saw a little mousedeer fighting back against his hunting dogs and even chased them into the river. Seeing the fighting spirit of the mousedeer as a good omen, Parameswara decided to establish his new kingdom here. He named it Malacca, after the Malacca tree he was resting under.
The Malacca tree and mousedeer remain the symbols of Malacca to this day. The story of the Sejarah Melayu is the story of Malacca.
Chapter 7, 8, 9 Founding of Kingdom of Samudera Pasai and Arrival of Islam in the Malay World.
The kingdom of Samudera Pasai located between today's Aceh and Medan in north Sumatra was the beach head of Islam in the Malay world. Founded in 1267, Samudera Pasai was a thriving sea port visited by Arabian, Indian and Chinese traders. Parameswara married the princess of Pasai in 1409 and converted to Islam, upon which he renamed himself Sultan Iskandar Shah.
Chapter 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. The Achievements of Sultan Mansur Shah (1459 - 1477).
Sultan Mansur Shah was the sixth Sultan of Malacca. His reign is considered the Golden Age of Malacca.
Mansur Shah expanded the territories of Malacca sultanate to include Selangor, Bernam, Kampar, Siak, Siantan, Inderagiri, Aru, Jambi, Manjung, Rupat, Terengganu, Pahang, Singapore, Karimon, Bintan, Lingga and Bengkalis.
Some territories were secured by war, others through marriage alliances such as Siantan, Inderagiri and Siak. Sultan Mansur Shah built close relationship with China marrying a Ming dynasty princess, Hang Li-po. He made peace with the Javanese marrying Majapahit Princess Radin Galah Chandra Kirana.
Mansur Shah had a strong interest in Islam. He studied Islamic theology under Maulana Abu Bakar and consulted Islamic scholars of Pasai (the beach head of Islam in the Malay world). Mansur Shah was instrumental in the spread of Islam in the Malay world by ordering the translation of scripture to Malay by Makhdum Patakan.
Malacca's wealth grew with wise economic policy by Mansur Shah (assisted by bandahara Tun Perak). He reduced taxes on trade, ranging from 6% tax for goods from west of Malacca (Arabia and India) to tax free for goods from China, Japan and Java.
Chapter 13. The Story of Tun Perak.
Bendahara Paduka Raja Tun Perak served four sultans (Sultan Muzzafar Shah, Sultan Mansur Shah, Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah and Sultan Mahmud Shah) from 1456 to 1498. He thwarted a Siamese invasion in 1445 and again in 1456. The Golden Age of Malacca and much of Sultan Mansur Shah's achievements can be credited to Tun Perak as well.
Tun Perak's son Tun Besar was killed by crown prince Raja Muhammad over a minor incident playing sepak raga (rattan ball game). Tun Perak requested Sultan Mansur Shah to crown Raja Muhammad somewhere else. Hence, Raja Muhammad was made Sultan of Pahang instead of Sultan of Malacca.
Chapter 15. The Story of Hang Li-po.
The Chinese emperor was highly impressed with the Malacca Sultanate and wished for good relations between the two kingdoms. The Ming emperor sent one of his princesses Hang Li-po with 500 daughters of nobles to Malacca. Sultan Mansur Shah married Hang Li-po after she converted to Islam.
Chapter 14, 16. The Story of Hang Tuah (and Hang Kasturi).
Hang Tuah was the most revered of five famous warriors of the Malacca sultanate which included Hang Kasturi, Hang Jebat, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu.
Sultan Mansur put Hang Tuah to death for having an affair with a palace lady but the bandahara secretly hid him away. A few years later, Hang Kasturi committed the same offence and was similarly sentenced to death. But, no one was his match. Sultan Mansur pardoned Hang Tuah and tasked him to kill Hang Kasturi. The two warriors duelled ending in the death of Hang Kasturi.
(In Hikayat Hang Tuah, the storyline is slightly different. On hearing that Sultan Mansur had put Hang Tuah to death, Hang Jebat rebelled against the king. Hang Tuah was recalled to put down Hang Jebat's rebellion. Hang Tuah obeyed as he believed in absolute loyalty to the king. The two warriors fought, ending in the death of Hang Jebat.)
Chapter 23. The Story of Muhammed Shah, First Sultan of Pahang.
Muhammed Shah was the crown prince to succeed Sultan Mansur Shah but he ruined his chances by killing bandahara Tun Perak's son over a minor incident (he was hit in the head by a misdirected sepak raga ball). His younger brother Alauddin Riayat Shah assumed the throne while Muhammed Shah was shunted away to be the sultan of Pahang. (The sepak raga incident is not recorded in the Malay Annals.)
Chapter 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. The Tumultuous Reign of Sultan Mahmud Shah, the Last King of Malacca (1488 - 1511 & 1513 - 1528)
Sultan Mahmud Shah assumed the throne with Malacca still in its heyday. He was ably supported by bandahara Tun Mutahir. Unfortunately, the sultan fell out with his prime minister as the latter would not give his daughter Tun Fatimah's hand in marriage to the sultan. Sultan Mahmud also fell for lies by Tun Mutahir's jealous rivals alleging that he was plotting treason. Sultan Mahmud put his loyal bandahara to death.
The Portuguese visited Malacca three times during Sultan Mahmud's reign. The second and third times as invaders. Sultan Mahmud already handed over the throne to his son Sultan Admed when the Portuguese invaded the second time in 1511. When his son failed to repulse the Portuguese, Sultan Mahmud killed him and continued the fight by re-installing himself as the king. Sultan Mahmud Shah died a broken man in Kampar, Sumatra in 1528.
Chapter 25. The Legend of Puteri Gunung Ledang.
Sultan Mahmud Shah (last king of Malacca) wished to marry the Princess of Gunung Ledung. She rejected him by giving him seven impossible conditions.
Chapter 30. The Story of Tun Mutahir and Tun Fatimah.
Tun Mutahir was bandahara (prime minister) of Malacca from 1500 to 1510 serving under Sultan Mahmud Shah. Tun Mutahir was an able administrator and capable leader. Malacca prospered and he repelled the first Portuguese invasion. But, Tun Mutahir had many jealous enemies who accused him of favouritism and corruption. Sultan Mahmud Shah was also angry with him for not giving the hand of his daughter Tun Fatimah to marry him. So, when one of Tun Mutahir's rivals falsely accused the bandahara of treason, Sultan Mahmud Shah promptly put Tun Mutahir and his family to death except for Tun Fatimah whom he married. Tun Fatimah never forgave the sultan for killing her father, husband and family, even though she was forced to be his wife.
Chapter 29, 30. Malacca Falls to Portugal.
The Portuguese first stepped foot on Malacca in 1509. The Europeans were kindly received - Malacca's bandahara Tun Mutahir adopted the Portuguese sea captain as his son. The Duke of Goa decided to conquer Malacca because of its wealth and important location. Portugal wanted a "necklace of pearls (staging bases)" for its global empire and Malacca was one of the jewels. The first invasion failed, repulsed by Malacca's bandahara and temenggong.
Sultan Mahmud Shah executed the bandahara and his entire family on false charges of treason. He then married the bandahara's daughter Tun Fatimah but she rejected his love even as his wife. Sultan Mahmud Shah stepped down and handed over the throne to his son, Sultan Ahmed Shah.
When the Duke of Goa returned to Malacca in 1511, they were faced with a weaker team of Sultan Ahmed Shah and a lame bandahara. Malacca fell and both Sultan Ahmed Shah and Sultan Mahmud Shah fled to Pahang. So ends the Malacca sultanate and Sejarah Melayu.
(Sultan Mahmud Shah killed his son and reassumed the throne to continue the valiant fight against the Portuguese. But, it was all futile and he died in 1528 in Kampar, Sumatra, a good 17 years after his kingdom was gone.)
Sejarah Melayu compiled in Jawi by regent of Johor, Yang di-Pertuan Di Hilir Raja Abdullah in 1612, translated into English by Dr. John Leyden in 1821. The Malay Annals has 30 chapters.
Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 ๐
Written by Tony Boey on 29 Jun 2021
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Image of Alexander coin courtesy of Wikipedia. Map of Malacca courtesy of Wikipedia. Image of Malacca museum courtesy of Wikipedia. Image of Tun Perak courtesy of Wikipedia. Image of Sejarah Melayu courtesy of Wikipedia. Image of Cheng Ho bell in Pasai courtesy of Wikipedia. Image of Princess Mount Ledang Youtube screengrab of 1961 movie Puteri Gunung Ledang. Image of Portuguese warriors Youtube screengrab Fall of Malacca. Image of Tun Mutahir Youtube screengrab of 1962 movie Tun Fatimah. Image of Hang Tuah Youtube screengrab of 1955 movie Hang Tuah. Image of sepak raga ball courtesy of Wikipedia. Image of Sultan Mansur Shah Youtube screengrab of 1955 movie Hang Tuah. Image of Malacca palace courtesy of Wikipedia. Emblem of Malacca courtesy of Wikipedia. Image of Sultan Mahmud Shah Youtube screengrab from 1961 movie Puteri Gunung Ledang.
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