MUZIUM SEJARAH / HISTORY MUSEUM
PORTUGUESE SHIP MODELS
This is a model of the Portuguese ship, ‘Barinel’ which was used to carry cargo.
CHINESE JUNKS
The Chinese were known throughout the world as the pioneers in shipbuilding. The Chinese ships used to sail as far as India and Arabia. The tongkang is one of the well-known Chinese ships that often sailed to and it’s from Melaka. It was at the Melaka harbour when Albuquerque attacked Melaka in 1511.
MODEL OF ‘FLORA de LA MAR’
Flora de La Mar was the Portuguese warship belonging to the type ‘NAU’. The ship was fairly big and broad. It also contained three masts and two castles and could carry up to 600 people. Flora de La Mar could carry a load 500 tons.
The date and the place of its construction are not known and when Albuquerque wanted to attack Melaka. This ship was in a very bad shape and no captain bold enough to sail the ship. Albuquerque himself was forced to sail in this ship to attack Melaka. But on 26th Jun 1512, Flora de La Mar sank in the straits of Melaka while returning to Goa. Also sank were the treasures that were located at Melaka.
PORTUGUESE WAR SHIP MODEL
This is a model of the Portuguese warship called “Nau” which was famous for its capabilities. This vessel was armed with weapons so it can defend itself in any tight situations. The “Nau” is also capable of carrying cargo weighing between 300 to 400 tons.
MODEL OF CARAVELA SHIP
Caravela were the Portuguese ships that were used as war ship due its spead and quikness. This ship was easy to manoeuvre in any direction and weighed not more than 200 tons. Caravela ships played an important role for the Portuguese naval movements in the Asian Seas.
THE PORTUGUESE CABINET
The small Portuguese cabinet used to store documents contains 16 small drawers and two large ones, and is placed on a table of same design. It has a layer of veneer with a vine motif and intricate pattern. The drawers are decorated with fancy brass knobs. The top of the cabinet also bears the Portuguese insignia. This is the only such cabinet found in Southeast Asia. It was made in the 16th century.
THE COMING OF THE PORTUGUESE
After conquering Goa, the Portuguese found out that the source of wealth was not in India but in South-East Asia. They gathered all the necessary information from the sailors, who gathered in Goa and finally realized that ‘whoever is Lord of Melaka, has his hands on the throat of Venice’. Hence, in order to find out about Melaka’s strength, a squadron consisting of 5 ships, was sent to Melaka under Diego Lopez de Sequeira and his fleet arrived in Melaka on 11th September 1509. That was the first time a group of westerners ever landed in Melaka and the Melaka people received the Portuguese in astonishment seeing their features and skins. They were called ‘White Bengalese’. Some pulled their beards, some patted their head, some seized their hats, some grasped their hands.
The coming of Portuguese to Melaka was not the best thing that happened to Melaka. Dark clouds began to gather over the Melaka Sultanate.
THE FIRST LANDING OF THE PORTUGUESE
Sultan Mahmud Syah, seeing Albuquerque and his squadron firing cannons on Melaka, questioned his intentions. Albuquerque imposed several conditions, which had to be met before he would discuss peace. Sultan Mahmud then suggested that there be peace first before other matters were discussed. Sultan Mahmud was purposely delaying talks while the Melaka soldiers strengthened their positions. After six days when there were no developments, Albuquerque burnt several houses along the coast and destroyed the merchant’s ships except for those belonging to the Chinese and some Indian ships from Cape Comorin. Wanting to test Melaka’s strength, Albuquerque launched the first attack on 25th July 1511. The Portuguese forces were divided into two, one to attack the State Mosque from the south and the other to land on the Northern riverbanks of the city. A bitter battle was fought between the Portuguese and the Malays, supported by the Javanese. There were many injuries and facilities on both sides. In the end, the Portuguese had to retreat to their ship, taking with them their injured. The Portuguese captains returned to India, but Albuquerque was determined to capture Melaka.
THE QUARREL BETWEEN THE PORTUGUESE AND THE MELAKA
Although Diego Lopez de Sequiera came to establish relations, the Portuguese failed to create a good impression during their meeting with Prime Minister Tun Mutahir. They were more concerned with the crusading spirit and Islam was their sworn adversary. The Arabs, Gujerati's and traders from other parts of India had experienced the cruelty of the Portuguese soldiers at Harmuz, Calicut, Goa, and the Arabian seas. They were not comfortable with the arrival of the Portuguese, not because of the competition, but because of their real motives. The Portuguese were egoistic, not caring for the sensitivities of cosmopolitan in Melaka. The Malays who had accepted them as ‘White Bengalis’ were disappointed with their behaviour. Subsequently, a quarrel erupted between the Portuguese and the Melaka.
The quarrel did not escalate into war; however, it forced the government to reconsider all trade agreements made with the Portuguese. 18 Portuguese men were caught and after firing on Melaka, Sequiera ran back to Lisbon. The second arrival of the Portuguese in Melaka signaled the start of war.
THE DUTCH ATTACK IN 1640
After the Dutch failed to attack the Portuguese in 1606 and 1608, the Dutch planned their strategies and systematically destroyed the Portuguese naval forces in these waters. They also succeeded in getting the support of Johore and Aceh to attack the Portuguese but the Achehnese withdrew because they did not want to work with Johore.
In early June 1640, 12 large Dutch warships and six smaller ships carrying 3000 Dutch soldiers arrived in Melaka and attacked the Portuguese fortress. Adriaen Antonisson led the naval force. The Portuguese forces under Governor Manuel de Souza Coutinho, returned fire with larger cannons. At the end of July, the Sultan of Johore arrived with 1500 men to help the Dutch. On 2nd August 1640, the joint forces landed in Tengkera and succeeded in defeating the Portuguese army there. The Portuguese soldiers withdrew to the fortress.
The Dutch’s believe that the fort would fall easily did not come true. Thus, began a period when many from both sides were killed.
THE ACHEHNESE ATTACK (1628-1629)
The bitter enmity between Aceh and Portuguese started from 1521 until both sides were unable to defeat the other. The Portuguese tried to stop Aceh but were unsuccessful. Aceh launched several attacks on the Portuguese in Melaka, but was unable to penetrate the Portuguese defences. Each battle between the Achehnese, with their persistence, and the Portuguese with their valiant defence, was fiercer than the one before. Mahkota Alam, the Sultan of Aceh since 1612, wanted to rule Melaka, and as the first move, he attacked and conquered Perak, Pahang and Kedah. Preparations to attack Melaka took two years. In 1628, he gathered 20000 people and 300 ships to attack Melaka. He destroyed the Portuguese ships and forts in Bukit Senjuang, Bukit China and across the Melaka River. The Portuguese soldiers were gathered at the fort, waiting reinforcements from Goa. Even though they tried several times, his soldiers were not able to penetrate the fort. Finally, they blockaded it and built a camp near to the Portuguese so as to attack them.
The Achehnese soldiers had to leave Melaka when a large number of Portuguese fleet of 80 warships and blocked their ships at the mouth of the Melaka River. Only 16 Achehnese were able to escape.
THE PORTUGUESE ATTACK IN A JUNK
Albuquerque did not lose heart even though his first attack was unsuccessful. He got a support from the Chinese traders who let him use their ships. The leader of the Javanese in Melaka, Ultimuti Raja, secretly contacted Albuquerque and gave him his support. Nina Chattu, an Indian trader also sent secret messages to Albuquerque.
Vital information about the bridge connecting the palace with the town was also obtained from Ruy De Arajo, a prisoner in Melaka. Albuquerque realized that capturing the bridge would break Melaka’s strength, He wanted to use the Chinese junks for this purpose. On the night before the second attack, the Portuguese fired on Melaka.
When Albuquerque launched the second attack, he had the support of the Javanese and the South Indians. On 10th August 1511, Albuquerque used a junk to get close to the bridge. From here, he fired on the mosque, palace and town. This time the Javanese did not help although they had been paid three months’ wages. Sultan Ahmad himself rode an elephant and went out to encourage his soldiers, but was unable to counter the disciplined attack of the Portuguese. Finally, Melaka was defeated.
THE PRIME MINISTER IS CARRIED OUT
Tun Mat was the son of Tun Perak, was appointed as the Prime Minister after Tun Mutahir. Tun Mat was the Prime Minister when the Portuguese attacked Melaka. He was already an old man and his legs were paralysed. He did not want to become Prime Minister but was forced to accept the position. He has to be carried everywhere including the Audience Hall. Thus, he came to be called the lame Prime Minister.
Albuquerqe and his forces had already taken the bridge and the state mosque. They bombarded Melaka Town all night long and fired at the palace with cannons. Sultan Mahmud, Sultan Ahmad and their families had retreated to Bukit Sebukur and Bertam Ulu. When the Portuguese soldiers attacked the palace, the Prime Minister was still there and had to be carried out. But even though he was lame, the Prime Minister wanted to fight the Portuguese and died in the battlefield. Tun Mat did not get his wish. He died in Lubuk Batu, near Segamat. Although he was lame, he was full of the fighting spirit.
TUN SERI LANANG
Tun Seri Lanang, a great grandson of Tun Perak was Bendahara Paduka Raja Tun Muhammad @ Mahmud during the reign of Sultan Alauddin Riayat Syah of Johore. While being held in captive in Pasai by Mahkota Alam of Acheh, Sultan Alauddin Riayat Syah of Johore commissioned Tun Seri Lanang to be first editor of the Malay Annals. The Malay Annals chronicles 600 years history of the Melaka Sultanate which was filled intricate royal protocol, royal lineages full of intrigues, myths, legendary figures and episodes which still captivate people even after three centuries. It was claimed that work on the book began on Sunday, 13th May 1612. It was reedited by Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir Munsyi, better known as Munsyi Abdullah who died in 1854.
THE DESTRUCTION AND LOOTING OF MELAKA
Melaka fell to Albuquerque on 10th August 1511. The Sultan’s retreat to Bertam Ulu gave Albuquerque the chance to eliminate the resistance of the Malay warriors, the Muslims, Gujaratis and Hindus. Albuquerque ordered his soldiers to kill anyone who looked suspicious, regardless of whether they were men, women or child. When they surrender, the people from Pegu and Hindus from Cape Comorin were allowed to return home their belongings.
On August 24, 1511, Albuquerque gave orders to ransack the town. The homes of Nina Chattu and the Javanese who helped the Portuguese kill those who resisted them were spared. The Portuguese looted Melaka and the Sultan’s properties. Among the items taken were gold chairs, jewellery, gold nuggets, gold utensils, precious stones, silk, perfumes and other valuable items and between 2,000 to 3,000 bronze cannons.
The Melaka of the Sultanate era was completely destroyed and looted. Its identity was wiped out the arrival of the Portuguese.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FORTALENZA, THE FIRST PORTUGUESE FORT
The fall of Melaka in August 1511, to the Portuguese didn’t mean that Sultan Mahmud Syah accepted defeat, although he retreated to Johore. Albuquerque realized that the Sultan, who was erecting blockades in Batu Hampar, Bertam and Taboh Naning, would try to conquer back Melaka. He wanted to strengthen the position of the Portuguese in Melaka. Although Albuquerque was only in Melaka until January 1512, he built a small fortress to withstand any attacks on them. He did not just want to conquer Melaka, but also to re-establish its trading activities immediately.
In order to build a strong fortress, Albuquerque demolished the palace on the large mosque at downhill. The stones from the palace, mosque and royal graves behind the mosque were sufficient to build a small fortress with a five-story tower between Melaka's Hill (now St. Paul’s Hill), the estuary and river. 1,500 slaves, including the captured Malay soldiers, were forced to build this fortress, which was named the FORTALEZA. It was later extended to encircle St. Paul’s Hill.
ALBUQUERQUE’S RETURN ON THE FLORA DE LA MAR
Albuquerque arrived in Melaka on 1st July 1511 to capture Melaka and to disable the power. He succeeded in doing this on 10th August 1511. In order to strengthen their position in Melaka, Albuquerque built the A Famosa fortress between the hill and the Melaka River. He also eliminated all resistance against the Portuguese in Melaka such as Utimutiraja and the Javanese who wanted to wrest power and Sultan Ahmad in Bertam Ulu. He also established an administrative system which was mainly the Sultanate system with Rui de Brito as the Governor and Nina Chattu the Prime Minister.
Happy with the situation, Albuquerque planned to return back to Goa. He collected all the treasures of Melaka into the Flora De La Mar, including the women who were skilled in weaving, embroidery and dancing. The Portuguese dignitaries and their supporters gathered at the A Famosa to bid him farewell.
Albuquerque left for Goa on 20th January 1512 on the Flora De La Mar. Two Portuguese ships and a Jong ship accompanied him. Six days later, the Flora De La Mar sank off the coast of Haru, Sumatera. However, Albuquerque saved.
There were two theories about the sinking of Flora De La Mar:
a) The sudden, strong winds, which caused the ship to hit the corals and sink.
b) The age of the ship caused it to spring a leak, as well as the overloading of cargo on it.
THE FIRST ACHEHNESE ATTACK
When the Portuguese captured Melaka, the traders moved their trade to Pasai, Pedir and Acheh in North Sumetera. The Portuguese wanted to control the trade along the Straits of Melaka, placed a fleet to direct a merchant ships from Pasai to Melaka. In 1521, they interfered in the politics of Pasai and made their supporter its Sultan. When they tried the same thing in Pedir, Aceh overran Pasai and chased them out. A bitter was ensued between the Achehnese and the Portuguese, making it unsafe for the latter in the Straits of Melaka.
The first time Aceh attacked the Portuguese in Melaka was in 1537. Prior to this, they had tried to unite the kings of the northern states to against the Portuguese. Three hundred Achehnese soldiers surprised Melaka at night. Although they succeeded in entering A Famosa, they were unable to overcome the Portuguese. On the second day, Portuguese were more prepared and attacked the Achehnese and lit lamps throughout the city. In the end, the Achehnese burnt two Portuguese ships anchored off the coast and retreated to Kedah.
THE ARRIVAL OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER
Francis Xavier was born in 1497 at the Castle of Navarre, Spain. He was one of the first recruits to join the Society of Jesus. He went to Lisbon in 1540 to join the missionary to India. Southeast Asia, Japan, and China, to spread Catholic.
He left Lisbon to go to Mozambique and in 1542, reached Goa. In September 1545, he arrived in Melaka. His name was already known in Melaka even before he reached there. When he landed in Melaka, all the Portuguese and their descendants were gathered at the estuary to welcome him. He spread Catholic in Melaka and lived with the sick in the hospital. He also established the Portuguese school at St. Paul’s Hill next to the church.
Between 1545 and 1552, Xavier visited Melaka for five times. Each time he came back to Melaka, he was given a grand welcome. Even though Melaka itself did not accept Catholicism as expected, it became the centre for the spread of the religion to the region.
THE ADVENTURES OF HANG NADIM
After the fall of Melaka, Sultan Mahmud who had retreated from Taboh, Naning to Ulu Muar, settled in Pagoh and Bantayan, and attacked the Portuguese in Melaka. However, he was unsuccessful in his attempts. Sultan Ahmad was killed in 1513 for being disrespectful to elders and not long after that, Khoja Hassan died and was succeeded by Hang Nadim.
Hang Nadim was a brave Malay warrior who continually attacked Portuguese-owned properties in various parts of the region in his attempt to take over Melaka. He was injured 34 times but never gives up, even though the Sultan’s efforts failed. Hang Nadim himself attacked Malacca in 1513, and assisted Sultan Mahmud when the latest attacked Malacca in 1519 and 1523. Hang Nadim laid siege on Melaka and cut off its food supplies. However, he was still not able to capture A Famosa. When the Portuguese attacked Bintan and Kopak Hang Nadim’s leadership qualities were obvious for all to see.
The Malay community lauded his bravery on the battlefield at that time. Attacks and counter attacks destroyed the trade of Melaka and dampened the Portuguese spirit for fighting.
THE WAR IN BERTAM ULU
Bertam Ulu was where the Melaka Malay Kingdom begins. Parameswara staying here before he founded Melaka. Sultan Ahmad retreated here after the Portuguese captured Melaka. At first, the Sultan thought that Albuquerque would return home with Melaka wealth when the winds changed. When Albuquerque heard that Sultan Ahmad was building blockades in Bertam Ulu and that Sultan Mahmud was in Taboh Naning, In September 1511, he sent his troops to attack Sultan Ahmad. Fighting broke out between the Malays and Portuguese. The Portuguese who were better equipped defeated the ill-prepared Sultan Ahmad and his men, forcing them to retreat to Taboh Naning. The Portuguese returned to Melaka after the first burning Sultan Ahmad’s stockade.
Bertam Ulu, which was the Melaka Malay Government started, was also where it ended.
TUN MUTAHIR
Temenggong (Home Minister) Tun Mutahir succeeded Tun Perak as Melaka’s Bendahara (Prime Minister) in 1948 during the reign of Sultan Mahmud Syah. He was Tun Perak’s cousin. His title was Bendahara Seri Maharaja. He became the greatest and the most powerful of all Bendahara. He was a good businessman, honest, good at heart and very wealthy. In 1509, Melaka saw the arrival of the first Royal Portuguese trading expedition consisting of eighteen ships under the leadership of Diego Lopez de Sequiera. The Malays called the Portuguese ‘Benggali Putih’ (White Sikh). A misunderstanding occurred with the local Malays and most of the Portuguese leaving but twenty people left behind. The practice of nepotism in his administration did not please some people.
In 1510, Sultan Mahmud ordered Tun Mutahir and his entire family killed for allegedly plotting to assassinate the Sultan and to overthrow him. It is believed that foreigners would not have colonized Melaka if Tun Mutahir were still alive.
THE WEDDING OF TUN FATIMAH AND TUN ALI
Tun Fatimah, the daughter of Prime Minister Tun Mutahir, was a beautiful maiden. She was betrothed to Tun Ali, a nephew of Tun Mutahir. Before the wedding, the chief of Baroh visited Tun Mutahir’s house. When he saw Tun Fatimah’s beauty, he advised Tun Mutahir to cancel the wedding. Tun Ali reminded him that as Tun Teja had died, according to custom, the daughter of the Prime Minister should become the Queen. Tun Mutahir refused to take his advice and proceeded the wedding. The Sultan attended the wedding ceremony and arrived at Tun Mutahir’s house on the last day of the festivities. When he saw Tun Fatimah’s beauty, he became annoyed with Tun Mutahir. He returned to his palace without eating. The incident caused Sultan Mahmud to resent Tun Mutahir and in the end, this resentment caused Tun Mutahir’s death.
SULTAN MAHMUD SYAH (1481-1511)
Raja Muhammad succeeded his father, Sultan Alauddin Riayat Syah and became known as Sultan Mahmud Syah. During part of his reign Tun Perak was the Bendahara (Prime Minister). When Tun Perak died in 1498, Bendahara Tun Mutahir took office. In 1510, Sultan Mahmud Syah ordered the murder of Tun Mutahir and his entire family on the charge of plotting to assassinate the Sultan. On 24th July 1511, the Portuguese who invaded Melaka expelled Sultan Mahmud Syah and he moved to Kampar, Sumatera. In 1526, he was driven out of Kopak, Kampar to Johore by the Portuguese. He died in Kampar in 1530.
THE MURDER OF PRIME MINISTER TUN MUTAHIR
Prime Minister Seri Maharaja Tun Mutahir was one of the two Prime Ministers who contributed much in making Melaka as a great empire of all. At that time, Melaka was famous for its bananas, water from Bukit China and Prime Minister Seri Maharaja. It was only Sultan Mahmud who resented him for not marrying Tun Fatimah to him.
Raja Mendeliar was a rich merchant from South India and Kitul was indebted to him. Prime Minister Tun Mutahir was presiding over a case involving Raja Mendeliar and Nina Sura Dewana. Believing Kitul, Raja Mendeliar thought he would lose the case. He went to met Admiral Khoja Hassan and lied that Tun Mutahir was going to overthrow Sultan Mahmud and take over the Melaka Sultanate. Admiral Khoja Hassan passed the information to the Sultan. The Sultan took the opportunity to get his revenge by ordering that Tun Mutahir and his family be killed.
When the Sultan’s men arrived at the home of the Prime Minister and informed him about the matter, the villagers came to oppose them. However, Tun Mutahir advised them not to commit traitorous and he was ready to die. All the family members except Tun Fatimah and her younger sister were killed. Tun Fatimah was taken to the palace where the Sultan married her. It was only later that Sultan Mahmud realized that Tun Mutahir had been framed. Raja Mendeliar, Kitul and their families were sentenced to death. The Admiral was pardoned.
The killing of Tun Mutahir split the Melaka society. A Portuguese Captain paid a tribute to him: “In our opinion, Melaka would not have fallen if Prime Minister Seri Maharaja was still alive, no matter how strong the attacking force.”
TUN FATIMAH – A MALAY HEROINE
The destruction of Bendahara Tun Mutahir’s family by the tyrannical Sultan Mahmud Syah did not faze the fighting spirit in his daughter, Tun Fatimah. Although she had to be the Sultan’s consort, she gave her full attention and total loyalty to the Sultan. An attempt by the Portuguese Armada to conquer Melaka was vehemently opposed. Tun Fatimah, together with other women warriors of the day, fought the ‘Benggali Putih’ (white Sikh), as the Portuguese were locally known. Tun Fatimah’s bravery earn her the title SRIKANDI MELAYU (Malay Heroine) and made her device among Malay women, in general, to gain independence from Western Colonisation.
THE PORTUGUESE ATTACK FROM THE SEA
Sequiera’s efforts to establish relation with Melaka ended up with his retreat to Lisbon and the capture of 18 persons of Portuguese soldiers. Based on his reports, the King of Portugal sent a fleet to attack Melaka in 1510, but it was detained in Goa. Finally, on 2nd May 1511, Albuquerque left Cochin, taking with him a fleet of 19 ships and 1400 soldiers and arrived in Melaka on 1st July 1511. As soon as they arrived in Melaka, the Portuguese ships blew their trumpets and fired on Melaka. Albuquerqe’s arrival had coincided with the wedding of Sultan Mahmud’s daughter to the Raja of Pahang. The cannons fired by the Portuguese disrupted the wedding and caused panic among the people.
Melaka was not prepared to face such an attack, which proved that the Portuguese did not come in peace.
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER’S ANGER WITH THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNOR
Although the Portuguese conquered Melaka in 1511 with the spirit of the crusaders, they could not spread Catholicism in Melaka or in the archipelago. In 1545, a priest named Francis Xavier arrived in Melaka, intending to spread Catholicism not just Melaka, but also throughout the region. In Melaka, he attracted a lot of attention and frequently visited other parts of Southeast Asia and South China Sea.
In 1553, he wanted to visit China to continue his work there, and made an official request to the Portuguese governor, Dom Alvaro, for a ship. However, the governor was uncooperative. In the end, Francis Xavier was allowed to board the ship, Santa Cruz, but in an unofficial capacity. Because of the low tide, he had to wade through the mud to reach the boat that would take him to the ship. On reaching the bedrock before boarding the boat, he cursed the Governor.
This was the last time he left Melaka because soon after, he died in Sancian Island. The Portuguese Governor later died of leprosy.
THE NANING-PORTUGUESE WAR
Naning was a village, which existed long before the arrival of Parameswara. During the era of the Sultanate, it came under the Melaka Sultan. When the Melaka Sultan moved to Johore, they close to be the subjects of the Sultan of Johore. The people of Naning valued their freedom and always had leaders who were elected from among them. Sultan Mahmud stayed in Taboh, Naning after his defeat by the Portuguese.
The role of Naning was not included in history books during the Melaka Sultanate nor was it mentioned between the years 1512-1586 during the Portuguese era. It was only appeared in 1586 when the people of Naning sided with the Sultan of Johore against the Portuguese in Melaka. They attacked from the interior, destroying the orchards of the Portuguese, which supplied food to the fortress.
The Portuguese intending to fight back the attack sent an army of 700 soldiers under Captain Diego de Azambuja to attack Naning. Many of the people of Naning were killed in the ensuing battle. In the end, Naning was defeated and the Portuguese soldiers burnt their bones, cut down the trees and destroyed the paddy fields before returning to Melaka.
THE JOHORE-JAPARA ATTACK ON MELAKA
The year 1551 saw the most serious problems faced by the Portuguese in the 40 years they had ruled Melaka. In their effort to control the trade in the Archipelago, the Portuguese disturbed foreign ships, which they encountered in the region. This only increased the animosity against them.
In 1551, the Sultan of Johore, Sultan Alauddin Riayat Syah the son of Sultan Mahmud Syah, gathered together soldiers from Perak and Pahang to attack Melaka. The Queen of Japara also participated in this attack. Japara was a Muslim nation that rose after the fall of Majapahit in Central Java. When the Portuguese also looted the ships of Japara, Japara sent its forces to attack the Portuguese fortress.
In June 1551, the joint forces invaded Melaka with 200 boats and 5000 men. They captured the suburbs of Melaka and attacked A Famosa. 800 of their soldiers were killed, as were some Portuguese soldiers. Finding it difficult to take A Famosa, they surrounded it and cut off the food supply for three months. Johore, Perak and Pahang gave up on the war when they heard that the Portuguese were going to attack their states. Only Japara continued with the war but was defeated by the Portuguese.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHURCH ON MALACCA'S HILL
A Famosa which was built by Albuquerque had a chapel to serve the Portuguese soldiers. In 1521, a captain Duerto Coelho built a chapel on top of Melaka's Hill (now St. Paul's Hill). This chapel was also used in the attacks against the Portuguese in A Famosa, because its location enabled the attackers to fire at their targets. Johore’s attack in 1550-1551 did the Portuguese face the worst, and they decided to build a fortress around the hill.
While the wall was being built, the church authorities decided to enlarge the Madre de Deus Church because of the extent of damage it had. Work began in 1556. A section of the church wall was retained. The old wall and a storeroom were demolished. The east and south sides were enlarged. The south side contained two levels of house living quarters and a fort against attacks. Construction work took more than 12 years. The church was built with literate blocks and lime plaster obtained from a quarry in Upeh Island. Prisoners did the work. The fortress and the extended church further strengthened the position of the Portuguese in Melaka.
THE SIEGE ON THE FORT
After failed to defeat the Portuguese in their first attempt in 1606, the joint forces of the Dutch and Johore decided to surround the Portuguese fortress and blocked out its food supply. The Johoreans guarded the river and the interiors while the Dutch guarded the sea routes.
In the meantime, the Dutch erected two batteries that could accommodate several cannons opposite the eastern fort wall (near Kampung Pantai), and attacked the fort. These attacks destroyed the hospital, damaged the church on top of the hill, and many other buildings within the fortress, and the fort walls. The Dutch also sent messages to the Portuguese soldiers to surrender: the Portuguese replied with their cannons, which destroyed all the houses on the other side of the Melaka River.
The monsoon season began, followed by floods, which caused the low-lying areas where the Dutch were camped to become muddy. A malaria epidemic spread among the Dutch and Portuguese soldiers. Many people died because of the disease than the war itself. This included two Dutch captains. The morale of the Dutch and the Portuguese dipped very low.
THE DECLINE IN TRADING AT MELAKA
The Portuguese took over Melaka, as it was a major Islamic force in the Archipelago and the main trade centre. With Melaka in their power, the Portuguese thought they could control the trade in the Archipelago as well as spread the Catholic faith. Their plans did not succeed as expected.
Although in the beginning the Portuguese adopted the Melaka Malay Sultanate’s systems, they could not attract the Muslim merchants to Melaka because of their violence towards Islam and the Muslims. Muslim trade moved to Acheh, Pasai, Pedir and Brunei. Traders from the south preferred to go to Johore and Batavia, avoiding Melaka. By using Portuguese warships to force them to go to Melaka also proved futile.
The Portuguese also imposed high taxes and cheap prices on the traders who went to Melaka. Portugal’s policies in Lisbon also brought bad tidings for Melaka. The descendants of the Sultan of Melaka, as well as by Acheh and other powers attacked it. Later, the Dutch arrived and blocked the movements of the Portuguese ships. The combination of these factors caused the decline in trading activities during the Portuguese period. Melaka never again regained the trading status it enjoyed during the Melaka Sultanate.
THE INSOLENCE OF SEQUIERA TOWARDS THE PRIME MINISTER
It was customary for traders or emissaries who had just arrived in Melaka to make a courtesy call on the Sultan. Before this meeting was arranged, they would first have to meet the Prime Minister to respectfully inform him of their arrival and intention. The meeting would also enable the Prime Minister to get more information to pass on to Sultan. When Sequiera arrived in Melaka. He was too paid the Prime Minister a visit.
Sequiera’s arrival marked the first time a European had stepped foot in Melaka, and as such they was much curiosity about these foreigners. Tun Mutahir welcomed him well and presented him with a gift of clothes. Sequiera responded with his own gifts but not in the respectful manner, as was the norm. Using his left hand, he placed a gold necklace around the Prime Minister’s neck, as if indicating that the Prime Minister was of lower status than him. On seeing this, Tun Mutahir’s officers wanted to teach him a lesson, but were stopped by the Prime Minister who told them “Do not follow the example of those who do not know decorum”. It was clear that Sequiera was not able to establish a cordial relationship with the Prime Minister. His behavior created animosity among the local towards the Portuguese.
