MALACCA (EDU)
Parameswara (1344 - 1414), also called Iskandar Shah, was a Hindu prince of the Srivijayan ruling house who founded the Melaka Sultanate around 1400. His name, Paramesvara, is derived from Sanskrit (Parama, meaning "supreme", and Iswara, meaning Lord, one of Lord Shiva's several names).
We do not, however, know for certain whether Iskandar Shah refers to Parameswara after he embraced Islam, or whether Iskandar Shah was the son of Parameswara, as some accounts tell us.
2. Early life: While his ancestry is not in doubt, Parameswara's actual place of birth is disputed, with the Suma Oriental (by Tome Pires) claiming that he was born in Palembang, while the Malay Annals claims that he was born in Temasek (present-day Singapore):
Suma Oriental version: After Parameswara married a Majapahit princess from east Java and 'when he realized how nobly he was married, and how great was his power in the neighbouring islands', he announced his independence from Majapahit. This proved disastrous and Batara Tamavill sent a Javanese expedition to attack and lay waste the island of Bangka and the region of Palembang. Parameswara escaped by sea and landed on the island of Temasek in circa 1390. Welcomed by Tamagi, the reigning chief of the island who was related by marriage both to the King of Siam and to the ruler of Patani, a vassal state of Siam, Parameswara murdered him within 8 days and claimed the island and the neighboring sea passages as his own. His success, however, was comparatively short-lived and within 5 years, he decided to move north when he received news of the approach of a Patani war fleet.
Malay Annals version: The Srivijayan ruling house moved its court from Palembang to Malayu (in present-day Jambi province) on the bank of the Batang Hari River before taking refuge in the island of Bintan, after the kingdom of Singhasari (1222 - 1292) in east Java (a predecessor to the Majapahit Empire) sacked Palembang on the bank of the Musi River in southern Sumatra.
We do not, however, know for certain whether Iskandar Shah refers to Parameswara after he embraced Islam, or whether Iskandar Shah was the son of Parameswara, as some accounts tell us.
2. Early life: While his ancestry is not in doubt, Parameswara's actual place of birth is disputed, with the Suma Oriental (by Tome Pires) claiming that he was born in Palembang, while the Malay Annals claims that he was born in Temasek (present-day Singapore):
Suma Oriental version: After Parameswara married a Majapahit princess from east Java and 'when he realized how nobly he was married, and how great was his power in the neighbouring islands', he announced his independence from Majapahit. This proved disastrous and Batara Tamavill sent a Javanese expedition to attack and lay waste the island of Bangka and the region of Palembang. Parameswara escaped by sea and landed on the island of Temasek in circa 1390. Welcomed by Tamagi, the reigning chief of the island who was related by marriage both to the King of Siam and to the ruler of Patani, a vassal state of Siam, Parameswara murdered him within 8 days and claimed the island and the neighboring sea passages as his own. His success, however, was comparatively short-lived and within 5 years, he decided to move north when he received news of the approach of a Patani war fleet.
Malay Annals version: The Srivijayan ruling house moved its court from Palembang to Malayu (in present-day Jambi province) on the bank of the Batang Hari River before taking refuge in the island of Bintan, after the kingdom of Singhasari (1222 - 1292) in east Java (a predecessor to the Majapahit Empire) sacked Palembang on the bank of the Musi River in southern Sumatra.