The end of an empire
After a century of glory, the Melaka Sultanate came to an end in 1511 when it was conquered by the Portuguese. Their commander, Alfonso de Albuquerque, led a well-armed fleet against the city. The ruler at the time was Sultan Mahmud Shah, the last sultan to reign in Melaka itself.
Why the Portuguese came
Melaka controlled the rich spice trade flowing between East and West. The Portuguese wanted this wealth for themselves, so they attacked to seize the port and its trade. Their firearms and cannons were more powerful than Melaka's weapons, giving them a strong advantage in battle.
Weakness from within
Melaka was not only beaten from outside. Years of corruption, disunity and weak leadership had weakened the kingdom. When the city fell, Sultan Mahmud Shah fled and tried to build new bases elsewhere. The Portuguese built the fort A Famosa to hold Melaka. The loss of the city shocked the whole Malay world, for it showed that a European power could seize the region's greatest port. Yet the Melaka royal line lived on and later founded the Johor-Riau Sultanate.
Key idea
Melaka fell to the Portuguese in 1511 because of superior firearms and greed for the spice trade, made worse by internal corruption and weak leadership.
Remember
- 1511: the Portuguese under Alfonso de Albuquerque took Melaka.
- Last sultan: Sultan Mahmud Shah, who fled the city.
- The fall led to the founding of the Johor-Riau Sultanate.