Watch out with erosion, could be devastated an empire.

Candi Bungsu, in Barelang ( Riau ) built by King Sri Cudamaniwarmadewa ( Srivijaya, year 1003 ) for the emperor of China. ( photo : wisatamelayu )

Decline of Srivijaya began since the attacks of the king Teguh Dharmawangsa  ( Java, 990 AD ), then attack of the king Rajendra Chola I ( Coromandel, India, 1025 AD ), following the attack of Dharmasraya kingdom ( 1183 AD ), and then attacked of Singosari ( 1290 AD ) and last conquered by the kingdom of Majapahit  (East Java, 1377 AD ) in an effort to unite the archipelago ( Palapa Oath, Gajah Mada). Between the years 1377-1512 AD, Srivijaya was ruled by China pirates, until Chengho came up against them.

In 1293, appeared Majapahit, replacing Singosari. Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi  ascended throne as  the Queen and asked Adityawarman ( descendant of Malay and Javanese ) to conquer Swarnnabhumi ( 1339 AD ). Srivijaya’s name wasn’t called again, changed with the name of Palembang. In 1347, became Malayapura, under the dynasty of Mauli. In 1409, re-conquered by Majapahit. Most of the nobility Srivijaya moved to Malacca ( Tumasik ).

Srivijaya deterioration factors : changes in the nature around Palembang, the river became  shallow due to silt so difficult for ships docked to the port, the opening of the Strait Berhala  made Jambi’s position more strategic  than Palembang, Srivijaya only have a dependable navy, and had to share hegemony with Airlangga,  East Java, that had a formidable army on land, successive attacks from competitor kingdoms eventually made Srivijaya ended. Heritage of  Sriwijaya much plundered and buried on the grounds of economic and theology reasons, so difficult to find traces of Srivijaya glory in our time.

Malacca became  a Portuguese colony ( 1511 AD ) with military force. Last Sultan fled to Kampar ( Sumatra ) and died there. His son went to the north of Peninsular Malaysia and founded the Sultanate of Perak. Another son to the south, continuing the Sultanate of Malacca Old ( now known as the Sultanate of Johor ). After the fall of Malacca, control over the Straits of Malacca contested between the Portuguese,  the Sultanate of Johor and Sultanate of Aceh.

The war ended in 1641, when the Dutch (allied to the Sultanate of Johor) took over Malacca. In 1824, the British took over Malacca, through agreements with the Dutch. The Straits Settlements which later was formed, had  three ports : Singapore, Penang and Malacca.

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