Malacca or also known
as Melaka is considered as the most historical state in
Malaysia.It is famed as the place where history of Malaysia
began. Parameswara, an excited prince from Sumatra, founded
it in 1396.The name itself came from a tree that Parameswara
sat when hunting. From a small country, the territory
expanded to whole Peninsular Malaysia. It thrived as a
port-of-call to many ships and merchants from China, India,
Arabia and Europe.
After a fierce battle in 1511, it fell into the hands
of the Portuguese and subsequently to the Dutch in 1641.
In 1795, the Dutch relinquished control of Malacca to
the British to prevent it from falling into the hands
of the French, when the Netherlands was captured during
the French Revolution. It was returned to the Dutch in
1818 under the Treaty of Vienna but was later exchanged
by the British for Bencoleen, Sumatra. From 1826 onwards,
English East India Company in Calcutta together with Singapore
and Penang ruled the land under the Straits Settlements
administration.
After World War II, nationalistic sentiments began to
spread in the country, culminating in the proclamation
of independence by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Malaysia's
first Prime Minister at the Padang Pahlawan (Warrior's
Field) at Bandar Hilir, Malacca on 20th February 1956.
Malacca is rich in history and the many relics of the
past will take visitors on a nostalgic journey that goes
back to 600 years of a glorious and colourful past.