Empire of Malaya

The **Empire of Malaya** (Malay: *Empayar Malaya*,) is a historical nation-state along with its colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories that existed which were known by **Malaya Sultanate** or **Kingdom of Malaya** which centered in southeast Asia from 1770 until 1946.

## History

### **Pre 1760**

The kingdom of Malaya were established in 1646 by Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah III. However, the nation were not strong enough to avoided from been attacked by the foreign powers. Shortly after the nation founded, Malaya through Johor were involved in war with the Jambi which saw Johor's capital Batu Sawar were sacked in 1673. The sultan who also King of Malaya were sought help from the Bugis. Johor would eventually prevail in 1679, but also ended in a weakened position as the Bugis refused to go home, and the Minangkabaus of Sumatra also started to assert their influence.

The crisis between the Sultan and the Bugis were worsening by end of 17th century and 18th century as the Bugis started extanded their influences within the royal court. The Bugis were successfully excess their dominance in Johor and influences in royal affairs. The Bugis also try to broke the tradition of appointed Sultan of Malaya by choosing their own candidates without gained recognize by other sultans. The Bugis also started their own dynasty in Selangor. The disputed between those two were ended by end of 18th century. In the north, the states of Kedah, Kelantan and Pattani were constantly attacked by the Thonburi Kingdom

## Early Era ( 1760 - 1782 )

In 1760, Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin Mu'adzam Shah II were selected as new sultan of Malaya. In his eyes, Sultan Muhammad were saw the nation were slowly crumble within the internal crisis which he intended to change in his reign. In 1775, the sultan reached Warren Hastings, the Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William by send a letter which send the intention to create a relation between Malaya and the British Empire. The British later send Captain Francis Light as Empire's representatives to sign the Malaya - Anglo Treaty in 1775 at Kuala Kedah. In the treaty, both were agree that :

* British Empire recognize Kingdom of Malaya's sovereignty as state and kingdom.
* Malaya agree to became trade partner of British Empire and its dominion.
* Malaya agree to allowed British's settlement in the Island of Penang.
* British Empire will provided technology, military information for the Malaya.
* Sultan of Malaya agree to appointed few British's officer as Royal Advisor of the royal court.

The started of the British influences were Sultan Muhammad's plan to ousted the Bugis from the royal court. The appointed of Captain Francis Light as royal advisor on nation's administration were caused several issues between the sultan and its court. Several nobles were sided with the sultan while others were against the sultan. The nobles who opposed the sultan were sent to exiled in Sumatra by the order of the Francis Light on behalf of the Sultan's. Sultan Muhammad also introduced the " United Mission " which is the plan to united all sultanate in southeast asia and put in all together under one nation such as Kingdom of Malaya. Malacca were sacked by Malaya in 1781 which resulted the city were returned by the Dutch East Indies.

## 19th Century

By early 19th century, Malaya slowly started to became prosperous in term of trade and economy. Several cities and ports were opened for trading and economic affairs including Malacca, Tanjung Puteri, Klang, Kuala Kedah and Kota Bahru. The projects such as roads were build in order to increase the economic activities. The British officer such as William Farquhar and Stamford Raffles were appointed as Royal Advisor during this period. Singapore were designated as trading port in 1819 suggested by Farquhar due to its strategic position of trading road between east and the west which more beneficial than Penang and Malacca. Sultan Ibrahim, the Sultan of Malaya ( 1795 - 1826 ) started the nation's ultimate policy which is " United Mission " that been commissioned by Sultan Muhammad Jiwa in 1770s. In his last years, Sultan Ibrahim put his effort to invited other small states into the kingdom without involving a war and blood. His effort were proved success as several states were agree such as Serdang, Deli, Langkat, Asahan, Siak and Riau - Lingga were admitted into the nation by 1825.

### **Malaya - Aceh War**

The rising of Malaya Empire were caused huge worried within the Aceh sultanate. Aceh who were suffered from civil wars and royal crisis were indicates that Malaya could replaced them as main islamic empire in the region. The admission of states that were their former vassal in the south were added to Aceh's misery and fear from the Malaya. In the other hand, Malaya Empire saw the crumble of Aceh as their golden opportunity to attacked the sultanate and gained control of the northern sumatra and malacca strait.

The tension between the two were explode when Sultan Ahmad Shah I were send 30 000 troops to assault Kutaraja on 27 July 1828 which caused Sultan Alauddin Muhammad Da'ud Syah I flee from his capital to Pidie. Aceh asked for military interventions from the Dutch but were defeated in Battle of Malacca Strait and Second Battle of Kutaraja on 7 August and 19 August 1828. The Aceh troops were continued to fight against Malaya's attack until their surrender on 4 September 1828 and signed the Treaty of Aceh which saw Aceh became state within the Empire of Malaya.

### **Sumatra Campaign**

After the successful campaign against Aceh, Malaya continued towards to the south against other several states. The campaign were consists the Padri War, Palembang Campaign ( 1843 ), and Jambi Mission ( 1846 ).

## Modernization and Imperialism

In 1855, Tengku Dziauddin or Tengku Kudin, a royal prince from Kedah were appointed as Prime Minister. The western educated prince were sought to reshape the structure of the national government and administration. He also the first person to been address as Prime Minister rather than Bendahara Diraja and he also the first prime minister to visit foreign country when he visit London ( 1856 ) and Istanbul ( 1861 ). His status as royal prince and son in laws of a sultan, Tengku Kudin managed to influences the Conference of Rulars to selected Sultan Abu Bakar, the ambitious young sultan from Johor who also sought for modernization for the nation. During his premiership, Tengku Kudin were focusing seeking alliance , which saw the Malaya - Anglo Agreement 1856, Malaya - Ottoman Alliance 1861 and Malay - Russo Friendship Treaty 1863. He also the pioneer of Modernization Policy alongside Sultan Abu Bakar who later regarded as Abu Bakar Modernization Era.

### **Malay - Dutch War**

The continuing of Malaya uprising were started to threat the Dutch East Indies in Java region. The rise of Singapore as trading city and port also their lost influences and control in Sumatra region weakened their power as imperialism empire. These conflicts were worsened by 1880s when Abdul Rahman Andak, then Minister of Defence and War denounce publicly the Dutch East Indies and the birth of " Malaya Imperialism " policy. The two nation continued to confront each other until the Batavia Incident in 1 February 1881 which saw the Malaya blamed Dutch for the sinking of merchant ship which the latter mistook it as war ship from Malaya. These incident caused the war were inevitable.

The war were lasted from 7 March 1881 until 6 October 1884 which Dutch suffered losses and had high numbered of casualties. The War ended with the peace treaty between Malaya and the Dutch East Indies that were signed in Batavia on 17 October with Malaya gained much control all of the Java islands. The war were caused huge blow for the Dutch and were ended the Dutch East Indies in Java archipelago. The outcome of the war saw Malaya stood up as the powerhouse in the southeast asia region and caused huge threat to their neighbor nation.

### **Malaya Imperialism**

The Malaya Imperialism were the national policy suggested by the Minister of Defence and War, Abdul Rahman Andak as on 5 July 1880. The early purpose of the policy is to preserved , protect and decreasing the foreign influences in Malay archipelago. After the Malay - Dutch War, the government became more aggressive towards the policy and including the, spread the influences of Malaya into the world stages.

The appointment of Abdul Rahman Andak as Prime Minister were saw Malaya continue its aggressive towards the foreign policy and affairs. After the London Treaty signed in 4 January 1893, Malaya gained freedom to spread its influences with guarantee without British intervention.