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Since
its early beginnings that intertwine fact and folklore, Singapore
has been engaged in the pomp of ancient Malay empires, the intrigues
of medieval trade, the bartering of European colonial powers and
the challenge of nation-building.
Here, we give you an account of the island's remarkable development
throughout the centuries.
Legend has it ...
The beginnings of Singapore are steeped in local Malay legend.
The island is said to have received its name from a visiting Sumatran
prince in the 14th century, who saw a fearsome creature - later
identified to him as a lion - on his arrival.
Taking this as a good omen, the prince founded a new city on the
spot, changing the name of the island from Temasek to Singapura. In Sanskrit, "singa" means lion and "pura" means
city. Thus the Lion City was born, and today the symbol
of the merlion - a mythical creature with the head of a lion and
the body of a fish - is a reminder of Singapore's early connections
to this legend and the seas.
The march of empires
Traders travelling between China and India have been plowing
the waters around Singapore since the 5th century AD. Later, Singapore
became a trading outpost of the ancient Buddhist kingdom
of Srivijaya, which had its centre in Palembang, Sumatra,
and influenced the region from the 7th to the 10th centuries.
In the 13th century, Srivijaya was overshadowed by the rise of
Islam, and Singapore came under the influence of the Muslim empire of Malacca. Malacca, situated on the western coast
of present-day Peninsula Malaysia, rapidly developed into a thriving
free port and commercial centre.
Malacca's decline began in 1511, when it fell under the sway
of the Portugese. The Muslim merchants and traders that
had founded the commercial success of Malacca fled from the new
Catholic rule, and another, smaller sultanate established itself
in Johor, at the southern end of the Malaysian peninsula,
across the causeway from Singapore.
In 1641, the Dutch wrested Malacca from the Portugese. They held
power until 1875, when Holland's defeat in a war in Europe saw
the British seizing Dutch colonies in Southeast
Asia, including Malacca.
With the end of the Napoleonic wars in Europe, the British agreed
to hand back Dutch possessions in 1818. Some British were disappointed
by this anti-climax to their country's bid to expand its influence
in Southeast Asia. One of them was Stamford Raffles, the
Lieutenant Governor of Java.
Colonial Singapore
Stamford Raffles is often called the founder of modern
Singapore, having given shape to many sections of Singapore's
city centre, and having built its name as an important port and
business centre in the region.
After the British secession of Dutch possessions in Southeast
Asia, Raffles gained permission to establish a station in the region, to secure British trade interests there. He had
initially set his heart on Riau, an island near Singapore, but
the Dutch had already beat him to it. He then decided on Singapore,
then under the empire of Johor.
When
Raffles first landed in Singapore in 1819, there was division
within the Johor Sultanate. The old Sultan had died in 1812, and
his younger son had ascended to the throne when the eldest son
and legitimate heir, Hussein, was away.
Raffles threw his support behind Hussein, proclaiming him Sultan
and installing him in Singapore. He also signed a treaty with
the Temenggong, or senior judge, of Johor, setting
him up in Singapore as well. In so doing, he hoped to legitimise
British claims on the island.
Initially, Raffles acquired the use of Singapore after agreeing
to make annual payments to Sultan Hussein and the Temenggong.
In 1824, in exchange for a cash buyout, Singapore officially came
under the ownership of the British East India Company.
Two years later, the island, along with Malacca and Penang, became
part of the British Straits Settlements. The Straits Settlements were controlled by the East India Company in Calcutta, but administered
from Singapore.
Raffles initiated a town plan for central Singapore. The plan
included levelling one hill to set up a commercial centre (today's Shenton Way) and constructing government buildings around Fort Canning. Raffles, and the first Resident of Singapore, William Farquhar, gradually moulded Singapore from a jungle-ridden
backwater with poor sanitation and little modern infrastructure
to a successful entreport and colonial outpost. Hospitals, schools
and a water supply system were built. Soon, boatloads of immigrants from India and China were coming to Singapore, in search of prosperity
and a better life.
Today, you will find that many institutions and businesses choose
to use the Raffles name, out of a certain respect or perhaps to
portray a sense of history and gravitas. You will find the Raffles
name linked to a boulevard, a school, a college, a hotel, a shopping
mall, the business class of Singapore Airlines, a golf club and
a lighthouse. |
