Year 1396

According to the Malay Annals, Parameswara was a royal prince of Palembang in the 14th century who fled from his enemies, the Javanese. He escaped to Temasik (now known as Singapore) and declared himself king. Soon after, he was expelled by Siamese invaders and, with his followers, reached the west coast of the Malay Peninsula in search of a place to settle. They first chose Muar, Johor, but it was not suitable due to the abundance of monitor lizards. He later chose a second site to build his palace, but it did not last.

Parameswara then explored other locations. During a hunting expedition, he reached a river called Bertam. There, he witnessed a mousedeer being chased by his hunting dogs; it kicked one of the dogs into the river. He was astonished by the mousedeer’s bravery and immediately named the place Melaka, after the tree under which he was resting.

The Melaka Sultanate ruled the state for 110 years until it was defeated by the Portuguese in 1511.

1400 - Parameswara, a royal prince from Palembang, after being defeated by Majapahit, went to Temasik (the original name of Singapore) and eventually founded the state of Melaka.

1403 - Admiral Yin Ching, on his trading mission, stopped in Melaka and established diplomatic and trade relations between China and Melaka.

1405 - Parameswara sent envoys to China to strengthen the existing diplomatic ties.

1409 - Admiral Cheng Ho (Zheng He), commander of the Chinese trading fleet, arrived in Melaka with dignitaries to further reinforce relations between the two countries.

1411 - Parameswara, accompanied by Melakan nobles and a delegation of 540 people, sailed with Admiral Cheng Ho to visit Yung Lo, Emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China.

1414 - Parameswara married the Princess of Pasai. He embraced Islam and adopted the title Sultan Iskandar Shah (1414–1424).

1424 - Upon the death of Parameswara, his son Sri Maharaja ascended the throne and changed his name to Sultan Muhammad Shah (1424–1444). He ruled according to Islamic teachings, established court ethics, and spread Islam.

1444 - Raja Ibrahim, the youngest son of Sultan Muhammad Shah, became the ruler after the passing of his father.

1445 - Raja Ibrahim was assassinated and buried with the title Sultan Abu Syahid.

1446 - Raja Kassim, elder brother of Sultan Abu Syahid, ascended the throne and took the title Sultan Muzaffar Shah (1446–1458), declaring Islam as the official religion of the state.

1447 - The first Siamese attack on Melaka took place but was repelled by Melakan forces. The Siamese were defeated near Muar.

1456 - Tun Perak was appointed Bendahara or Prime Minister with the title Bendahara Paduka Raja. He became renowned for his effective administration and was instrumental in developing Melaka. Serving under four Sultans, he was the backbone of Melaka’s rise to dominance in the Malay Archipelago.

1458 - Sultan Mansur Shah ascended the throne. The Emperor of China sent Admiral Cheng Ho with Princess Hang Li Po, who was married to the Sultan. Sultan Mansur Shah also sent Tun Perpateh Puteh and an entourage to China to accompany Hang Li Po.

1477 - Sultan Mansur Shah passed away and Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah (1477–1488) ascended the throne at the age of 15. He was known to be firm in carrying out his duties.

1488 - Sultan Alauddin was poisoned and died in Pagoh. Sultan Mahmud Shah (1488–1511) then ascended the throne, supported by the efforts of Tun Perak and Hang Tuah.

1498 - Tun Perak passed away.

16th Century

1500 - Tun Mutahir, cousin of Tun Perak, was appointed Bendahara with the title Bendahara Seri Maharaja and became the most powerful among the officials of the Melaka Sultanate.

1509 - Diego Lopez de Sequeira arrived in Melaka with 18 ships from the Portuguese Royal Fleet. They were the first Europeans to arrive in Southeast Asia. Due to a misunderstanding, his fleet was attacked by Melaka and 20 of his crew were captured by the locals.

1510 - Bendahara Tun Mutahir and his family were executed on the orders of Sultan Mahmud Shah for refusing to give his daughter Tun Fatimah in marriage to the Sultan. Realising his mistake, Sultan Mahmud Shah temporarily abdicated the throne, which was then taken over by his son, Sultan Ahmad Shah.

1511 - Alfonso D’Albuquerque, the Portuguese Viceroy of Goa, arrived in Melaka on 10 August and requested permission to build a Portuguese base there, but his request was denied by the Sultan. After a 10-day siege, the Portuguese succeeded in capturing Melaka Fortress on 24 August. From that point, the Portuguese ruled Melaka for 130 years.

1512 - Albuquerque returned to Goa in January after completing “A Famosa”, a fortress with a five-storey tower. Later, Sultan Mahmud Shah launched an attack on the Portuguese in Melaka.

1513 - Patih Unus, a Javanese warrior who later became the Sultan of Demak in Sumatra, attacked the Portuguese in Melaka.

1516 - Admiral Hang Nadim, the son of Hang Tuah, launched an attack on Melaka.

1518/19 - Sultan Mahmud Shah’s troops laid siege to the city of Melaka for three months.

1523 - Sultan Mahmud Shah launched another attack on Melaka.

1524 - Admiral Hang Nadim besieged Melaka and cut off its food supply.

1537 - The first attack by the Acehnese on the Portuguese in Melaka.

1545 - Father Francis Xavier arrived in Melaka for the first time. He would go on to visit the city five times.

1551 - A coalition of Johor, Japara, and Perak attacked and laid siege to Melaka for three months.

1553 - Father Francis Xavier died on the island of Sancian near Canton, China, and was buried at St. Paul’s Church in Melaka. Nine months later, his remains were moved and reburied in Goa.

1567/68 - With assistance from Johor, Aceh attacked the Portuguese fortress in Melaka. However, they were once again defeated.

1571 - Aceh attempted another attack on the Portuguese in Melaka, but the attempt failed due to a typhoon.

1575 - Japara launched an attack on the Portuguese fortress in Melaka.

1585 / 86 - Johor attacked Melaka.

1588 - The first English visitor, Ralph Ritch, arrived in Melaka.

1597 - The Dutch launched an attack on Melaka.

17th Century

1606 - A joint force of the Dutch and Johor attacked the Portuguese fort in Melaka. However, Portuguese reinforcements arrived in time from Goa and managed to save Melaka.

1615 / 16 - Aceh launched another attack on Melaka.

1628 / 29 - Aceh held control over Melaka for eight months before withdrawing.

1636 - Dutch ships destroyed Portuguese vessels in the port of Melaka.

1641 - The Dutch and the Malays of Johor launched another attack. After a fierce battle, the Portuguese were forced to surrender. The Dutch then ruled Melaka for 154 years.

1645 - Cheng Hoon Teng Temple was built by the Chinese Kapitan, Lee Wei King. It is the oldest temple that still exists in Malaysia today.

1645 / 70 - A civil conflict occurred between the Dutch and Naning.

1650 - The Stadthuys, or “Government House”, the residence of the Dutch Governor and the administrative centre, was constructed.

18th Century

1710 - St. Peter’s Church, a Christian church in Malaysia, was built by the Dutch. It features a blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles.

1753 - Christ Church was completed.

1756 - The Bugis, led by Daing Kamboja, attacked Melaka.

1784 - Raja Haji landed in Melaka but was later killed.

1795 - The British took over Melaka from the Dutch.

19th Century

1795 1806 - The British restructured all remnants of Portuguese rule in Melaka. They planned to relocate the trade and population centre to Penang in an effort to weaken Melaka as a trading hub.

1795 1808 - The arrival of Stamford Raffles saved Melaka from a major decline.

1795 1818 - With the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Melaka was returned to Dutch rule under the Treaty of Venice.

1795 1819 - Sultan Hussain Mohammad Shah of Johor ceded Singapore to the British East India Company. The Sultan’s tomb was later placed in the Tengkera Mosque area.

1795 1824 - The Anglo-Dutch Treaty or Treaty of London placed Melaka under British rule.

1795 1826 - The Straits Settlements Agreement was signed, in which Penang, Singapore, and Melaka were grouped into the Straits Settlements under the same administrative system.

1795 1867 - The administration of the Straits Settlements was transferred from the Governor in India to the Colonial Office in London, and Melaka became a British colony.

1795 1895 - Rubber plantation farming was introduced by Tan Chay Yan in Bukit Lintang, Melaka.

20th Century

1904 - Queen Victoria came to commemorate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.

1942 - The Japanese occupied Melaka.

1945 - Melaka was returned to British rule after Japan surrendered to the British in Singapore.

1948 - The communists attacked and took control of Malaya for 14 days. The British declared a state of emergency, which lasted until 1960.

1956 - The Independence Proclamation was made by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaya, at Padang Banda Hilir (Padang Pahlawan), Melaka on 20 February. That same year, Melaka became part of the Federation of Malaya as an independent state.

1957 - The Federation of Malaya gained independence on 31 August. British Resident Commissioner, H.G. Hammet, handed over the independence documents to the first local governor.

1963 - The formation of Malaysia on 16 September. Melaka became part of Malaysia along with Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak.

1989 - Melaka was declared a Historical City on 15 April.