Mansur Shah of Malacca

Sultan Mansur Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Muzaffar Shah (died 1477) was the sixth Sultan of Malacca. He ruled Malacca from 1459 to 1477. He ascended the throne after the death of his father, Muzaffar Shah.[1]^:246

Mansur Shah
6th Sultan of Malacca
Reign	Malacca Sultanate: 1459–1477
Predecessor	Muzaffar Shah
Successor	Alauddin Riayat Shah
Died	1477
Spouse	Hang Li Po and others
Issue	Alauddin Riayat Shah Ahmad Shah I Muhammad Shah
Father	Muzaffar Shah
Religion	Sunni Islam

Expansions of Malaccan Empire

Mansur Shah implemented a policy of expansionism during his rule. Many territories in Peninsular Malaysia and eastern Sumatra and the surrounding islands were under the control of Malacca during his rule such as Selangor, Bernam, Kampar, Siak, Manjung, Rupat, Singapore, and Bintan. Mansur Shah also ordered the attack of Pahang by Tun Perak, the Bendahara of Malacca, to secure the defense of Malacca on the east coast. Siantan and Inderagiri in Sumatra were also given to Malacca as dowry for his marriage to the princess of Majapahit.

Marriage alliances

Mansur Shah also used marriage alliances between princesses of Malacca and the rulers of conquered states to strengthen Malacca’s control over those states, such as the marriage between the king of Siak to Mansur Shah's daughter, Princess Mahadewi. Such alliances were a factor in the Islam's expansion in maritime Southeast Asia.

According to historian Tomé Pires, Princess Hang Li Po, daughter of the Ming Dynasty Emperor Yongle (1403-1424), was sent over with her big entourage to marry Sultan Mansur Shah. Princess Hang Li Po remains a mystery/myth today because there aren't any records in the Ming Dynasty with the surname of Hang and a princess named Li Po. Emperor Yongle had only 5 princesses, Princess Yong'an (永安公主; 1377 – 1417), Princess Ancheng (安成公主; 1384 – 1443), Princess Yongping (永平公主; 1379 – 1444), Princess Xianning (咸寧公主; 1385 – 1440) and Princess Changning (常寧公主; 1387 – 1408). During Sultan Mansur's reign of power, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was Emperor Yingzong (1457–1464), instead of Emperor Yongle.

Princesses of conquered states were also married to the Sultan of Malaccan, such as Princess Wanang Seri of Pahang and Raden Galoh Candra Kirana.

Economic policy

Mansur Shah reduced taxes on trade items during his reign, which increased the interest of merchants in trading through Malacca. A preferential tariff system was introduced whereby a 6% tax was levied on the trade of merchants from west of Malacca, such as Arabia and India, and a 3% tax was levied on the trade of merchants’ from Maritime Southeast Asia. Merchants from China, Japan and Java were not taxed at all. Economic advantage of Malacca was the easy access to laborers.

Spread of Islam

Mansur Shah, who had an interest in Islam, encouraged scholarship in Islamic theological studies, and studied tasawuf himself. He studied under Maulana Abu Bakar, who brought the Ab Darul Manzum scriptures to Malacca. He ordered the translation of the scripture to Malay by Makhdum Patakan. Mansur Shah referred to scholars from Pasai on religious issues due to their expertise.

References

1. Cœdès, George (1968). The Indianized states of Southeast Asia. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 9780824803681.