MALACCA AND TURKEY

NAYEF R.F. AL-RODHAN : THE ROLE OF THE ARAB-ISLAMIC WORLD IN THE RISE OF THE WEST

In his book The Role of the Arab-Islamic World in the Rise of the West, Nayef R.F. al-Rodhan highlights the Malacca Sultanate as a quintessential example of how Islamic commerce acted as a bridge for global integration. By the 15th century, Malacca was not merely a local port but a global "clearinghouse" that connected the Mediterranean and the Ottoman Empire to the Far East.

The Trade Network of Malacca

The specific expansion you mentioned refers to Malacca's role in a trans-civilizational trade web. This network was fueled by the monsoon winds and the safety provided by Malacca's uniform maritime laws, which were deeply influenced by Islamic principles of fairness and contract.

• To the West (India & Beyond): Malacca’s ties to Gujarat and Dhabol were vital for the textile trade. Gujarat, in particular, was a major hub for Muslim merchants who brought Mediterranean and Middle Eastern goods to the East.
• To the East (China & Ryukyus): The relationship with Ming China provided Malacca with political protection and access to silks and ceramics. The Ryukyus (modern-day Okinawa) acted as a secondary maritime link between Malacca and the Japanese markets.
• To the Ottoman Empire: Through intermediate ports like Aden and Cairo, Malacca's spices reached the Ottoman Empire, which then controlled the flow of these luxury goods into Europe.

Key Historical Significance

Al-Rodhan argues that this "Ocean Model of Civilization" challenges the idea that the West rose in isolation. Instead, the West "borrowed" and eventually inherited a pre-existing, highly sophisticated global trade infrastructure built by Islamic and Asian powers.

Region	Primary Trade Goods
Gujarat / Dhabol	Textiles, Indigo, Opium
Bengal / Coromandel	Rice, Sugar, Fine Muslin
China / Ryukyus	Silk, Porcelain, Silver
Ottoman Empire	Woolen cloth, Glassware, Weaponry

ZAFER OZCAN : INTIZAR ANNE

The account by Turkish writer Zafer Ozcan (often cited in his work İntizar Anne) brings to light a fascinating, though debated, chapter in the "Age of Discovery" from an Eastern perspective.

According to Ozcan, the year 1471 marks a pivotal moment when Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih (Mehmed the Conqueror) and Sultan Mansur Syah of Malacca formalized their ties. While Western history often focuses on the 1511 Portuguese conquest, this narrative suggests that Malacca was looking toward the Ottoman Caliphate as a strategic partner decades earlier.

The 1471 "Alliance": Key Claims

Ozcan’s narrative includes several specific and high-stakes details that go beyond simple trade:

• Commercial Treaty: A formal trade agreement was reportedly signed in 1471, allowing Malaccan merchants better access to Ottoman-controlled routes and vice versa.
• Diplomatic Marriage: Most provocatively, Ozcan claims that a marriage alliance was forged to cement the bond, stating that Sultan Alauddin Riayat Syah (the son of Mansur Syah) married a daughter of Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih.
• Military Exchange: It is suggested that the Ottomans provided early gunpowder technology or "gunsmiths" to Malacca, which would explain the Sultanate’s later use of heavy bronze cannons (lela and rentaka).

Historical Context & Debate

While mainstream historians agree that Malacca and the Ottomans were part of the same global Islamic trade network, the specific 1471 treaty and the marriage alliance are viewed by many academic historians as part of "historical memory" or literary tradition (like the Hikayat Hang Tuah) rather than strictly verified archival fact.

• The "Rum" Connection: In Malay annals, the Ottoman Empire is referred to as Benua Rum (the Land of Rome/the Ottomans). These texts frequently describe the legendary hero Hang Tuah traveling to Istanbul to purchase cannons for the Sultan.
• Geopolitical Strategy: Whether or not the marriage occurred, the intent was clear: Malacca sought a "Protector of the Faithful" (the Ottoman Sultan) to balance the growing threat of European maritime expansion.

Comparison of the Two Sultans (c. 1471)

Sultan	Empire	Major Achievement
Muhammad al-Fatih	Ottoman Empire	Conquered Constantinople (1453), established Ottoman naval supremacy.
Sultan Mansur Syah	Malacca Sultanate	Oversaw Malacca’s "Golden Age," expanded the empire across the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra.

This connection suggests that the "Rise of the West" didn't happen in a vacuum; it was a response to an incredibly sophisticated and interconnected Afro-Eurasian world that already had its own "Global Superpowers."

HANG TUAH VOYAGE TO ISTANBUL & OTTOMANS CANNON IN MALACCA

The legend of Hang Tuah’s voyage to Istanbul and the presence of "Ottoman-style" artillery in Malacca represent the intersection of epic Malay literature and the very real global arms trade of the 15th century.

The Voyage: Legend vs. History

In the Hikayat Hang Tuah, the Laksamana (Admiral) leads a grand embassy to "Benua Rum" (the Ottoman Empire) on behalf of Sultan Mansur Syah.

• The Mission: Hang Tuah was tasked with purchasing cannons to defend Malacca. Legend says he bought 800 cannons and even studied Ottoman military tactics.
• The Artifacts: While there is no direct Ottoman archival record of Hang Tuah, Chinese and Japanese records (like the Rekidai Hoan) do confirm a "Laksamana" from Malacca was active in international diplomacy during this exact window (c. 1480s).
• The Ship: He sailed on the Mendam Berahi, a legendary galley described as being so magnificent that it "suppressed the passion" (hence the name) of all who saw it.

The Cannons: What the Portuguese Found

When Afonso de Albuquerque conquered Malacca in 1511, his chroniclers (like João de Barros) were shocked by the Sultanate’s firepower. They expected a "primitive" defense but encountered a city "bristling with artillery."

• The Count: The Portuguese reportedly captured 3,000 to 8,000 pieces of artillery. Even if the higher numbers include small swivel guns, it was one of the largest arsenals in the world at the time.
• The Quality: Albuquerque’s son wrote that the Malaccan cannons were of such high workmanship that "they could not be excelled, even in Portugal."
• The "Great Cannon of Calicut": Among the spoils was a massive bronze gun sent to Malacca by the Zamorin of Calicut (a key Ottoman ally), illustrating the "Islamic Axis" of military technology.

Types of Artillery in Malacca

The Malaccan arsenal was a mix of imported Ottoman/Indian tech and locally cast masterpieces.

Type	Origin/Style	Description
Meriam	Ottoman / Indian	Large, heavy bronze cannons used for coastal defense and "castle smashing."
Lela	Malay-Ottoman	Long-barreled bronze swivel guns, often highly decorated with floral motifs.
Rentaka	Local Malay	Smaller, portable iron or bronze swivel guns used on ships (perahu).
Prangi	Ottoman	A breech-loading swivel gun (named after "Frankish" style) that allowed for faster firing.

The "Ottoman Connection" Legacy

The technology didn't just stay in Malacca. After the fall of the city, Malaccan gunsmiths fled to Aceh, Brunei, and Java, where they established foundries that continued to produce "Ottoman-style" cannons for centuries. This explains why the Portuguese faced even fiercer artillery resistance in later sieges of Aceh.

Further readings:

1. Cilisos: Researches found these letters allegedly written by Hang Tuah...So was he real?
2. Portuguese World Heritage: The Capture of Malacca in 1511
3. Free Malaysia Today: Rediscovering Old Hang Tuah for a new Malaysia
4. History Buff : Malacca's Missing Cannons

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14 January 2026: 10.05 a.m