The Fall of Johor Lama, 1587

In 1587, the thriving Malay capital of Johor Lama stood at the heart of a fierce struggle for control of the Straits of Melaka. A bustling port, a royal seat, and a defiant successor to the fallen splendour of the Melaka Sultanate, it drew merchants, wealth, and trade from across Asia. It also drew war. In this video, we explore the dramatic Portuguese assault on Johor Lama - one of the most intense and destructive battles in early Southeast Asian history. From naval blockades and riverine warfare to brutal street fighting and a decisive breakthrough at the fortress of Kota Batu, this is a story of strategy, resilience, and catastrophic defeat. Drawing on detailed contemporary Portuguese accounts, including that of Diogo do Couto, this episode reconstructs the battle step by step, revealing how a powerful Malay stronghold was brought down in a single, devastating campaign. What you’ll discover in this video: The three-way power struggle between Johor, Aceh, and the Portuguese The strategic importance of Johor Lama as a trading and naval hub The Portuguese naval assault up the Johor River The failed attack of Dom António de Noronha The final amphibious assault led by Dom Paulo de Lima Pereira The fall of Kota Batu and the destruction of Johor Lama How Johor ultimately survived - and achieved its revenge Subscribe for more:    / @malayanchronicles   You can also help support this work by becoming a Member of the channel. Prefer to listen? Enjoy Malayan Chronicles in audio form on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sFuNsk... Support the channel & become a “Guardian of the Chronicles”:   / malayanchronicles   Your support helps fund the research, writing, narration, and video production behind each episode. Explore more on Facebook: If you're drawn to Malaya's rich past and enjoy thoughtful visual storytelling, visit the Malayan Chronicles Facebook page, where the history of the Malay Peninsula comes alive through illustrations, photographs, maps, and well-researched stories:   / malayanhistory   ----------------------------------------- Pada tahun 1587, ibu kota Johor Lama telah menjadi sasaran serangan besar-besaran oleh Portugis dalam usaha mereka menguasai Selat Melaka. Sebagai pusat perdagangan yang pesat berkembang dan pewaris Kesultanan Melaka, Johor Lama menarik pedagang dari seluruh Asia - serta perhatian kuasa-kuasa besar serantau. Video ini mengisahkan serangan Portugis ke atas Johor Lama, termasuk peperangan laut di Sungai Johor, pertempuran sengit di dalam kota, dan kejatuhan Kota Batu. Berdasarkan sumber Portugis kontemporari seperti catatan Diogo do Couto, episod ini menelusuri bagaimana sebuah kota yang kuat akhirnya ditewaskan - namun Kesultanan Johor terus bertahan dan bangkit semula. ----------------------------------------- Selected references/ Rujukan terpilih 'A History of Johore (1365 - 1895 A.D.)', R. O. Winstedt, Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society Vol. 10, No. 3, 1932 'Admiral Matelieff’s Singapore and Johor (1606 -1616)', P. Borschberg, Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society Vol. 90, No. 1, 2017 'Eredia's Description Of Malacca, Meridional India, And Cathay', Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society Reprint No. 14, 1997 'Johore Lama and other ancient sites on the Johore River', C. A. Gibson-Hill, Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society Vol. 28 No. 2,1955 'Kingdom of Johor, 1641-1728', L. Y. Andaya, Oxford University Press, 1976 'Kota-kota Melayu', Abdul Halim Nasir, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 1990 'On the alleged death of Sultan Ala'u'd-din of Johore at Acheh, in 1613', C. A. Gibson-Hill, Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society Vol. 29, No. 1956 'Portuguese in India', F C Danvers, Asian Educational Services, 1894 'Sejarah Johor', Haji Buyong Adil. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustake, 1980 'The Commentaries of the great Afonso Dalboquerque', The Hakluyt Society, 1875 'The Fortified City of Johore Lama and the Use of Archaeological Evidence', G. de G. Sieveking, Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society Vol. 28 No. 2, 1955 'The Investigations at Johore Lama', G. de G. Sieveking, P. Wheatley and C. A. Gibson-Hill, Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 27, No. 1, 1954 'The Malay Annals', C.C. Brown. Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society Vol. 25, No. 2/3, 1952 'The Memoirs and Memorials of Jacques de Coutre: Security, Trade and Society in 16th- and 17th-century Southeast Asia', P. Borschberg (Editor), R. Roy (Translator), NUS Press, 2014 'The Portuguese and the Straits of Melaka, 1575-1619: Power, Trade and Diplomacy', P. J. de Sousa Pinto (Author), R Roy (Translator), NUS Press, 2012 'The Suma Oriental of Tome´ Pires', The Hakluyt Society, 1944 'Vida de Dom Paulo de Lima Pereira', D. do Couto, Jozé Filippe, 1765