Malacca Sultanate سلطنة ملقا

1400 CE – 1511 CE · Southeast Asia

Greatest Malay-Muslim trading state; controlled the Strait of Malacca; model for Islamic kingship in Southeast Asia

Capital

Malacca

Peak Era

1430–1511 CE

Historical Significance

The Malacca Sultanate controlled the most important maritime chokepoint in Asia, becoming a model for Islamic kingship in the Malay world and playing a central role in the Islamization of Southeast Asia. The Portuguese conquest in 1511 marked a significant turning point, as it disrupted the sultanate's governance and diminished its influence in the region, leading to a shift in trade dynamics and the spread of European colonial interests.