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Map of Muar drawn by the Portuguese in 1604. This map described Muar as a port. A triangular shaped fort was built by the Portuguese named FORTALEZA DE MUAR to defend from the attacks of Dutch and Aceh at Sungai Bentayan. This fort went through only two battles at Muar river in 1615 and 1616. |
The history of Muar started since the times of the Hindu empire.
According to history, the name Muar appeared much earlier than
the Melaka empire existed.
In 1361, there was a Bhuddist monk (a religious adviser in Majapahit Palace)
named Prapanca wrote the famous poetry, Nagarakertagama. This poetry recorded
the history of the empire of Majapahit in the Malay peninsular. The king was
Hayam Wuruk and his prime minister was Gajah Mada (1350 - 1389). Muar was one
of the state under this empire.
There are other souces of history that proof the early existence of Muar before Melaka.
Barros wrote in 1553 about Parameswara (Paramicura), founder of the Melaka empire,
was exiled from Temasik (Singapore) after he killed the king. He stopped at Muar
and built a wooden fort at a place called Pagoh.
In Sejarah Melayu (Malay Historical Literature), Temasik which then was ruled by
Sultan Iskandar Syah, was defeated by the Majapahit empire. Sultan Iskandar Syah
moved to Muar. Here he opened two areas near the river Muar called Biawak Busuk
and built a fort named Kota Buruk. He eventually moved to Melaka and built its empire.
One event that proved the close relationship between Muar and Melaka was that in 1488,
Sultan Alauddin Riayat Syah 1, died in Pagoh, Ulu Muar and was buried there.
Old maps of those times also described Muar as a significantly populated place with
its own township.The map of Ortelius A.D. 1584 shows Muar as a town at the
south of Melaka. The map of Linchoten A.D. 1595 also shows Muar as a town near Melaka.
STORIES OF HOW MUAR GOT ITS NAME.
Most people know the name Muar was used in accordance with its river, the Muar river.
Muar river is frequently mentioned in Hikayat Malim Dewa-dewa Deman
(Stories of Malim Dewa-dewa Deman). The name Muar was stated here as:
From the above writing, it explains the river Muar was originally named Teluk Dalam.
The name Teluk Dalam was used maybe due to the fact that many rivers join to one
opening to the sea, or a very wide river opening to the sea or estuary.
Some say the name Muar is shortened from the word Muara,
a word from Malay Sunda language meaning a very wide river opening to the sea or estuary.
One interesting opinion says, the word Muar was related to the word Muak which
means tired of rowing the boat in this very big and winding river.
Another opinion says the name Muar is from the Hindu word Munu, meaning three,
and Ar, meaning river. Here, it was believed to have been originated from a big
state in south India in ancient times called Munar or Muar, meaning state of three rivers.
This state was formed from three rivers joining into one opening to the sea (estuary).
These ancient Hindu people came to Muar looking for gold and they discovered there are
three rivers (Muar river, Serting river and Pahang river) joining to one opening
to the sea, same as what they had in thier homeland. These people named this
place with reference to their homeland.
Muar bernama Teluk Dalam (Muar was named Teluk Dalam)
(Bahasa Malaysia)