I Grab The Chance

Coincidence :D hihi. When I decided to do a research on City of A Famosa, I was like... "okay, let's ask Mr. Google and Miss books." On the same time, I was listed down to go for a trip to Malacca under MASSA. I was wondering if we will go and visit the city center as it does not state any in the tentative program.

Until the last day in Malacca... the leader decided to give us chance to walk around the city center before we go back to our college. My heart flutter excitedly and I smile through out the journey \(^o^)/ yippi ! I would not waste this miracle chance. Thank you Allah <3

Okay, here is the photos.

 

Porta de Santiago (side view)

 

(closed view)

 

(front view)

If I am not mistaken, at this moment there was an exhibition and sort of carnival taking part. That is why you can see a lot of people in the pictures. I almost cannot get a perfect view. lol.

The entrance

Some people use this corner to rest and show their talent (inside)

Back door 

Back view 

The proof

St. Paul Church on top of the hill

I do enjoy taking these pictures instead of my pictures. haha. I hope I have done a lot and my readers understand every single topic I tried to point out ;D 

The Glorious Remainings

Porta de Santiago

Destruction of A Famosa in 1807, destroyed most of the city, and only left a door guard which can be seen until these days, the Porta de Santiago.

 

Location of Middleburgh Bastion

In late November 2006, a part of the city structure, called as Middelsburgh Bastion , was discovered accidentally during the construction of the tower rotates 110 meters in the city of today era. Construction of the tower need to be delayed for awhile after the discovery.

 

Santiago Bastion (during the first discovery)

 

Santiago Bastion (after preserving)

Kooperasi Muzium Melaka suspects that the structure was built by the Dutch during the Dutch reign in Malacca from 1641 to 1824. Earlier in June 2003, a control tower named as Santiago Bastion was found during the construction of Dataran Pahlawan. 

 

St.Paul Church (outside)

St.Paul Church (inside)

Many people have been misunderstood the Porta de Santiago as A Famosa. It was one of the entry to A Famosa fortress. The only lucky building that remain until today is St.Paul Church where it was built up on top of hill. 

The Downfall of A Famosa

 

Potrait of Prince William of Orange

Following political situation in Europe in 1795, the Dutch colonies in Asia have been handed over to the British administration for a while . When Napoleon's army invaded the Netherlands ( Holland ) in 1795 , Prince William of Orange fled to London , where he ruled all settlements in Netherlands to accept British army. He has to as this to prevent them from falling into the hand of France .

However , they have no interest in returning Malacca to the Dutch with city of A Famosa is still in one piece. They did not want Malacca gives rival to the British settlements of Penang and Singapore .

Potrait of Robert Farquhar

For these reasons, Mr.Lieutenant Governor Robert Farquhar of Penang and Malacca governor between 1803 to 1818, have made a proposal to destroy the city of A Famosa .

British government in India ordered A Famosa Fort that located in Bandar Hilir , Malacca to be destroyed. Fort of A Famosa demolition work began on August 10, 1807 .

At first, he ordered the offender to demolish Fort of A Famosa stone by stone using crowbar iron and 'pemungkis' . When the walls seem too strong to be removed , he decided to destroy Fort of A Famosa by using gunpowder.

He asked local people to dug hole around the city and blow up the fort. The demolition has caused stones as big as a house blew and fell into the ocean . Almost all of the fortress , walls , General Hospital , a two-store rice , residence and six storage room was blasted and trimmed.

Potrait of Stamford Raffles

Meanwhile, Sir Stamford Raffles , a government employee who was on sick leave has come to Malacca on the invitation of William Farquhar . When he knew about the demolition of Fort of A Famosa , he quickly wrote a letter to the British Government of Pulau Pinang and India by stating the destruction of A Famosa Fort should not be done . Among the reasons is because of Malacca itself has historical values and did not required a lot of expenses .

Raffles' proposal was well received by the British Government but it was too late because almost the entire city was destroyed .

The Moment of Loss

City of A Famosa was built as the strongest stronghold that helped the Portuguese to repel all forms of attack from the outside. People of Malacca, Bugis, Riau and Acheh had attacked the city so many times but never success. However, their victory did not last long. The Dutch were on their mission to detain Malacca and they had planned wisely. The team had blockade the city for five months, forcing residents that trapped inside of A Famosa to eat the cat, rat, and in some cases woman have to eat a dead baby. Imagine the torture they need to face :( 

Finally, on January 14, 1641, the Dutch burst into A Famosa through the door Santo Domingo Gate, which caused 7,000 death due to gun shots. City of A Famosa was severely damaged in the combat, has been restored and the Porta de Santiago which is the main door was replaced with the logo of the Dutch East India Company. 

 

Anno 1670

After conquering the city, the Dutch repaired and modified and put their arms on the gate which remains until now the Porta de Santiago, the only door that survived, with the engraving "Anno 1670".

Brutal Destruction Behind The Glory

City of A Famosa symbolize Portuguese glory and safety throughout 130 years they conquered Malacca . However, in regards of building up this city, Malays had suffered greatest price loss of dignity and self-esteem that can not be substituted for life. Can you imagine when tombs of the Sultan of Malacca since the Annals , Megat Iskandar Shah Sultan Muhammad Shah , Sultan Abu Shaid , Sultan Muzaffar Shah , Sultan Mansur Shah , Treasurer - treasurer of the famous Malacca , the relations of the Sultan of Malacca , and the chiefs of state of Malacca in the surrounding Melaka Sultan's palace ( now Bukit St. Paul ) being lost, destroyed and tombstones were used to build the city of A Famosa owned by Portuguese at that time. Their action were just so cruel and offensive. 

 

On the way 

 

The situation back then

The situation was becoming more heartbreaking when Alfonso de Albuquerque , the Portuguese military commander in that time had ordered that any markings associated with the city of Malacca, to be destroyed and burned without further compromise . 

Imagination during 1511

In order to build city of A Famosa , each single of tombstone , unloaded , all the bones excavated from tombs of the Sultan of Malacca and ruthlessly destroyed by them. Because of Alfonso's madness , Malacca Sultanate Palace of nature 's most beautiful archipelago at the time was burned, old books since Megat Iskandar Shah (1400-1424) were thrown into the fire. This is sadness as we have already lost apart of our identity of origin. 

Why "The Glorious"?

City of A Famosa was consisted of four towers , or ketelom ( bastions ) , with a thickest wall of 2.4 meters to 4.5 meters . The towers were once known as Baluarte San Pedro , Baluerte de las Virgenes , Baluerte Madre de Dios , Baluerte Santo Domingo , and Baluerte de Santiago .

Illustration picture of  complete City of A Famosa

By the year 1583 , Malacca has been a fortified city that covered with seventy cannon in all directions. A Famosa broadness extended to nearby areas and covers European settlement . The area includes the City Road , Church Road , Court Road & Castle Street .

Imagination of attacking situation back then

Portuguese had decorated the fortress with 5 churches, places of worship, monasteries, hospitals and so on . The city was so perfect as if a state in a state. However , the city failed to prevent the Dutch strike in the 17th century . With the help of local people and the Malays of Johor , the attack was launched by the Dutch to seize Malacca.

The Bloody Construction

A Famosa is a fortress built by the Portuguese after they conquered Malacca in 1511. Portuguese used a form of forced labor to build up fortress to fend off the attack from the Malays , called as" A Famosa " , or formally Malacca Fort ( Fortaleza de low tide ) . City A - Famosa took 5 months to be completed. Due to the high temperature and lack of food , many forced laborers end up died while building up the city. Materials to build the city was taken from the ruins of mosques and other buildings.

  

Illustration sketch during Portuguese conquest

Construction of A Famosa which was being directed by Alfonso de Albuquerque, symbolize Malacca residents' resistance towards the Portuguese and this has urge them to build their fortress once dominated the city of Malacca.

 

Alfonso de Albuquerque

I Brought To You The Ancient History of A Famosa

In this country, there are a lot of historical places that exist and being protected as a proof that we have once been colonized. They remain as a lesson for us to not let this happen twice. One of them is the remains of City of A Famosa.  

 

The front view of City of A Famosa 

 

Inside the City of A Famosa

A Famosa itself brings a deep meaning, The Glorious in Portuguese. This city was built up by the Portuguese as soon as they succeed in overthrowing the Malacca Kingdom in 1511. For those who never get the chance to visit Malacca, the City of A Famosa is located at downstream city of Malacca which is next to replica of Sultanate Malacca Palace and St. Paul Church. It is one of the ancient European architecture that remain in Asia. 

 

Location Map of A Famosa

For everyone additional information, A Famosa name's is often being pronounced wrongly as /ei/ Famosa, including Malaysian themselves, as if the 'a' term in Portuguese is considered as letter 'A' in English. The correct pronunciation is /a/ Famosa which is similar to "ah".