his line of descent. Different versions of its history are told in Portuguese sources, suggesting that Temasek was a Siamese vassal whose ruler was killed by Parameswara from Palembang. Historians believe that during the late 14th century, Parameswara, the last Sumatran prince, fled to Temasek from Palembang after being deposed by the Majapahit Empire. According to Portuguese accounts, Parameswara killed the local chief with the title Sang Aji eight days after being welcomed into Temasek. Not withstanding the Sejarah Melayu legend, the "Singapura" name possibly dates to this period. Some argued that Singapura was named after the "lion throne" Parameswara established in Palembang as a challenge to the Majapahit empire, and for which he was expelled from Palembang. Parameswara held the island of Singapore for a number of years, until further attacks from either the Majapahit or the Ayutthaya kingdom in Siam forced him to move on to Melaka where he founded the Sultanate of Malacca. While there are parallels between the mythical Sang Nila Utama and the historical Parameswara, these should be seen as distinct. Singapore as part of sultanate of Malacca Archaeological evidence suggests that the main settlement on Fort Canning was abandoned around this time, although a small trading settlement continued in Singapore for some time afterwards. Singapore became part of the Malacca empire, and it was said to be the fiefdom of the legendary laksamana (or admiral) Hang Tuah. However, by the time the Portuguese arrived in the early 16th century, the Singapura that existed before Malacca was founded had already become "great ruins" according to the conqueror of Malacca Afonso de Albuquerque. Part of Johor Sultanate After the Portuguese captured Malacca in 1511, its laksamana fled to Singapore. In the 16th and early 17th century, it briefly regained some significance as a trading centre of Johor Sultanate whose Sultan kept a shahbandar (harbour master) at Kallang. In 1603, the Johor Malays formed an alliance with the Dutch and captured a Portuguese ship off the east coast of Singapore. The Portuguese then destroyed the outpost in Singapore in 1613. In the early 1620s, it was suggested that forts be built in the Singapore Straits to counter the rising power of the Dutch, but Singapore then sank into obscurity apart from a mention that Singapore River was the location of a naval battle between Johor and Siak in 1767. Beginning of colonial rule In 1819, Englishman Sir