Alauddin Riayat Shah of Malacca

Who is Alauddin Riayat Shah of Malacca?

Alauddin Riayat Shah was a sultan of the Malacca Sultanate from 1477 to 1488.

He was famous for going undercover at night to personally check on the well-being of his people, as well as on the condition of his sultanate itself. On one of these nights he was even reported to have run after a thief himself. He was a very good and religious ruler and is renowned to be a fair king. But his position is envied by his brother, Raja Ahmad, because Raja Ahmad believed that the rulership of Malacca was his right. Sultan Alauddin had many enemies, both within and outside of his court. He had a total of four children, two from each of his two wives, and this has led to his wives squabbling over the heirship to his throne. The sultan's second wife is from Indian Muslim descent. During this period, Sultan Alaudin has been facing problems with the mamak people, who were beginning to grow in power in comparison to Malays. His first advisor, Bendahara Seri Maharaja was also of mamak blood. After 11 years on the throne, Sultan Alauddin was reported in history to have died of mysterious causes.