fallofsingapore

When the King passed away, he was succeeded by his son, Iskandar Shah. The new King, like others before him, had a number of consorts. However, his favourite consort was the daughter of one of his ministers, Sang Rajuna Tapa. The King's obsessive love for this woman caused great jealousy among his other consorts. Driven by jealousy and hatred, they planned her downfall.

A malicious rumour was circulated by one of the King's other consorts, accusing the daughter of Sang Rajuna Tapa of being unfaithful, that she was having intimate relations with another man. Believing the rumour, the King became furious, and without hesitation, ordered the immediate arrest of his favourite consort and sentenced her to death for the alleged infidelity.

On the appointed day, Sang Rajuna Tapa's daughter was impaled to death in the public square (as was the law of the land in those days). Saddened by his daughter's death, Sang Rajuna Tapa vowed vengeance upon the King for the grave injustice.

The Minister secretly sent a message to the ruler of the Majapahit (now modern Indonesia), pledging his support if should the Majapahit King choose to attack Singapore. The Majapahit King had long wanted to annex Singapore into his empire. Sang Rajuna Tapa's offer presented an opportunity for him to invade Singapore. At once, the Majapahit King dispatched an armada of 300 ships and troops to invade the island.

Old Singapore was protected by a huge fortress. Upon seeing the invasion force, the local population fled and took refuge there. The Majapahit army then laid siege of the island and repeatedly tried to attack the fortress. However, the fortress proved to be imprenable.

Many days passed and and the food in the fortress began to run low. The refugees were on the verge of starvation. Sang Rajuna Tapa was then asked to distribute every grain left from the royal store to the people. Seeing this opportunity for revenge that he had so badly wanted, the Minister lied to the Kind, saying the stores were empty. The grains were not distributed and the people eventually straved.

As the final blow, Sang Rajuna Tapa sent a note to the Majapahit King, informing him to wait outside the fortress gates on a given day and time, when he would open the gates for the final assault into the fortress.

The doors were opened, and the invading army rushed into the fortress and attacked the inhabitants. Knowing that defeat was imminent, the King fled the island. Sang Rajuna Tapa finally had his revenge, but died shortly after.