Meriah

Kota Meriah or Meriah City is Karasem's current largest city and also as the old capital of Karasem. It located in the western of Karasem.

Pra Colonialism Era
Meriah, known as Sai-nga was one of the trading center of Srivijaya in their glory era. As known from the notes of many traders from the whole world, this port is the largest one. Since the fall of Srivijaya, The newly founded Melayu Anyar Kingdom that center in around Cikulon (89Km south of Meriah) makes this city as the trading central compete with it's neighbor, Singapore. In 1225, along with Melayu Anyar Kingdom was taken over by Singhasari, Sai-nga become Singhasari major port. During the 14th century, Meriah was caught in the struggle between Siam (now Thailand) and the Java-based Majapahit Empire for control over the Malay Peninsula. According to Sejarah Melayu, this port was defeated in one Majapahit attack. They ruled the island for several years until the beginning of Jaya Sultanate era from Jaya Island. As Sultanate of Jaya was in conflict with it's border, Sultanate of Mallacca. Meriah was becoming their front line in stopping the Mallacca forces. Sultanate of Jaya continue to rule this port until Sultanate of Karasem attack from Kasem island and taken over the port.

Under VOC-Dutch
Between the 16th and 19th centuries, the Malay Archipelago was gradually taken over by the European colonial powers, beginning with the arrival of the Portuguese at Malacca in 1509. The early dominance of the Portuguese was challenged during the 17th century by the Dutch, who came to control most of the ports in the region. The Dutch established a monopoly over trade within the archipelago, particularly in spices, then the region's most important product. In order to fulfill it, Kota Meriah founded in 1848 as the central trading city by dutch in the Mallacca Strait. As this city grows it become compete again with the (now British owned) Singapore as the trading central of Mallacca Strait. Under Dutch colonial, this city become more populated with other ethnic like Chinese, Javanese and others.

Japanesse colonial era
--TBC--

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