Melayu

Melayu was a Buddhist kingdom on Sumatra's Batang Hari, with a trading centre at Jambi. Bound to Java after the Pamalayu expedition of 1275, it was ruled in 1337 by Akarendrawarman of the Mauli dynasty as a Javanese vassal.

In 1347 the Mauli prince Adityawarman took power and moved upstream to Pagaruyung in the Minangkabau highlands, founding a new line with access to the gold trade. His 1347 Rambahan inscription described him as protector of Malayapura's people. In 1377 Majapahit sacked Palembang after a local prince sought Chinese support; the prince Parameswara fled via Temasik and founded the Malacca sultanate, while Buddhist Jambi declined.