Whilst making his way around Cochin, and having previously visited Malacca in Malaysia, Phespirit noted several parallels between the respective histories of these two great trading ports .....
| Cochin, India - historical events | year | year | historical events - Malacca, Malaysia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cochin founded by a violent flood that created a natural safe port |
1341 | 1396 | Malacca founded by pirates fleeing from Temasik (ancient Singapore) |
| Royal family transfer to Cochin | 1405 | 1403 | Sultanate established in Malacca |
| First Chinese traders arrive, establishing a visible presence that endures today |
1407 | 1405 | First Chinese traders arrive, establishing a visible presence that endures today |
| Portugese arrive - the first Europeans | 1500 | 1509 | Portugese arrive - the first Europeans |
| Portugese take over Cochin | 1501 | 1511 | Portugese take over Malacca |
| Portugese build the first fort - Fort Cochin | 1503 | 1511 | Portugese build the first fort - A'Famosa |
| Portugese build the Church of St. Francis | 1503 | 1521 | Portugese build the Church of St. Paul |
| Portugese Admiral Vasco da Gama buried in the Church of St. Francis |
1524 | 1553 | Spanish Missionary St. Francis Xavier buried in the Church of St. Paul |
| Vasco da Gama's body removed and taken to Goa; it currently rests in the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém, Lisbon his original resting place is still marked by a plaque |
1538 | 1553 | St. Francis Xavier's body removed and taken to Goa; it currently rests in the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa his original resting place is still marked by a plaque |
| Dutch forces defeat the Portugese and take possession of Cochin |
1663 | 1641 | Dutch forces defeat the Portugese and take possession of Malacca |
| The British take possession of Cochin during the French Revolutionary Wars |
1795 | 1795 | The British take possession of Malacca during the French Revolutionary Wars |
| Fort Cochin destroyed by the British only a bastion house remains |
1795 | 1807 | Fort A'Famosa destroyed by the British only Porta de Santiago remains |
| Britain formally takes over Cochin as part of the British Madras Presidency |
1800 | 1824 | Britain formally takes over Malacca as part of the Straits Settlements |
| National independence from Britain | 1947 | 1957 | National independence from Britain |
