<P> A significant port and settlement, known as Temasek, later renamed Singapura, existed on the island of Singapore in the 14th century . Vietnamese records indicate possible diplomatic relationship between Temasek and Vietnam in the 13th century, and Chinese documents describe settlements there in the 14th century . It was likely a vassal state of both the Majapahit Empire and the Siamese at different times in the 14th century . Around the end of the 14th century, its ruler Parameswara was attacked by either the Majapahit or the Siamese, forcing him to move on to Melaka where he founded the Sultanate of Malacca, Archaeological evidence suggests that the main settlement on Fort Canning was abandoned around this time, although a small - scale trading settlement continued in Singapore for some time afterwards . Between the 16th and 19th centuries, the Malay archipelago was gradually taken over by the European colonial powers, beginning with the Portuguese conquest of Malacca Sultanate in 1511 . In 1613, the Portuguese burnt down a trading settlement at the mouth of the Singapore River, after which Singapore lapsed into insignificance in the history of the region for two hundred years . </P> <P> The early dominance of the Portuguese was challenged during the 17th century by the Dutch, who came to control most of the region's ports . The Dutch established a monopoly over trade within the archipelago, particularly in spices, then the region's most important product . Other colonial powers, including the British, were limited to a relatively minor presence in that period . </P> <P> In 1818, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles was appointed Lieutenant Governor of the British colony at Bencoolen . Raffles believed that the British should find a way to challenge the dominance of the Dutch in the area . The trade route between China and British India passed through the Malacca Strait, and with the growing trade with China, that route would become increasingly important . However, the Dutch had tight control over the trade in the region and intended to enforce the exclusive rights of its company ships to trade, and that trade should be conducted at its entrepot Batavia . British trading ships were heavily taxed at Dutch ports, stifling British trade in the region . </P> <P> Raffles reasoned that the way to challenge the Dutch was to establish a new port in the region . Existing British ports were not in a strategic enough position to becoming major trading centres . Penang was too far north of the southern narrow part of Straits of Malacca controlled by the Dutch, whereas Bencoolen faced the Indian Ocean near the Sunda Strait, a much less important area as it is too far away from the main trading route . Many other possible sites were either controlled by the Dutch, or had other problems . </P>

Why did raffles establish a settlement in singapore